Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

NFL, WLAF

Parker, Anthony

Cards: Proset 1991, Proset 1991 WLAF ll, Proset WLAF 1991, Proset WLAF ll, Ultimate 1992 ll, Ultimate 1992
Acquired: TTM C/o Home
Sent:  9/21   Received: 12/5   (81 days)

Anthony Parker was a quick defensive back at Arizona State with impressive speed and among college’s best return men when an injury sidelined him before his senior season. After leaving Arizona State, Parker would be signed by the Colts suiting up for 1 contest notching a tackle in 1989.

Sitting out a year after not making the Jets roster in 1990, Parker was then drafted in the first round of the WLAF player allocation draft in 1991 by the New York- New Jersey Knights where he would make his mark. Parker in 10 games for the Knights made an incredible 11 interceptions for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns. His league leading numbers would help the team make the playoffs in their inaugural season. Anthony would be the only player named unanimously to the All-World Team and was considered the #1 prospect from the WLAF. He would also tie for the league honor of defensive MVP.

Returning back to the NFL, Parker would sign with the Chicago Bears ultimately finishing out with the Kansas City Chiefs suiting up for 2 games. In 1992 Anthony would finally get the shot starting two games for the Vikings- making 3 interceptions. He’d stay there through 1994 before signing with the St. Louis Rams, starting 16 games that season and 14 in the following year in 1996. Parker would also see some time as a punt returner. Anthony would finish out his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1998 posting 4 career interception returns for touchdowns. He finished his NFL career starting 69 games with 15 interceptions for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns and a long of 94 yards- really helping to justify to me one of the major reasons why the WLAF existed.  Below are his statistics from the 1991 WLAF season.

G/Gs 10/10    Tac  43    Sac 0   Fum    Int 11     Yds 270    Avg 24.5    Td 2     Lg 46t

NFL

Cornish IV, Frank (1968-2008)

Card: ProSet 1990
Acquired: In Person 1992, Dallas Cowboys training camp

Following an outstanding career at UCLA, the Chargers in the 1990 draft took Frank Cornish in the 6th round. A well rounded blocker and great locker room presence, Cornish would play with the Chargers through the 1991 season, before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 1992. I had literally heard he was traded and remembered that I had a card of him and just stuffed it into my assortment. From what I remember he was there the next day. Cornish would then block for Cowboys runningback Emmitt Smith over the next season or two providing valuable depth for two seasons earning rings in SuperBowl XXVII and XXVIII. Frank would then head over to the Minnesota Vikings for 7 games after being relased in 1994 and then would then sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars during their innaugural season and play in 3 games in 1995, -finally finishing with the Eagles in 2 final games in 1996 before retiring. He’d appear in a grand total of 69 regular season games.

In his post NFL career Cornish had become a stockbroker working for Wachovia Securities in Southlake, Tx and was involved in numerous charities. Frank had some financial issues after his playing career ended, but still managed to persevere through it all.  Sadly and suddenly on August 22 of 2008, Frank passed away in his sleep of heart disease at the age of 40. He is survived by his wife and 5 children and the city dedicated a park to his honor at Town Square.

CFL, NFL

Wright, Felix

Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990 LL, Upper Deck 1991
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o home  (7 days)
Sent: 10/15  Received: 10/22

My first memory of Felix Wright? -A dominant defensive back in Tecmo Bowl and compliment to fellow safety Frank Minnefield. Beyond that, it should be noted that Felix is a tireless and patient TTM signer who has a quick response rate. I had dug through the boxes and found the ProSet cards of him with that  gold league leader card I had always admired. ProSet was the dominant name back then in football cards, but they quickly wore out their welcome and were out of business by 1995. It’s a shame because their sets were always quite thorough and at least through 1991 designed nicely. Upper Deck on the other hand had been a force in the baseball arena for sometime and was a new player to the burgening market in 1991, but I don’t think they really understood that fans want action shots of football players, and instead UD took the ‘Topps’ route on occasion. Take for example this hideous card of Felix getting his hamstring stretched.

Felix Wright went undrafted coming out of Drake college in 1982. He’d try out for the Oilers, but not make the team, instead opting out and heading North to the CFL playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, being named an All Star in 1984. Wright would then sign as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns- cementing his name as one of the team’s best free agent pickups. A solid DB with a great hands and good speed, Felix was one of the most feared players in the secondary during the late 1980s racking up over 100 interception yards in two straight seasons. His solid defensive play allowed him to lead the league in interceptions in 1990. In 1991, he’d sign Plan B with the Minnesota Vikings where Felix would play for two seasons, before retiring in 1993 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

G/Gs  121/84   Tac  N/a   Sac N/a    Fum 6      Int 29      Yds 492        Avg 16.9     Td 2     Lg 68