Tag Archives: indianapolis colts

NFL

Walsh, Steve (2)

pset89 walshCard: Pro Set 89
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 5/3     Received: 5/13  (10 days)
See Also: Walsh, Steve

Steve Walsh is really fair to the TTM community, -well at least at the moment. He signs exactly one piece of memorabilia for fans, and mails it back out, even if you send 3 or 4, he just signs 1. Still he does sign, and he signs for nearly everybody, which is really nice of him to do. This brings up a great topic: sending multiples. I almost always will send at least 2 with few exceptions. It allows me to compare the autographs, and it makes my stamp go a little further. I try not to send more than 4, unless I include a donation or it’s an extremely special circumstance. I don’t want to be an inconvenience and be that guy who ran the well dry.

When I was at Cowboys’ training camp back, oh now, 20 years ago, that first year, I got Steve Walsh in the first few days I was there on a Score 1990 card. I later got this Pro Set card that I intended to get signed, but by the end of that time, Walsh was already traded to the New Orleans Saints. I had a tough choice in the end. There were many fine cards of Steve printed, from his Action Packed 1990 and 1991 cards, to his Score 1990 Supplemental or Pro Set 1990 card and update. In the end I chose this one, as Steve played for a bevvy of teams over his career, after following in the footsteps quarterback greats such as Vinny Testaverde, Bernie Kosar, and Jim Kelly, I felt he was best represented in his college colors from the University of Miami. Great Pro Set card here. I really liked the touch with the helmet up in the top left and the corner flag indicating that he was a #1 pick.

 

NFL, WLAF

Banes, Joey

ultwlaf92 banesCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Work
Sent: 7/11  Received: 7/18  (7 days)

Every once in a while I pull out the stack of WLAF cards and go through them to find players to see if I can register a hit through Google. Joey Banes was one of these lucky finds. I later emailed him where he agreed to sign this card for me. A few days later I got the card back signed, plus a really nice letter, thanking me for updating him with many of the players and reaching out as a fan of the league.

Joey Banes was an 11th round choice of the Houston Oilers in 1990 out of the University of Houston. I would assume that because Jack Pardee was Joey’s college coach there at UH and they ran the Run ‘N Shoot, it was his call to draft Joey. 1990 was a banner year for the University of Houston as Lamar Lathon, Alton Montgomery, Andre Ware, Alfred Oglesby, Craig Veasey, Chris Ellison, and Joey all heard their name on draft day. The thought was Banes could be slipped in as a project player on the practice squad for the team. The injury ridden Colts though signed Joey in November and he was elevated to the regular roster where he played in 3 games for the Colts. After the season, he’d resign as a free agent with the Houston Oilers in 1991.  The Oilers were very deep on the offensive line, and despite Joey getting a little seasoning, he could not crack the roster.

Joey was drafted in the 1st round of the 1992 WLAF draft. He’d be immediately reunited with fellow Oilers 3rd string quarterback Reggie Slack on the New York/ New Jersey Knights. He’d be a perfect fit for the Run N Shoot Knights, as he’d block up front for a ground game that boasted not only Slack, but Eric Wilkerson, and Chris Clairmore. The team saw dividends as the Knights’ sacks allowed were cut almost in half from the previous season (68 to 35), and the total team yards increased from 3728 to 4133.

After the season, the league folded, and Banes hung up his cleats. He currently lives in Houston and works for a communications company where he raises 3 sons, who are all young, aspiring football players as well.

 

NFL

Lowdermilk, Kirk

Card: ProSet 1989
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Kirk Lowdermilk was an offensive lineman out of Ohio State taken in the 3rd round of the 1985 draft. With great measurables at 6’3″, 284, he stepped right in, starting 2 games at center for the team his rookie season and playing mainly on special teams as a long snapper. It wouldn’t be until 1987, that Kirk solidified his regular starting status for the Vikings,  and he’d work hard paving the way for guys like Darrin Nelson, and Alfred Anderson out of the backfield, while snapping to quarterbacks Tommy Kramer and Wade Wilson. At the time he was the league’s youngest starting center at the age of 24. He broke his thumb the following season, in 1988, which caused him to miss 4 games. Still he earned AP honorable mention after the season concluded. The team’s workmanlike approach allowed them to field very consistent playoff caliber teams through the years, and Kirk played for them through 1992.

1993 hearalded the dawn of a new era of free agency, and Kirk cashed in becoming the highest paid lineman in the league. Indianapolis desperately needed new blood on the o-line and Kirk fit the bill.  He did not disappoint, playing for the Colts over the next 4 seasons, retiring after the 1996 campaign. Retired and living in Ohio, Kirk has dabbled in coaching in his spare time.

G/Gs 178/150