Tag Archives: Hamilton Tiger-Cats

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Jones, Myron ‘Iron Myron’

ultwlaf92 mjones psetwlaf91 mjonesCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:  7/30   Received: 8/27   (28 days)

Myron ran for 863 yards and scored 15 touchdowns as a Senior at Fresno State in 1989.  An 11th round pick of the then Los Angeles Raiders, he’d be cut in camp before the regular season, and join the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Released by the Ti-cats, Jones attracted attention of the WLAF and was selected in the first round (4th overall) of the positional draft by the Orlando Thunder.

A Run ‘N Shoot team coached by Don Matthews, the Thunder were predictably reliant on the pass. Although Iron was more of a fullback, he still managed to take the field on opening day and ended up as Orlando’s leading rusher in 1991 with 288 yards. His best games came against San Antonio, rushing for 85 yards on 15 carries. Myron later followed that up with a 14 carry 65 yard effort against the Birmingham Fire.

Myron currently lives in California where he is a Deputy Probation Officer for LA county.  He takes pride in helping juveniles get the help they need and become positive contributing members of society. Myron very much liked these cards and asked for a few extra. He is also friends with the ‘Fresno WLAF Connection’- in particular: Dwight Pickens, Andre Alexander, and Kevin Sweeney.

He inscribed two bible verses along with the autographs.

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Epheisians 6:11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Awesome. I love testaments. It really says a lot about the character of the former player, who they are, and what they stand for.

WLAF   Rush 68     Yds 288     Avg  4.2   Td  2
Rec  14    Yds 133    Avg 9.5    Td 0

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Gelbaugh, Stan (2)

Card: Ultimate WLAF 1992 Promo
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 5/23    Received: 6/14    (22 days)
See Also: Stan Gelbaugh ‘Blueprint’

“Well he was one of the real good players over there with the London Monarchs there. He’s played a lot of football in his life and I know that he counts that time with London as one of the highlights- and to be the World Bowl champ in year number one and to be a part of that team, I know he has great memories.”

– Former SA Riders QB and Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett on Stan Gelbaugh

So I had this one last card of Stan Gelbaugh,- part of a promo pack given to fans upon entry during a 1992 WLAF game. I think I got them all, but I only had a few of them or a rare single here and there. There are two differences when you look at the promo cards: First, the front has a different color stripe than the default team. Second, with some rarety, the photo of the player can be different. Finally the back touts the Ultimate brand and their million dollar promotion they were doing that year if you spelled out the word WORLD. Some of the promotions were in different languages as well. I am not sure how many made it into circulation- little less what players are officially covered in this mini set. The demand is low so they probably aren’t worth much, but for a collector like me, it holds value. This is an otherwise great card of Stan, and I actually prefer the promo with the alternate stripe in yellow and black over the base card set.

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Smith, Irvin ‘Irv’

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Cards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wild Card WLAF 1992, JOGO 1994, JOGO 1995, JOGO 1997, JOGO 1999, JOGO 2000, JOGO 2001.
Acquired:  TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:    2/9       Received: 3/13   (31 days)

Irvin Smith played collegiality for Maryland from 1985 to 1988. Unable to make it on the roster of the Jets, Irvin joined the London Monarchs of the WLAF in 1991. There he made 2 picks for 8 yards as the team finished with a 9-1 record as a talented defense shut down the Dragons in jogo94 ismithWorld Bowl jogo95 ismithI 21-7.

After a short stint on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL, Smith returned to the Monarchs in 1992.  Although the team did not meet the same success from the previous season, Irv stepped up and recorded another 2 interceptions that season.
The league restructured after the season, so Irvin took his talents back to the CFL settling on the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  In 1993 he returned to the NFL and was on the roster of both the Redskins and Vikings.

jogo97 ismithjogo99 ismithThe CFL had been eyeing the US market for a long time, so in 1994 they decided to expand
southward, selecting locations such as Las Vegas, Sacramento, Baltimore, and Shreveport. Irv signed with the Baltimore Colts (later CFLers/Stallions). He made an immediate impact in Don Matthews defense, pulling down 6 interceptions for 97 yards where the Stallions made their first appearance in the Grey Cup. Although the team lost to the BC Lions, Irvin and the Stallions won the Grey Cup the following season and Smith had established quite a reputation as a dangerous defender to pass against. As the CFL contracted due to jogo01 ismithjogo00 ismithfinancial issues and the NFL gave Baltimore the Ravens, the Stallions moved up to Montreal and became the Alouettes in 1996.

Irvin at first didn’t feel like making the move, but went ahead and joined the franchise in Montreal. It’d be a new chapter in Smith’s career, and a very productive one at that with 6 interceptions for 105 yards and a TD in ’96. He’d follow it up with two back to back 3 interception season in 1997 and 1998.  Smith had his finest season in 1999, hawking 7 interceptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. Irvin played for 2 additional years in Montreal, retiring after the 2001 season.

Smith returned to the Baltimore area where he lives today and is a firefighter. I had been trying to track Smith down for sometime finally locating his address through the White pages. After sending to the address I found in Maryland, I got an RTS with a forwarding address in Florida. I turned it around and sent it to the other address the next day. About a month later I got this stuffed envelope full of cards and a nice letter from Irvin. I had only sent Smith his 2 WLAF cards, but he stuffed it with all his JOGO cards and a nice letter.

 

WLAF    Tac N/a   Sac N/a   Fum N/a
Int 4     Yds 23     Avg 5.8     TD 0    Lg 15

CFL   Tac 329     Sac 1.0      Fum 10
Int 31    Yds 352     Avg 11.4      Td 2      Lg 54