Tag Archives: philadelphia soul

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Hammel, Todd

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Insert
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2025
FAILURE: TTM 2013, C/O WORK. TTM 2017, C/O HOME. TTM 2022, C/O HOME. TTM 2024, C/O WORK

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Todd Hammel played QB three years at SF Austin from 1987-’89.
  • He had a year to remember in 1989, tossing for a whopping 5,364 yards and 48 TDs on 316 of 577 throws (23 interceptions).
  • A twelfth round pick of the Bucs in 1990.
  • Cut, he spent about a week on the Falcons later that year.
  • Hammel was selected by the New York/ New Jersey Knights in the 1991 WLAF positional draft.
  • He’d start the first contest in franchise history against the Barcelona Dragons, but was supplanted in the lineup by Jeff Graham.
  • Throughout the season, Hammel saw spotty playing time.
  • Signed with the Arena Football League in 1992 and joined the Dallas Texans.
  • After two seasons in Dallas, this led to a stint with the Fort Worth Calvary in 1994.
  • Then in 1995, it was off to Milwaukee where he saw his greatest success.
  • In 1998, Todd threw for 60 TDs and 3,100 yards.
  • Later in 1999, he became the first Arena player to throw for 300 TDs, 1,500 completions and 18,000+ yards.
  • From 2000 on, Todd entered the journeyman phase of his career, with stops no longer than a season playing for the Bobcats (’00), Thunderbears (’01), Rampage (’02), Gladiators (’03), Soul (’04), Rush (’05), and Crush (’06).
  • After a 2 year break from the AFL, Hammel returned again to play for the Iron (’09), Sharks/Rush (’10), and finally with the Blaze (’11).
  • Todd has gone into coaching and has been teaching in the Dallas, Tx area.

ACCOLADES:

  • J Association Hall of Fame 2003
  • SFA Hall of Fame 2003
  • AFL All-Star 1993

NOTES:

As you can see here, I’ve tried Todd quite a few times. One time I even asked a TTM friend of mine who worked in a neighboring school district if he could hit him up for me. No dice on that even. I saw a few successes on him throughout the years so I always wondered what gived? Furthermore I even got a ringing endorsement from his former teammate at SF Austin- Melvin Patterson, to hit Todd up. So after 4 attempts, I spied out an autograph on eBay and pulled the trigger.

That being said, I can finally close the book on the Pro Set 1991 Series II World League player inserts. The 32 card set- not including the 10 helmets, was a laborious effort, as many of these players I really had to work to find their addresses. Two of them were dead when I restarted the project, so I got lucky with Mike Lynn and Jack Elway. Later I also added the only international name in Jacques Dussault. Over the years, I had to eBay out Mark Maye, Ben Bennett– and Todd.

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552532145.52353.739
WLAF
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396422552802256.944215091.0N/A
ARENA
Arena, NFL

Colston, Marques

CARD: Score 2009
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Marques Colston played WR at Hofstra from 2001-’05.
  • Over his college career he appeared in 40 games, catching 182 passes for a career school-record 2,834 yards and 18 touchdowns.
  • Selected in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.
  • He immediately formed a bond with QB Drew Brees scoring a TD in his first game.
  • Caught a career high 86 yard TD against the Carolina Panthers.
  • Finished rookie season with 70 receptions for 1,038 yards and 8 TDs.
  • Marques’ 2007 season was his best, posting career highs in catches (98), yards (1,202) and TDs (11).
  • In his first 7 seasons, Colston went over 1,000 yards 6 times, and over 900 in 8 of 9 seasons.
  • With injuries and the emergence of young talent, Marques was released after the 2015 season.
  • At the time of his release, he held numerous Saints’ career and single game receiving records.
  • He’s invested into Spring Football numerous times first with the Harrisburg Stampede of the PIFL (2012-’14).
  • Then from 2015-’19 he was a minority owner of the AFL Philadelphia Soul.
  • Colston continued to invest in the AFL with the Albany Empire (2018-’19), and the Atlantic City Blackjacks (2019).

ACCOLADES:

  • Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2021
  • Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame
  • New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame

NOTES:

The market seems to be in a downturn, and now some decent names are becoming reasonably priced for sets I like. I have been looking for something that had to do with Colston for a long time, so I snatched this up when the seller made me an offer on one of my favorite 2009 sets.

You don’t hear much about Hofstra as a football team, and that’s because in 2009, the school sadly discontinued its football program. -Colston has the dubious honor of being the last player drafted out of that school.

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Arena, NFL, NFLE

Kubiak, Jim (2)

Bowman 2000 Chrome, #154
Leaf Rookies & Stars 2000, #276
Topps 2000, #356

CARDS: Bowman 2000, Topps 2000, Leaf Rookies & Stars 2000
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Work
SENT: 4/18 RECEIVED: 7/15 (88 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Jim had a few cards that came out at the turn of the century that I came across. After researching possible places he lived, I took a shot at where he’s currently coaching. Jim Kubiak is not related to former coach Gary Kubiak.