Tag Archives: Miami Dolphins

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.

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WFL
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Uncategorized

Cox, Bryan (2)

Action Packed Rookies 1991, #73

CARD: Action Packed Rookies 1991
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Work
SENT: 11/18/23 RECEIVED: 6/15/24 (203 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Bryan Cox
  • In 2012, joined the Buccaneers for a 2 year stint as a defensive line coach.
  • Following that Bryan coached DL for the Falcons from 2014-’16.
  • In 2022, Bryan began- coaching with the Giants in 2022 as an assistant line coach.

NOTES:

You know- no risk, no reward. I went ahead and shot this card out as it was a strong set need for me. He had previously sent it back unsigned way back in… 2011. In fact he had sent back any rookie cards unsigned, so the fact I got his Score Supplemental 92 seemed like a win for me since it was that set’s first card of him.

Anyway 200+ days later, here it surprisingly was. A big win for me, and a great card in this set to get autographed.

NFL

Hill, Randal ‘Thrill’

Gameday 1992, #212
Action Packed Rookies 1992, #66
Action Packed Rookies 1991, #41

CARDS: Star Pics 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1992, Gameday 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2017, C/o Home. TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 9/19/2017 RECEIVED: 7/13/2024 (2489 days)
SENT: 2/1/2021 RECEIVED: 2/22/2021 (21 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Randal Hill converted from DB to WR in college playing for the Miami Hurricanes from 1988-’90.
  • He caught 107 passes for 1643 yards and 11 TDs, while also returning 54 kickoffs for 1169 yards.
  • A first round choice of the Miami Dolphins in 1991.
  • Traded to the Phoenix Cardinals early on during the season for a first round pick in 1992.
  • Had a career high 58 catches for 861 yards and 3 TDs in 1992.
  • After 1993 season, signed with the Miami Dolphins, playing for them through 1996.
  • Played a final season in New Orleans in 1997, catching 55 passes for 761 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Caught career long 89 yard game winning TD against Chicago in ’97 .
  • Signed with Chicago in 1998 but didn’t make the squad and opted to retire.
  • Worked in law enforcement after retirement, and dabbled in politics.
Star Pics 1992, #17

NOTES:

Randal had been on my list for years and I sent out to him in 2017. Never getting him back, I tried again 3 years later and got him on three set needs: Action Packed Rookies 1991, ’92, and his Gameday card. I assumed that the mail gods had eaten my previous attempt back in ’17.

Well lo and behold to my surprise waiting for me at my in-laws house was this envelope. Among them was two more Action Packed Rookies cards and the original Star Pics card from 2017.

Earlier this year Paxton Lynch took the number two spot on my longest waits, and now it looks like this one dethrones it by a little over 100 days.

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