Tag Archives: fab four

NFL

Duncan, Curtis (3) ‘CD’

to88 cduncan sco92 cduncan tosc90 cduncan tosc92 cduncan

 

Cards: Topps Stadium Club 1991, Topps Stadium Club 1993, Topps 1989, Score 1992, GameDay 1992, ProSet 1992
Acquired: In Person 9/13/2015, Churrascos Club Pregame Party Texans vs. Chiefs
See Also: Curtis Duncan, Curtis Duncan (2)

Well I was quite the celebrity at the Houston Texans opener against the Kansas City Chiefs this year as I walked through the rows of tailgates and throngs of people wearing my powder blue Houston Oilers jersey. On quite a few occasions I was stopped and asked who it was a jersey of, and I’d quickly respond with, “Wide receiver, Curtis Duncan of the Houston Oilers. You know the least respected of the Fab 4 Run ‘N Shoot during who played during the late 80’s until the mid 90s.”

pset92 duncanPreviously I had met Curtis and liked him so much I busted out this old jeresy for the next time I saw him. When I ran into him outside the Churrascos he was very impressed and flattered that I had a jersey of him. Bubba McDowell laughed that I had it and said that I looked better than Duncan in it. I said, “Only my belly,” and rubbed it to their laughter.

The Churrascos event was a nice set up. There was a last second substitution, but Curtis was already on the docket to appear. I got a feeling of bourgeoisie from the catered all you can eat/all you can drink exorbitantly priced event- which made me feel slightly ill. There were photos and event tables and a lot of things to do. People who plan on attending should be there when it starts at 10AM, and prepare to leave 15 minutes early to reach their seats on time.

gday93 cduncanThe signing went well. Curtis wanted to take a photo with me, and I jabbed him telling him, “What so that you can prove to the world somebody is a fan of yours or has your jersey?” Bubba said it would be even more impressive if I had his jersey. Curtis signed every card I had. I previously got his rookie card signed, but we talked about it briefly joking that it was one of those Topps entries with him on the sidelines looking up into the air.

Overall these cards weren’t bad. There maybe just one or two more of Curtis I’d like to get autographed, but pretty much this does it. Even with these entries so late into the CD race, I was still pulling pretty decent looking cards and action shots of the former Oiler. The Topps entry of him sitting on the sideline is a well framed photo. About the only one I didn’t like was his 1991 Topps Stadium Club entry of him jumping up into the air with a defender draped on him.

 

 

NFL

Jeffires, Haywood (5)

gday93 jeffiresgda93 jeffires GBCards: Gameday 1993 Gamebreakers, Gameday 1993, Action Packed 1991, Score 1992.
Acquired: IP 7/11/15, Houston Oilers 25th Anniversary Party
See Also: Haywood Jeffires, Freakwood, Haywood Jeffires (3), Haywood Jeffires (4)

Well the Houston Oilers 25th Anniversary Party got off to a slow start. I expected to be able to recognize a lot of them, but to be kind, it has been a long time.  The first guy I was able to nab was Jeffires. True to form he wore his staple long shirt, and sported an epic grizzly Kimbo Slice beard. He was in an incredibly good mood, and signed these cards for me. Sure I am slowly running out of cards for him to sign, as I won’t pursue the Saints or ‘Tennessee Oilers’ cards of him, but still, he remains one ap91 jeffiressco92 jeffiresof my favorite players in a bizarre footnote of my otaku-like obsession. I shot the breeze a bit with him and shook his hand. I stopped him and said, “I can’t believe your hands are so baby smooth after all these years!” We both laughed heartily about it for a minute. I later told him that if he needed to leave, I could stand in for him and tell people that I was Haywood Jeffires.
Still I am hitting some pretty nice cards here. Somehow this Action Packed 1991 gem slipped through the cracks up to this point. Otherwise, by 1992 I had stopped collecting many of the brands of cards, and in 1993 I was done with the hobby for a while. I did not pick up Score 1992 or Gameday 1993. While Gameday seemed to respect the evolutionary process- Score’s 1992 effort was looking more and more like a children’s activity book. The redeeming quality of this particular Jeffires card is the great action shot, something that as the manufacturers’ solidified their desperate hold on the soft market- began to slide off a precipice and into the sideline/ warmup gutter.

 

NFL

Duncan, Curtis (2)

ud91 cduncantosc92 duncansky92col duncanpset91 duncanflr91 duncanto90 duncanmem cduncanCD and Jeffires

Cards: Upper Deck 1991, Topps Stadium Club 1992, Skybox ‘Colors’ 1992-1993, ProSet 1991, Photo memorabilia, Fleer 1991, Topps 1990
Acquired: IP, 10/21/14 GMC NFL MNF Tour
See Also: Curtis Duncan

A great example of planning ahead, I didn’t miss a beat when they had a last second cancellation of Ernest Givins for the GMC Event in Katy, Tx. With Curtis Duncan in the fold as Givins replacement, I merely went out to the car and dug around in the Houston Texans Ambassador box I had until I located the extra cards. I am fond of the Skybox ‘Colors’ set. I stopped collecting roughly about the time that this set came in. On all the cards that I have of Curtis, he is never smiling- but he was just all that at the Monday Night Football event. From what I could gather, Curtis had not seen Haywood in some time.

CD and meAgain, just with Haywood, there wasn’t too much of a demand and since the gatekeepers were so weak I just used my ‘Jedi autograph collecting mind tricks’ to get all of these signed items from Curtis. I recited most of his bio correctly, and then talked to him about being one of the most underrated receivers  and one of the best late round finds (10th round) in league history. He asked me about my hat, which I clarified was classic and not vintage, because I was the original owner from 1992. When he signed all my cards I disappointingly looked at him and said, “Why didn’t you sign it with a Bible inscription, like you do through the mail?” Curtis’ eyes widened and he got up from behind the desk with a giant smile on his face. He said, “Oh man! Well let me sign this,” Handed me the photo and continued, “Tell me, did you ever think you were going to get those back from me? It’s always good to meet one of my real fans.”  He took this great photo with me and said, “Take care of that awesome hat Lee!” It was an awesome experience and I will definitely go out of my way to see Curtis again.