Tag Archives: Dallas Cowboys

NFL, Pro Football HoF, Super Bowl MVP

White, Randy ‘The Manster’

Upper Deck Legends 1997 Certified, #AU-69

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997 Certified
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Randy White played for Maryland from 1972-74.
  • He converted from FB to DE in 1973.
  • Second pick overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 1975.
  • Cowboys slotted him behind Lee Roy Jordan at LB.
  • In 1977, was moved to RDT and the rest was history as he had a breakout campaign posting 12 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.
  • Had best season as a pro the following year, with 16 sacks in ’78.
  • Ageless wonder posted 3 back to back to back 3+ sack seasons from 1983-85.
  • Injuries began to ravage White, eventually leading to his retirement after the 1988 season.

ACCOLADES:

  • Lombardi Award 1974
  • Outland Trophy 1974
  • Pro Bowl 1977-1985
  • All-Pro 1978-’79, 1981-’85
  • Super Bowl XII Co-MVP w/ Harvey Martin
  • NFL All-1980s Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary Team
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame 1994
  • All-Rookie Team 1975
  • Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor

NOTES:

Randy did some signings around Dallas in the early 20-teens but I missed out on them because they were on such short notice. I got really close a few times to going, but couldn’t bring myself up to calling in sick to go. His cards were grossly overpriced at the beginning of the pandemic even before the prices started shooting up. I knew all I had to do was wait, and I got this one at a bargain for under 10 bucks when the smoke cleared.

Randy was one of the last of the old guard from Tom Landry‘s days. He retired due to injury shortly after Tom was ingloriously fired by new owner Jerry Jones, and Jimmy Johnson was hired.

Randy makes an appearance on the ‘Dallas Wings’ franchise (Tecmo Bowl) on the NES.

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NFL, XFL

Vasher, TJ

CARD: Sage 2021, XFL 2023 Custom, Panini Legacy 2021
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Arlington Renegades. San Antonio Brahmas v Houston Roughnecks. San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • TJ Vasher played WR for the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2016-20.
  • In 2017-20, he totaled over 500 yards and at least 6 TDs in each year.
  • He finished his college career with 146 receptions for 1983 yards and 21 TDs.
  • Going unselected in the 2021 NFL Draft, Vasher was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, but was waived with an injury designation.
  • He’d be selected by the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL during their 2023 draft.
  • Over the course of the season he established himself as the #1 receiver despite the team’s felonious quarterback carousel.
  • Vasher caught 16 passes for 173 yards and 2 TDs on the year.
Panini Legacy 2020, #191
Sage 2020, #148

NOTES:

The season ticket holders next to me got an email from the XFL giving them post game field access. They offered me the chance to go with them and I gambled that I’d be able to get autographs easier from players that way.

I spotted TJ signing near the players home entrance for some fans on the elevated side of the stands. It was easy for me to walk over there and ask him to sign this card.

I was pretty meh about the Sage card. The design is so… low effort. Either the person who designed this has just run out of juice to do this, doesn’t care, or they have an intern handle it. It’s been a disappointing fall for me with Sage since 2017 or so, as their design, quality, and general autograph selection has suffered.

Later I got him on this Panini Legacy card after the Roughnecks game. He was very cool about signing that one. Great card here, and the design is regally Art Nouveau.

I made this XFL custom card of TJ. It took me a few iterations to get to this design and I love it. I think these cards really exude the look and theme of the XFL 2023. When he looked at the card, he said, “Ah! You’re the card guy! I’ll get you when I come back out in a few minutes…” I hunkered down hiding out in the stadium against the protests of the ushers there and was able to get him on my sweet custom. I also gave him a few to keep as thanks.

CFL, NFL, XFL

Maponga, Stansly

Topps XFL 2020, #AU-SM
Topps XFL 2020, #45

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 Certified, Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Defensive Lineman Stansly Maponga played college ball at TCU from 2010-12.
  • In 2011 he posted 55 total tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.
  • He was a 5th round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2015.
  • After not making the final cuts, he was resigned to the practice squad by the Falcons.
  • The Giants signed him later in 2017 to their regular season roster, and then retained him on their practice squad after the year.
  • Maponga then spent the next year or two of and on the practice squad and in the futures contract game with the Cowboys (2017), and Broncos (2017-18).
  • In late 2019, he’d be the first defender selected by the Seattle Dragons of the XFL for 2020.
  • On the 5 game season, he’d post 15 tackles.
  • After a brief flirtation with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL (2021), he’d be selected by the Orlando Guardians of the XFL 2023.
  • On the season Stansly posted 22 total tackles, and 2.5 sacks starting 9 games for the Guardians.

NOTES:

Stansly was another player within earshot as he left the field to go back to the locker room after warm-ups. He got past me, but when I called out his name, he was probably impressed that I knew how to pronounce it properly in the first place- turned around and came back to me. He graciously signed this card for me. I was really impressed by the broadness of his shoulders. He had gigantic shoulder pads for his size. We also joked about the fact he played for the Dragons, sans ‘Sea’.