Tag Archives: doomsday defense

NFL

Martin, Harvey ‘Too Mean’ (2) (1950-2001)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AL137

Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: 2021, EBay

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

ACCOLADES:

  • Super Bowl XII Co MVP

  • NFL Defensive MVP 1977

  • NFL All 70s Team

  • Pro Bowl 1976-79

  • First Team All Pro 1977

  • Second Team All Pro 1976, 1979, 1982

  • Lone Star Conference Player of the Decade (1970s)

  • Lone Star Conference 75 Anniversary Squad

  • Lone Star Conference Hall of Fame 

  • Texas A&M – Commerce Hall of Fame 

NOTES:

Upper Deck Legends 1997 really was a gem of a set and continued to outdo itself with quality photography. This is an excellent shot of Too Mean. Thankfully he didn’t shorthand the autograph on this one. I patiently waited out the market on this autograph since it was exploding, and was able to snipe this one at a fair price under 10 bucks.

NFL

Jones, Ed ‘Too Tall’ (2)

udldg97 ejonesCards: ProSet 1989, Upper Deck Legends 1997, Score 1989, Topps 1984
Acquired: 2012, Akron Acquisition. 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 8/5      Received:  8/12   (7 days)
Failure: 2014, C/o Home
See Also: Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones

pset89 ejonesEd Too Tall Jones was my favorite Cowboy player on defense as a kid, so after getting him all those years ago in person, I thought that I might nab him on these other cards I had. I got the Topps 84 through a friend who was liquidating his collection in 2012. Then later in 2014,  I had intended to attend an event with him at it in Dallas, but two days before leaving I got very sick, so I had to call it off.  Right afterwards I sent off for him TTM, but it must have been a sacrifice to the mail gods, as the highly reliable Jones did not respond.  I gave him sco89 ejonesanother shot in 2016 and I was pretty happy with the response, with him signing the ProSet, Score, and Upper Deck entries.

Ed has gotten around over the past few years. The surprisingly durable Jones has made appearances in a few movies- most recently The Wedding Ringer wearing his iconic #72.

He also was elected to the Black College Football Hall of Fame in to84 ed jones2015 after leaving Tennessee State second on the school’s all time list with 106 sacks. He was also recognized as the player of honor at the 17th Annual John Merritt Classic game against Alabama State that year as well. He is an avid golfer and makes appearances at many celebrity tournaments outside the Dallas area.

Despite Jones’ strong pro football resume, he played during an era when sacks and tackles were not tracked/ did not count, and with the backlog of defensive players AND over abundance of Cowboys nominated every year, he has not been enshrined in the HoF. Recently a fan petition through change.org did receive some traction attempting to get him inducted at least into the Cowboys Ring of Honor- something that seems long overdue for the iconic Too Tall Jones at least not be in.

 

NFL, Super Bowl MVP

Martin, Harvey “Too Mean” (1950-2001)

Card: ProSet 1990, Topps 1977
Acquired: In Person 1991,1993 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp, Autograph Signing

Drafted in the 3rd round of the 1973 draft by the Dallas Cowboys Harvey Martin was a powerful member of the famed ‘Doomsday Defense’ and made 8 sacks out of the gate as a rookie that season. Nicknamed ‘Too Mean’ by his teammates to go along with ‘Too Tall’ Jones, Martin had a 20 sack season in 1977, was NFL defensive MVP, and was co-mvp of SuperBowl XII with defensive tackle Randy White. A member of the All 1970s team, Harvey was an embattled individual who dealt with drug, domestic and financial issues throughout and after his career ended in 1983. He also was named to the Pro Bowl and was first or second team AP 4 times over his career. Upon his retirement he held the team record for career sacks with 114.

I’d get his autograph in 1991 packing former players at training camp. He’d curiously sign his card with only his garbled initials. Josh and I looked at each other so disappointedly thinking that Harvey had just ruined this card with his half-assed signature. Later we’d go to an autograph signing where there was Drew, Preston, Harvey and a few other players that were just charging 5 bucks a signature and we would get his full signature this time.  He’d continue to battle his inner demons post retirement, and occasionally do commentary for wrestling circuits such as the WWF and WCC but sadly in 2001, Harvey passed away from Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 51. At this time Martin is the only player who is a Super Bowl MVP who is deceased and is also of a slim minority who have won the award and not been inducted into the NFL HoF.

G/Gs 158/71     Tac N/a     Sac 114    Fum 6   Int 2   Yds 7     Avg 3.5    Td  0