Tag Archives: denver gold

AFL, Arena, CFL, NFL, usfl

Parilli, Babe (1930-2017)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AL-152

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Had a marvelous journey as a quarterback playing through 18 seasons for 3 leagues and 8 teams from 1952-69.
  • Played for Kentucky from 1949-51.
  • In an era not renown for passing, threw for 1627 yards (114/203) and 23 TDs to 12 INT in 1950.
  • 4th pick of the 1952 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
  • Joined CFL Ottawa Rough Riders in 1954, playing there through 55, and also again in 59.
  • Returned to NFL for a one year stint with the Browns in 56.
  • Again, played for Packers in 57 and 58.
  • After one year stint with the CFL again in 59, played for the Oakland Raiders in 1960.
  • After middling success with Oakland, was traded as part of a blockbuster deal to the Boston Patriots.
  • Played for the Patriots from 1961-67.
  • At time of departure from Boston, owned all the franchise’s passing records and many AFL ones as well.
  • Retired after winning Super Bowl III as Joe Namath‘s backup in Super Bowl III.
  • Had extensive coaching career.
  • Passed away in 2017 at the age of 87 after a battle with cancer.

NOTES:

In an age of more sexy names, I really hadn’t considered the legacy of Babe, compared to guys like Tom Brady (of course), or even Drew Bledsoe or Steve Grogan for that matter. -That being said Babe paved the way for those guys.

AFL/NFL

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
333015522268146.617822059.6
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
38315224.02333

CFL

*Stats not available pre-1959

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
522337344.244N/a
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
4205.0015
PYDSAVGLG
65249738.458
NFL, usfl

Harris, Leonard

Skybox Premium 1993-94, #254

Cards: SkyBox Impact 1993, Topps Stadium Club 1993, Skybox Premium 1993-1994
Acquired: TTM 2021, C/o Home
Sent: 8/14 Received: 9/2 (19 days)
Failure: TTM 2014, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Leonard Harris was a speed merchant out of Texas Tech (1981-83), who played WR, KR and PR.

  • His best season for the Red Raiders came in 1983 when he posted 506 yards on 35 catches (2 TDs), 123 yards rushing on 13 carries, 346 yards and a TD on 26 punt returns, and 356 yards on 19 kick returns.

  • Territorial selection of the Denver Gold during the 1984 USFL draft. 

  • Led the Gold in receiving both years of the franchise’s existence.

  • Posted a career high 1432 yards on 101 receptions and 8 TD as he moved to slotback in 1985.

  • Joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986, catching 3 passes for 52 yards.

  • Following season was a free agent signee of the Houston Oilers, where he spent the next 7 seasons. 

  • Finally emerged from the shadow of WR Drew Hill who left for Atlanta in 1992.

  • Caught 35 passes for 435 yards and 2 TDs in 7 starts, before the Oilers consummated their free agent poaching of WR Webster Slaughter off of the Cleveland Browns.

  • Played one final year in 1994 with the Falcons, reunited with Drew Hill and head coach Jerry Glanville.

NFL

RECYDSAVGTDLG
105142813.6847
KRYDSAVGTDLG
59124021.0063

USFL

RECYDSAVGTDLG
136208915.41266
KRYDSAVGTDLG
47117224.9074

Skybox Impact 1993, #127 Topps Stadium Club 1993, #431

NOTES:
I had been wanting to get Leonard for sometime, because I was always under the impression that he had no cards growing up. I went ahead and sent these same cards out in 2014- but got no response. It wasn’t until 2021 that I started seeing some responses from him and decided to try him again on these cards.

I always thought he got a bad rap after the departure of Drew Hill- and not enough time to become his heir apparent in Houston. I feel much more mixed now about getting his autograph now that the players from the Oilers franchise have abandoned the city of Houston in favor of their faux history from Tennessee.

Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

Turner, Lonnie

Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Work
Sent:  10/20    Received: 11/13   (23 days)

Lonnie Turner took a very unique route to the WLAF after playing for Cal Poly Pomona under Roman Gabriel:  He played in the USFL from 1983 to 1985. During that period he played one season each for LA (3 catches for 41 yards), Oklahoma (27 receptions for 399 yards and 2 TDs), and Denver (29 receptions for 388 yards). After brief stops with the Cardinals and later the Atlanta Falcons, he’d join the Arena football league, and play for Pittsburgh in 1988. Boasting experience in the Run N Shoot offense, Lonnie signed with the Lions in 1990, but was unable to make the squad. This however got him back onto the radar of the WLAF, and the New York- New Jersey Knights who were coached by former Lions offensive coordinator Mouse Davis.

Lonnie was selected in the WLAF supplemental draft by the Knights. A long in the tooth veteran at 30 years old, Lonnie was one of the oldest players on the team. He paid dividends in 1991, leading NY-NJ with 41 receptions (5th in league) for 629 yards (7th) and caught his only touchdown of the season versus the Montreal Machine.  In 1992, Lonnie caught 36 passes for 437 yards and 2 TDs- including a 50 yarder. 

With the WLAF reorganizing after the 1992 season, Turner packed his bags for a quick stop with the British Columbia Lions of the CFL in 1993. He posted 27 receptions for 420 yards and 2 TDs, 11 kick returns for 196 yards, and 38 punts for 270 yards. – As a pro, this represented his most productive season- but this was his first and last foray into the CFL. 

A few years passed, and Lonnie appears again in the Arena Football League. This time he picks up in 1996 with the Tampa Bay Storm, and along with that 43 receptions for 576 yards and 9 TDs. He’d join the Nashville Kats in 1997 and play there through 1998. With the Kats in 1997 he’d have another solid season (35 receptions, 485 yards, 9 TDs, 28 kick returns, 460 yards, and 1 TD), and then close out his career playing football with one final season in Nashville with 20 receptions for 193 yards and 3 TDs, and 16 kick returns for 251 yards. 


I have been tracking Lonnie for some time. With his unique and interesting playing history, I figured that he’d at least be on Wikipedia, but his trail is mysteriously cold.  Even USFL fans couldn’t tell me where he was at. It didn’t help that there are actually other Lonnie Turners out there in the world who played and coached football, but after a lot of perseverance, I was able to find him coaching in Los Angeles. He’s apparently spent a lot of time at the high school level and has now climbed into the college ranks.  

ARENA         RECYDSAVGTD
                       115140312.221
KRYDSAVGTD
5078315.71

______________________________________________________________________________

CFL      RECYDSAVGTDLG
              2742015.6250
KRYDSAVGTDLG
1119617.8045
PRYDSAVGTDLG
382707.1043

______________________________________________________________________________

USFL       RECYDSAVGTDLG
                 5982814.0240
KRYDSAVGTDLG
56104418.609
PRYDSAVGTDLG
17754.4013

______________________________________________________________________________

WLAF      RECYDSAVGTDLG
                   77106613.8352