Tag Archives: Orlando Thunder

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Mitchel, Eric

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The New England Patriots

A backup runningback to Barry Sanders, Eric Mitchel was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1989 during the 6th round from Oklahoma. A tremendous athlete with deceptive speed Mitchel would not make the final roster of the Patriots. Instead he’d go onto greater glory in the WLAF drafted in the 2nd round of the positional draft by the Orlando Thunder in 1991. Mitchel would be used primarily as a receiver through the first half of the season, but soon thereafter was inserted back into his native runningback position. He’d tear it up- rushing for an impressive 6.7 yards a carry. Eric even got some kick return time in with 276 yards on 8 returns, and a whopping 34.5 yards. The Ultimate 1992 card also depicts him making a throw- which he completed for a touchdown of 53 yards. His impressive all around 1991 season would ultimately result in Eric being named 2nd team All World.

Eric would return to the NFL in 1992 signing with the Cowboys, but was waived in March of that year. Mitchel would move up to the CFL where he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos helping them win the 81st Grey Cup in 1993. In 1994, Mitchel would play for the Las Vegas Posse in the CFLUSA, -unfortunately the most unsuccessful CFLUSA team. After 9 seasons in football, Mitchel retired but has spent time in real estate in and around Dallas, Tx.  Of note, you probably have seen the former Thunder player on late night TV as if you look closely at the security detail- you may just see him on the TV show “Cheaters” as one of the blurred out private investigators.

G 10   Rush 42    Yds  281   Avg  6.7    Lg 58   Td  3   |   Rec  26    Yds  312    Avg 12.0   Lg  75    Td 1
Kr  8   Yds  276   Avg 34.5     Lg  96t    Td  1   |  Att 1  Comp 1  Yds 53  Pct 100  Td  1   Int 0  Rat 158.3

Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

Baumann, Charlie

Card: Ultimate 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, Patriots Blitz

I struck out badly with most of the Orlando Thunder trying to get autographs as there was a massive amount of turnover on the franchise from 1991 to 1992, so many of the WLAF ProSet cards I had were completely out of date. I got lucky when I sent a stack to the Patriots that year and Baumann was on the team.

Charlie bounced around a lot, being treated as a stop-gap by many teams before landing comfortably in Orland0- twice. From 1989 to 1991, Baumann would fail at tryouts for the Bills and Seahawks but would find a home with the Orlando Thunder in the WLAF in 1991, finishing 3rd in scoring in the fledgling league with 54 points. Charlie was solid inside the 35, but wildly inconsistent only making 2 of 7 from outside of 40 yards. When the 1991 season ended, he was signed quickly by the Dolphins who needed a quick fix to replace injured Pete Stoyanovich for a few games, but when Stoyanovich returned, Baumann would be out of a job. After losing the kicking competition to Al Del Greco in Houston, Charlie then’d sign almost immediately with the Patriots where he’d finish the season, and play through the next season before losing the kicking job to Matt Bahr. Charlie would head North of the border and play in the CFL replacing controversial Donald Igwebuike at kicker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1994 and in 1996 Baumann would move to the AFL where he played for the Orlando Predators through the 1997 season.  Since retiring Baumann has earned another 2 degrees and lives comfortably in Orlando. Below are his statistics from the 1991 WLAF season.

G/GS  10/10      Pat 24/26     Fga 16     Fgm  10      Pct .625    Blk 1     lg 48

NFL, WLAF

Dunbar, Karl

Cards: Ultimate WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o  The Minnesota Vikings
Sent: 6/11  Received: 6/18   (7 days)

After playing at LSU (Karmichael) ‘Karl’ was drafted by the Steelers in 1990 and then played for the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF in 1992 finishing tied for first on the team with 5.5 sacks. (He appeared in World Bowl II.) After the league reorganized, Karl became a journeyman, playing for the Saints for one year then jumping to the Cardinals for the next two retiring at the end of 1995 after playing for the Rhein Fire of the NFLE. With an insatiable love for the game, coaching had gotten in Karl’s blood, and he began to start working his way up the ranks starting from the high school level soon after. In 1998 he started coaching in college and in 2004 he was back in the pros working for the Bears. As of 2010 he’s in his 5th season as defensive line coach of the Minnesota Vikings.  He is attributed with the success and emergence of the ‘Williams Wall’ and is considered to be a master technician. His name has been thrown around recently for head coaching jobs in college as well.

Karl is an interesting and engaging alumni. (Karl has vitiligo, a skin pigmentation discoloration that affects about 1 percent of the population and is decorated with fraternity tattoos on his arms and elbows.) In between his time as a player in 1991, he put his degree to work as an undercover police officer helping make drug stings and was nicknamed ‘the battering ram’. At the World Bowl II media event day, Karl actually sought out media to answer questions for, even stating to one intrepid reporter, “Why haven’t you asked me a question yet?”

Another former WLAFer, I was witness to the Thunder’s victory over the San Antonio Riders that season in 1992. The Riders kept it close till the 3rd quarter but then got blown out late. (Because there was only 3 divisions in the WLAF, the Riders who were really the 3rd best team in the league, didn’t make the playoffs that year, despite being 7-3.) I never got the cards for Karl until recently and sent them out with the photo memorabilia of the game for him. He responded in about a week, I’m sure feeling quite good about himself because his defensive linemen probably get all the autograph requests.

(Thunder)  Games 10      Tac   N/a          Sac 5.5       FF  N/a    Int 0    Yds 0     Avg -.-       TD 0