Tag Archives: fleer 1990

NFL

Bates, Bill

Cards: ProSet 1989, Fleer 1990, Score 1989
Acquired: In Person 1990, 1992, 1997, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Bill Bates is a special player and is one of those players of Dallas Cowboys lore. Undrafted out of Tennessee in 1983, he’d sign a free agent contract with Tom Landry’s Cowboys, where Bates excelled as a fan favorite and a special teams commando.. Undersized and considered slow, Bates had a heart and a motor that made up for both of those shortcomings. His ability to get down the field and uncannily make the jarring hit on the returner was so unbelievable that the NFL basically created a special teamer’s slot in the Pro Bowl just for him. He was named AP and to the Pro Bowl in 1984.  Bill early in his career was also utilized well on safety blitzes as he made 9 sacks over his first two seasons. He had a career high 4 interceptions in 1985 and a career high 124 tackles in 1988 from his strong safety position. With a new coach on board (Jimmy Johnson) in 1989 there was some fear that Bates would be cut. Instead he found himself back on special teams again where he remained a key backup with the team through 2 Superbowl victories and retirement after the 1997 season.

Bill has remained quite active since retirement and has spent time as an assistant coach with the Jags and at the high school level. He’s been a motivational speaker, penned his own autobiography and owns a ranch outside of Dallas. -And of course Bill Bates remains a Cowboys spokesperson.

G/Gs 217/47    Tac 667      Sac 18      Fum 7     Int 14    Yds 122     Avg 8.7     Td 0      lg 29

NFL

Lohmiller, Chip

Cards: Pacific 1992, Topps Stadium Club 1992, Score 1990, Score 1991, Pro Set 1993 PB, Fleer 1990
Acquired: In person, CGA Youth Golf Tournament 1993

Minnesota Golden Gopher kicker Chip Lohmiller would be taken in the second round of the 1988 draft. The Redskins were in desperate shape to locate a kicker and hadn’t had consistency at the position since Matt Moseley left. In fact the previous season 4 different players kicked extra points for the team during the 1987 season. With Lohmiller the team immediately fixed their kicking problem, and in fact made a massive upgrade at the position. The Redskins were one of those teams that weren’t embarrassed to take field goals and in the competitive and defensive NFC East, it certainly did help to have an accurate kicker with a booming leg. From 1989 -1992 Lohmiller would lead the league in field goal attempts making at least 40 attempts each season. He’d also lead the league in 1991 and 1992 hitting 31 and 30 field goals respectively. In fact in 1991 his 143 points were more than the entire Indianapolis Colts squad put up combined. Lohmiller could have probably had a long career with the Redskins and it is assumed that the team which was hemorrhaging in the new age of the salary cap made the agonizing decision to let him go. 1995 would see a short season for the New Orleans Saints- and his 1996, which would be his final, Lohmiller would finish out his career with the St. Louis Rams. Since football Lohmiller has taken up coaching and is currently a highly regarded coach at the high school level. While at the CGA Youth Golf Tournament in 1993 he’d sign all the cards I provided for him. He apparently is a great golfer with at one point a -3 handicap.

G/Gs 135/135    Xpa 309    Xpm 301   Pct 97.4%     Fga 284    Fgm 204   Pct 71.8

NFL

Butts, Marion

Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Fleer 1990, Action Packed 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent: 2/3  Received: 3/26  (51 days)

The Chargers found a steal when they reached in the top of the 7th round of the infamous 1989 draft for little known Marion Butts out of Florida State. In his rookie season in 1989 he’d come in off the bench during the last 5 games rumbling for  683 yards and 9 touchdowns, including a game in which he single-handedly dominated the Chiefs rushing for 176 yards. Slipping under the radar when he was drafted, many had pegged Butts as purely a blocking fullback or perhaps special teams hitter (with his 6-1 248 frame)  however his style would define the Chargers run game for nearly 5 seasons. Marion’s sophomore season would prove that his surprising rookie season was not a fluke as he galloped for a career high 1225 yards making his first ProBowl.  Butts would follow this season up with an additional ProBowl in 1991- but would only start 8 games. With the emergence of Natrome Means, Butts would play for the Chargers through the 1993 season and finish up his career there with around 4300 yards. In 1994 Marion would hop over to play for Bill Parcells and the New England Patriots helping the team make the playoffs with his stout running and 1995 would see Marion’s final season played with the vagabond Houston Oilers where he started 2 games and retired after the season’s conclusion. Since football Butts has tried his hand at coaching the sport at the high school level.

Marion is apparently a great through the mail signer and although I had to wait sometime, he graciously signed 4 cards for me. Butts had some great cards, and the ProSet franchise really framed his running style well. The Tecmo SuperBowl franchise represented him well. One of the vaunted and feared ‘popcorn’ runningbacks, (Heyward, Mack, and Okoye also come to mind) you could literally run at or dive at Butts and he would throw you up in the air like popcorn.

G/Gs 104/73    Rush 1345   Yds  5185   Avg 3.9    Td  43    Lg  52 |
Rec  68    Yds  471    Avg 6.9   Td  1   Lg  46