Besides getting a variety of children’s books published he created, Ray has also been involved in the Spring football league scene. He served as an advisor at one point for the USFL. When writing him I went off on a giant tangent about Spring football and how important it is to me and these players. He kindly responded with a nice greeting card of his Darby the Dinosaur, and inside he wrote that he also enjoys watching Spring football as well.
Originally I sent Ray 3 cards, and included a Score 1991, forgetting that I had already acquired this as part of the Akron Acquisition back in 2011. I threw in his Topps card because Ray was one of the original players who dolled themselves up with the eye paint back in the day. His Pro Set 1990 photo is an extremely underrated action shot perfectly encapsulated on this card.
CARDS: Pro Set 1990, Pro Set 1991 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 5/23 RECEIVED: 6/6 (14 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Played TE at the University of the Pacific from 1965-’67.
Went undrafted and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969.
Played the next 8 seasons for the franchise,
Best season came in 1971, catching 21 passes for 356 yards and 4 TDs, including a 71 yard long.
Joined the 49ers coaching staff in ’80 as a TE coach.
Returned to the Bengals in ’81 where he coached WRs through ’84.
Sam Wyche moved Coslet to offensive coordinator the following season, where he took the WCO to the next level setting franchise offensive records over the next few seasons.
Was hired by the Jets after the 1989 season concluded.
Served as HC in NY through the 1993 season.
Jets got to the playoffs after the ’91 season, losing to the Houston Oilers in the Wild Card round.
Returned in 1994 to Cincinnati, serving again as OC- this time under HC Dave Shula.
During a chaotic ’96 season Shula resigned as HC after a disastrous 1-6 start.
Coslet stepped in and led the team to a 7-2 finish, and some level of respectability.
After the franchise decided to overhaul the roster in 2000, Coslet resigned 3 games into the season.
Spent a final season in 2002 as OC of the Dallas Cowboys.
Playaction 16 Boss Z Post
ACCOLADES:
Pacific Tigers Hall of Fame 1985
NOTES:
I mean I took a shot in the dark on Coslet that he’d pen a play for me and I was absolutely tickled with what he drew up. I’m always curious about an offensive minded coach’s DNA, but especially what and why they chose the play they chose to draw up, and as a member of the Walsh coaching tree- WCO, this one is an absolute treasure.
CARDS: Pro Set 1990, Fleer 1990, Topps Stadium Club 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022. C/o Home SENT: 11/7 RECEIVED: 11/17 (10 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
OL Jim Dombrowski was the first round pick out of Virginia by the New Orleans Saints in 1986.
Over his career Dombrowski developed and displayed solid, workmanlike play, opening up holes along the line for the backs and blocking for QBs.
He started out slowly- only starting 3 games his rookie season, becoming a FT starter during the middle of the ’87 season.
Jim played his entire 11 year career in NO, initially as a left tackle, and later in his career as a right guard.
Retired after the 1996 campaign.
ACCOLADES:
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
New Orleans Saints 35th Anniversary Team
New Orleans Saints 50th Anniversary Team
College Football Hall of Fame 2008
Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame 2013
Polish – American Sports Hall of Fame 2013
#73 Retired Virginia Cavaliers
NOTES:
Jim quietly had a very successful career playing football. He had some really nice cards. Some of the cards from the 1992 Topps Stadium Club card set were really nice. Case in point, this very poignant card of Jim here on the sidelines. Now I typically hate these photos, but this one has some really nice depth of color.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
