Tag Archives: memphis southmen

NFL, wfl

Kiick, Jim ‘Butch Cassidy’ (1946-2020)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, AU-125

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997 Certified
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2022

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jim Kiick played RB at Wyoming from 1965-’67.
  • He totaled 431 carries for 1714 yards and 10 TDs rushing, to go along with 52 receptions for 561 yards and 5 TDs.
  • Well lauded, he led the Cowboys in rushing all 3 years, and the team to the Sun Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
  • Kiick was selected in the 5th round of the 1968 AFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
  • He’d go on to play for the Dolphins for the next seven seasons, where Jim established himself as a wonderful compliment to Larry Czonka in the backfield as a receiver, rusher, and blocker.
  • In 1969, Kiick led the AFL with 9 rushing TDs.
  • He’d have a career high 1,155 yards from scrimmage the following year in 1970.
  • And in 1971, rushed for a career high 738 yards.
  • Czonka and Kiick were known affectionately as ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ thanks in part to their drunken debauchery on road games.
  • In each of his first 4 seasons, Kiick had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
  • Over a period of time however, new players such as Mercury Morris and Paul Warfield were introduced to the team, eating into Kiick’s playing time and touches.
  • He and Larry shocked the football world when in 1975 Jim, Paul, and Larry jumped ship for the World Football League.
  • They all played for the Memphis Southmen.
  • Jim ran for 462 yards on 121 carries, scoring 9 TDs, while also catching 25 passes for 259 yards and a TD.
  • After the league folded, Jim returned to the NFL where he played the ’76 season for the Broncos.
  • He played the majority of the ’77 season with Denver, and finished out the year with the Redskins.
  • Jim had a variety of pursuits he chased after his NFL time ended, including private investigation, and owned a self-titled sports promotion company.

ACCOLADES:

  • Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame
  • Pro Bowl 1968, ’69

NOTES:

By the time I was back collecting and targeting this set, Jim had already started deteriorating rapidly from dementia- and he was one of the many players that had been diagnosed with CTE. It made me deeply sad, so I didn’t want to trouble him for his autograph during this private time of his life, even though he was still participating in private signings.

It’s difficult for me to talk about this subject. Care giving for one who is experiencing issues with mental cognition hits home for me. My grandfather suffered from Alzheimer’s near the end of his life in his 90s. He had to be placed into a senior care center. I just remember the last time I saw him, it was my birthday, and he thought I worked for him at the plant- somewhere he hadn’t been to in 30 years.

EPITAPH:

6/20/20- Jim had battled dementia and had been living in a assisted living community. He passed away at the age of 73. It was later confirmed that Kiick had suffered from CTE.

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
102937593.72956
RECYDSAVGTDLG
23323029.9453
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
1214623.8916
WFL
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2525910.4126
Arena, College Football HoF, NFL, wfl

White, Danny


Card: Photo Memorabilia
Acquired: Austin City Wide Garage Sale 1996

Danny White was originally a 3rd round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1974 (during the heyday of Tom Landry) after graduating from Arizona State but opted to play for the Memphis Southmen in the WFL.  After winning All WFL honors after the season, he’d sign with the Cowboys in 1975 as backup to Roger Staubach and the team’s punter. When Staubach finally retired in 1980, White would have to be one of the many bearers of the Staubach legacy. He’d get in more trouble by siding with owners during the strike shortened 1984 season, finally culminating in a quarterback controversy with Gary Hogeboom. White would continuously battle back, posting a 62-30 record as a starter for the Cowboys during the 80s, but while the team was a perennial playoff contender through a great deal of the decade, fans typically remember only what you’ve done for them lately. An injury plagued 1988, coupled by the team’s woeful 3-13 record would lead to Tom Landry’s dismissal after Jerry Jones purchased the franchise. White would retire in 1989 shortly before the franchise drafted Troy Aikman to lead them into the Cowboys’ “Second Golden Age”.

Danny White has never truly gotten his due, perhaps in part because he had to follow up Roger Staubach, or that his touchdown (5.3) to interception (4.3) were uncomfortably close. White also was only named to the Pro Bowl 1 year- in 1982 where he did double duty as starting quarterback and punter.

Danny went right into coaching for the AFL with the Arizona Rattlers from 1992-2004, and the Utah Blaze from 2005-2008. His Rattlers would always contend for the title, winning Arena BowlVIII and XI and is currently involved in public speaking. His 141-65 record with the Rattlers is 2nd all-time in AFL history and he was inducted into the AFL HoF in 2002. Arizona would later honor him with the “Sportsman of the Century” award and in 1997 he was inducted into the College Football HoF.

G/Gs 166/92    Att 2950   Comp 1761     Yds 21959    Pct 59.7     Td 155     Int 132     Rat 81.7
Rush 159     Yds   482    Avg  3.0     Td 8     Lg   48
P  610           Yds  24509     Avg 40.2      Blk 5    Lg   73