I hadn’t gotten Pat since the 90s and since he had a very inspirational looking Classic 1991 card, I thought I’d reload and send a few out. A solid signer TTM he, took care of all four cards in under 30 days.
CARD: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991 ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Gene Upshaw played OL for Texas A&I from 1963-’66.
He was selected by Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1967 draft.
Considered one of the finest OL to ever play, was a fixture at OG for the Raiders for 16 seasons.
Has numerous distinctions on resume, including being the first player to appear in a Super Bowl in 3 different decades, and most consecutive starts to begin NFL career (231).
Offensive team captain for 9 seasons (1973-’81).
Was a firsthand witness to many of the NFL’s most memorable games such as the Ghost to the Post, The Sea of Hands, and the Holly Roller.
During NFL career became extremely active in union activity with the NFLPA, eventually ascending to Executive Director.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Football Hall of Fame
All Pro 1970, ’74, ’77
Second Team All Pro 1971-’73, ’75
Pro Bowl 1972-’77
All AFL All Star 1968
NFL All Decade Team 1970s
Byron Whizzer White Award 1980
NFL 75th Anniversary Team
NFL 100th Anniversary Team
Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
1982 A. Phillip Randolph Award
NOTES:
Gene had long passed by the time I got around to this set, so I thought it’d be a challenge to get any of the deceased players. Much to my amazement his autograph showed up a few years ago on EBay on this exact card- but I forgot to place a bid and missed out on it. I was kicking myself for quite a while on it until this one popped up at the same time Willie Davis appeared. I pulled the trigger on both and was able to add both of them to my collection.
It should be noted that Gene’s autograph… is upside down.
EPITAPH:
9/20/2008- Gene passed away suddenly from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by friends and family at the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA. He was 63.
After his passing his family established a foundation in his name, and an annual golf tournament to help cover patient and family costs, at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center.
Big Ted Washington played defensive line for Louisville finishing with 297 total tackles, 27 sacks, 1 FF, and 1 INT.
He’d be selected at the bottom of round one by the San Fransisco 49ers in 1991.
Washington made his time primarily at NT, before hopping over to DT in ’93.
He’d be traded to the Broncos in 1994, where Ted showed glimpses of what he could do- just from the NT position.
It’d be in ’95 Ted transitioned to Buffalo, where he established himself as one of the most dominant NT of the 90s.
He’d play 6 seasons there for the Bills, posting 378 total tackles, and 19.5 sacks.
Big Ted hopped over to the Bears in 2001- anchoring their line through the 2002 season at DT, thus beginning Ted’s hired gun phase of his career.
Ted from here played a season with New England in 2003, Oakland in ’04-’05, closing out his career in ’06-’07 as a member of the Browns.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1997-’98, 2000- ’01
All-Pro 2001
NOTES:
Big Ted doesn’t really sign through the mail so I decided to pick up this set need via EBay. I was comfortable picking up this autograph since it was from a collector located in Buffalo.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
763
34.5
3
2
5
2.5
0
11
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
