Tag Archives: press pass 1996

NFL

Alstott, Mike

CARDS: Press Pass 1995, Upper Deck College Legends 2011
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o The Mike Alstott Foundation*
SENT: 1/11/21 RECEIVED: 2/8/21 (28 days)
* Donation Enclosed

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mike Alstott played fullback at Purdue from 1992-’95.
  • Well lauded, at the end of his time with the Boilermakers, Alstott held virtually all the school’s rushing records.
  • He ran for 3,635 yards on 644 carries and 39 TDs over 4 years.
  • Mike was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
  • In his rookie campaign he only ran for 377 yards, but caught a career high 65 passes for 557 yards.
  • The Bucs decided ultimately to utilize Alstott as a powerback- where he’d compliment RB Warrick Dunn, whom Tampa drafted the following season.
  • Although classified as a fullback, Mike’s numbers slowly grew over his career, culminating in 1999 when he ran for a career high 949 yards on 242 carries.
  • 2001, saw him rush for a career high 10 TDs.
  • During that season he passed former Bucs great James Wilder on the franchise career rushing TDs list.
  • But by 2002, Mike’s physical style of play began to really take its toll.
  • As injuries mounted, Mike was relegated to more of a traditional fullback role.
  • In 2007, he spent the entire season on IR after suffering a neck injury.
  • He’d retire after playing his entire career with the Buccaneers before the 2008 season.

ACCOLADES:

  • All Pro 1997-’99
  • Second Team All Pro 1996
  • Pro Bowl 1997-’02
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor
  • Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame
  • Indiana Football Hall of Fame

NOTES:

Mike was a powerful downhill runner that reminded me of powerbacks of lore like Earl Campbell. He had a take no prisoners style about him that was very popular with the Bucs faithful.

He’s been nominated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but at this time hasn’t been inducted because MIke’s statistics aren’t sexy enough, and because he was classified as a fullback. He is considered one of the greatest fullbacks in NFL history.

I had sent to Mike after seeing a success on him in 2021. Back then I was lightning fast at sending TTMs out, so I got lucky on Alstott. He doesn’t really sign TTM anymore, or he’s so far out of the budget of the everyday man, it’s just not worth anyone’s time anymore.

I really liked his Press Pass card, so this one was a treat to get. The Upper Deck College Legends was something I’ve flirted with set chasing, but this one was a bit disappointing as Mike’s just standing there with his hands on hips.

For some reason since 2021, I’d just kept kicking the can down the road on publishing this success. With apologies- I don’t know why.

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NFL

Runyan, Jon

Press Pass 1996, #19

CARDS: Press Pass 1996
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 8/15 RECEIVED: 10/26 (72 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Homegrown Jon Runyan played right OT and G for the Michigan Wolverines starting a total of 34 contests.
  • He capped his career for the Wolverines in ’95 earning All-Big 10 honors and a variety of other accolades.
  • The Houston Oilers selected Jon with in the 4th round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
  • Jon made the roster and with the team made the transition to Tennessee.
  • Started first 16 game slate in 1997 at Tackle.
  • Signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, playing with the franchise through 2008.
  • Played one final season in San Diego in 2009.
  • Spent some time dabbling in politics, even serving in Congress.
  • Can be found sometimes putting around Philadelphia as an Uber driver.

ACCOLADES:

  • Philadelphia Eagles HoF
  • Pro Bowl 2002
  • Second Team All-Pro 1998
  • Eagles 75th Anniversary Team

NOTES:

Fearsome, nasty, fast, and large, Jon was a true road grading offensive lineman who struck fear into opposing defenders. Considered one of the dirtiest players of his era- he fit right in with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jon was also remarkably durable, despite his 6’8″, 299 frame, he started 190 straight contests. His son followed in his footsteps and was drafted by the Packers in 2020.

At the time of his retirement in 2009, Jon was the last remaining player who had played for the HOUSTON Oilers franchise.

College Football HoF, NFL

George, Eddie

pp96 egeorgeCards: Press Pass 1996, Topps 1997
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Work
Sent: 2/16     Received:  6/27    (132 days)

Eddie George took Ohio State by storm. In 3 years with the college, he ran up to second place on the school’s vaunted rushing list including a school record 1,927 yards and 24 TDs in 1995. In 1996, Eddie George was the last 1st round Houston Oiler draft pick- ever.

