Tag Archives: New York Jets

NFL, usfl

Eatman, Irv

Gameday 1992, #201
Pro Set 1989, #170
Score 1990, #76

CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Score 1990, Gameday 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/18/22 RECEIVED: 6/2/22 (15 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Clocking in at 6’6″, 271, big OT Irv Eatman played college ball at UCLA.
  • He was moved to OT in his Senior season after playing DL most of his career at the school.
  • Selected by both the Philadelphia Stars (USFL) and the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) in the respective drafts for each league.
  • He opted to join the USFL playing for the Birmingham Stars in 1984.
  • In 1986, after the USFL collapsed, Irv took his trench work to the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Irv saw action at both RT and LT, before a knee injury cost him his starting job in 1990.
  • Eatman signed as a FA with the New York Jets in 1991, helping shore up their OL.
  • 1993 saw Irv return out west playing for the Rams, who needed help on the line after the retirement of Jackie Slater.
  • The next season, he’d play for the Falcons- but only saw action in 4 games.
  • I seem to remember at this point Irv was considered a bit washed up coming into his 13th season.
  • The HOUSTON Oilers signed him in 1995 and I remember not being too enthusiastic about the signing.
  • But much to my surprise I was wrong, Irv came through, and in fact started all final 16 games of his career in 1996 in H-Town.
  • Irv went into coaching starting in1999 coaching with the Packers and Steelers (’00), as an OL coach.
  • In 2001, Irv joined Dick Vermeil’s staff in KC, where he coached the OL through the 2005 season.
  • After coaching for the Raiders in 2006, Irv decided to step away from professional coaching to spend more time with family and raising his son.
  • Since then he’s done a lot of charitable work, and worked in youth sports camps.

ACCOLADES:

  • All USFL All-Star 1984-’86
  • USFL Man of the Year

NOTES:

Irv had some great cards, and with two of them being set needs, I sent these two out. As an added bonus he was also a HOUSTON Oiler.

NFL

Merriweather, Mike

Gameday 1992, #57
Pro Set 1989, #467
Action Packed 1991, #158

CARDS: Skybox 1992, Action Packed 1991, Proset 1989, Gameday 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: RECEIVED: (days)*
*fee enclosed

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mike Merriweather played linebacker for Pacific from 1978-’81.
  • Playing in 33 contests he had 4 interceptions for 67 yards and a TD.
  • Third round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1982.
  • After suiting up for 9 contests in ’82 became a full-time starter in 1983.
  • Dominant linebacker, had an impressive run from 1984-’86.
  • Had a career high 15 sacks in 1985.
  • After the shortened ’87 strike season, Merriweather held out the entire 1988 season.
  • He’d be traded in 1989 to the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Returned to form, starting 63 games with 7 picks, and 7 fumble recoveries.
  • Finished out career splitting the 1993 season with the Packers and Jets.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1984-’86
  • Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame
Skybox 1992, #158

NOTES:

Mike had some great cards along the way. Total intimidator shots- but these as set needs definitely came first. He was kind enough to sign all of these with a small donation, personalizing each one- which I don’t mind at all. I remember getting Mike’s 1989 Pro Set card as a kid. I was pretty disappointed that he was in his off season gear.

Mike was one of a group of rare players who challenged the NFL’s bargaining contract by sitting out the entire ’88 season from the Steelers, until he forced the trade in 1989 that sent him to Minnesota.

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N/a41.0161829916.6473
College Football HoF, NFL

Casillas, Tony (2)

Pro Set 1990, #31
Pro Set 1989, #6
Score 1990, #658
Action Packed 1990, #3
Fleer 1990, #372
Score 1989, #162
Topps 1992, #135
Topps 1988, #391
Fleer 1992, #79
Skybox 1992, #136
Topps Stadium Club 1995, #112

CARDS: Skybox 1992, Topps Stadium Club 1995, Topps 1988, Topps 1992, Fleer 1992, Action Packed 1990, Fleer 1990, Score 1989, Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Score 1990
ACQUIRED: IP, 2023

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Well I thought I was going to this event but my wife made me scrap my plans at the last second. In stepped in my friend Mark in a pinch. He helped me knock out Tony on my set needs and then quite a few others, that he just had extras of. He knocked out the Skybox, Pro Set, Action Packed and Fleer needs just like that.

I hadn’t gotten any cards of him in his Jets uniform, so this one was an added bonus in a time I wasn’t collecting. Topps Stadium Club’s logo was a product of the time- as the late 90s was all about looking edgy. Lol I absolutely hate it.

Tony’s Score 1990 is an oddity. He feels like an afterthought in the set as he’s the final card after all the 1990 Rookie cards.