Pro Set Platinum 1991, #175Topps Stadium Club 1992, #122
CARDS: Pro Set Platinum 1991, Topps Stadium Club 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2024, C/o Home SENT: 5/6 RECEIVED: 7/1 (56 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Kevin Gogan was a big and agile lineman who played college ball at Washington.
A 3 year starter at Tackle, he also possessed the ability to kick in at guard in a pinch.
Selected in the 1987 NFL Draft by the Cowboys in the 8th round, he was one of the last big draft steals of the Tom Landry era in Dallas.
As the Cowboys continued to rebuild their OL, Gogan provided valuable depth and saw action at every position across the line (with the exception of center) and as a 3rd tight end.
Helped pave the way for Emmitt Smith‘s early rushing success.
Signed with the Raiders in 1994 and started at RG.
Played for LA/ Oakland through 1996.
Signed with the 49ers in 1997 where he became entrenched at RG.
Traded to Dolphins in ’99 and played a season with the team.
Finished career as a member of the San Diego Chargers in 2000.
Loves the sport and is a high school coach and color commentator.
Started 179 of 213 contests.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1994, ’97, ’98
2nd Team All Pro 1998
NOTES:
Great autographs here on some nice cards of Kevin. Love the red paint pen he used. You can tell because the ink looks a bit flatter than the conventional sharpie. Over his career Kevin only had 17 cards- of which the Pro Set Platinum 1991 is considered his rookie card.
I never got Kevin at Cowboys training camp. I think the only OL I could corner was Nate Newton because he was such a popular personality.
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.
RUSH
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
1029
3759
3.7
29
56
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
233
2302
9.9
4
53
RUSH
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
121
462
3.8
9
16
WFL
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
25
259
10.4
1
26
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