It was a bitter moment of the franchise’s history.  Bud Adams, ever looking to shine his coffers, had gambled and lost with the city of Houston. After getting a stadium tax placed on businesses in Houston for luxury boxes at the Astrodome, he decided that he wanted a new stadium instead. Laughably he also called it, the Bud Dome in his proposal. With the Astros and Rockets not interested, Bud put it to the city leaders instead. Call it bad timing, but the city wasn’t interested. It also didn’t help that the salary cap hamstrung the team, and most of its talent was fleeced. After flirting and failing with a few suitors, Nashville stepped up to the plate. Desperate, but sensing a good deal, Adams signed. He intended to keep the franchise in Houston for a few years, but after making the announcement- fans stayed away in droves to show their displeasure.

Eddie in the meantime was declared the starting tailback coming out of camp and proceed to nab Rookie of the Year Honors in 1996 after rushing for 1,336 yards, 8 TDs, and a career long 76 yard gallop.

to97 egeorge FMThe following year in 1997, Bud accelerated his plans to move to Tennessee, finding a temporary home in Memphis while the stadium was being constructed in Nashville. Memphis itself was not happy about the situation. Memphis and Nashville have never had a great relationship, and on top of it, Memphis had long sought an NFL franchise of its own, so why should Nashville get it? Attendance improved, but only slightly, as the franchise changed from the Houston Oilers- to the Tennessee Oilers.

George continued his punishing running style, earning his first of four consecutive Pro Bowl berths, with 1,399 yards and 6 TDs on 357 carries.  At the time of the Oilers departure from Houston and transition to the Titans, I was going through a very tough time in my life.  It was probably good that I couldn’t focus on the heartbreak of the team leaving the city as I was dealing with a bad relationship of my own. Still I was able to watch George’s smothering effort against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, as the Oilers punished the Cowboys 27-14 behind a great defensive performance and 34 carries for 110 yards from Eddie.  (The Topps Finest Matters card above regales this tale with a certain amount of pride or Cowboy hate.)  Anyway, unhappy with the situation in Memphis, Bud again moved his vagabond team to Nashville, to play at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998.  Finally in 1999, the Oilers changed their name to the Titans and settled in Bud’s dream Roman Colosseum by the river.

George logged three more Pro Bowl berths during his career, culminating in 2000 with his first and only AP nomination, when he led the NFL in carries with 403. That season he also rushed for a career high 1,509 yards, 14 TDs, and 50 receptions.  He played for the Titans through 2003,  finishing his career in Dallas in 2004. Like many greats, George’s time in Dallas is largely an afterthought as he is remembered by and large as a Titan, but the season there in Dallas allowed him to break the 10k career rushing yardage mark.

Eddie personified durability. Over his career he started 136/141 games in 9 seasons, and did not miss a single start until 2004. Of note, Eddie holds the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with 300 or more carries, at 8.  Eddie is the all-time leading rusher for the Tennessee Titans with 9073 yards and holds many of the franchise’s records. (He played only one season for the HOUSTON Oilers.) George also was the last Oiler that I’d get a jersey of.  It was one of the many pieces of personal things I’d lose after a hasty move out from an ugly breakup in 1998.

The Oilers leaving, coupled with discovering girls, graduating high school, escalating card prices for garbage product, and getting a job, culminated in a perfect storm, with me eschewing the football card market all together.  I happened to be stumbling around Toys ‘R Us one day somewhere during those more blurred years and decided out of the blue to pick up a blister pack of Press Pass 1996. Included was the whole set, but more importantly, the Eddie George Ohio State card that survived all those years.

George has had his jersey retired by Ohio State and in 2011 was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He enjoys television- all forms really, as he has contributed as a fan on the sidelines of Ohio State games, as a commentator and color commentator, and as an actor, in reality, mainstream, sports, and musical productions.

I had long sought Eddie, but his nasty price tag prevented me from taking a shot. Recently a few friends were able to track him down c/o the Ambassador Theater in NYC and got an autograph. Eddie has gone headfirst into acting and was on Broadway in the Musical Chicago.  I got my stuff there before the show closed in February, but his responses slowed to a trickle. Luckily a few months later he came back to his mail and signed my two cards- a big coup for me.

Remember kids: “Always strike while the iron is hot.”

G/GS 141/136
RUSH  2865    YDS 10441     AVG 3.6     TD 68      LG  76t
REC  268      YDS 2227      AVG 8.3     TD  10      LG   54