Tag Archives: proset 1989

NFL, WLAF

Mandley, Pete

Card: ProSet 1989
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Montreal Machine
See Also: Pete Mandley (2)

Northern Arizona’s very own Pete Mandley stood at 5’10”, 190, setting all sorts of receiving and returning records for the school, parlaying it into an NFL career. Pete heard his name called in the second round of the 1984 draft, and initially was utilized by the Lions as a kick returner. In 1985 he’d switch primarily to punt returns where he found his niche.

One of the more formidable returners in the league, Pete had 403 yards on 38 returns and a touchdown. Mandley nearly duplicated those numbers again in 1986, with 43 returns for 420 yards and a touchdown. He then became the team’s primary receiver in 1987 pulling in 58 receptions for 720 yards and 7 touchdowns (- the most for a Lions receiver since 1968,) and again had similar numbers leading the team in catches with 44 for 617 yards and 4 TDs. For Pete’s efforts in 1987 he was named a Pro Bowl alternate.  With Plan B in full swing, Mandley signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989. In 12 games he had 35 catches for 476 yards and a TD, before a largely forgettable 1990.

Sitting out a season, Pete attempted to reinvigorate his career by signing with the WLAF. Picked up by the Montreal Machine in 1992, Pete would put on a clinic for the young franchise setting marks across the board in receiving, punt returning, and yards from scrimmage. His presence certainly helped stabilize young quarterback Michael Proctor, as Pete had 45 receptions for 605 yards and 4 touchdowns. Mandley would almost spoil the Riders 1992 season opener with a devastating punt return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter, but the Riders managed to pull the game out. He’d finish the season with 16 returns for 150 yards, a 9.4 average and a TD. Despite accounting for the majority of the Machine’s offensive firepower, Pete did not find himself on the All World squad.

I only had Mandley’s ProSet 1989 card, but Ultimate and Wild Card aggressively made cards of his that were not released until after the season opener. Still Pete recognized me as a fan, smiled, and signed my Lions card. After retiring from pro football, Mandley struggled with leaving it behind and even resented the sport, but over the years has rekindled the fire and interest he’s had in it.

In 1993, Pete was inducted into the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Hall of Fame. He is also an entrepreneur, and owns numerous businesses in the Phoenix area.  Mandley’s family is notable as they avoided tragedy when one of their young children took ill and prevented them from boarding Northwest plane flight 255, which crashed and killed all but one, in 1987.

NFL
Rec 172    Yds 2370       Avg 13.8        Td 12       Lg 56
Kr 35   Yds  630   Avg 18.0   Td 0   Lg 37  |      
Pr 162   Yds 1511  Avg 9.3    Td 2    Lg 81t

WL
Rec 45     Yds  605     Avg 13.4    Td 4    Lg 61
Kr 7    Yds 103    Avg 14.7   Td 0    Lg  22  |    
Pr 16     Yds  150    Avg 9.4   Td  1   Lg 73t

NFL, usfl

McNeil, Gerald “Icecube”(2)

Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Score 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o The Cleveland Browns
Sent: 10/6  Received: 11/17  (40 days)
See Also: Gerald McNeil

Gerald McNeil was one of my favorite players as a kid, as I had vivid memories of seeing him play for the Browns, so when the Oilers signed him I was really excited to see what he could do. While those twilight years weren’t as successful as the time he had with the Browns and Gamblers, it was unfortunate that in his final year with the Oilers he suffered a quadriceps injury that ended his career. During his heyday he was one of the most dangerous returners of that age ala the same diminutive size but shifty speed as Lionel James. Gerald’s nickname apparently came about from William “The Refrigerator” Perry. One of McNeil’s teammates remarked that Gerald was so small that he could fit inside The Refrigerator, – and along with his penchant for escaping tackles and scoring touchdowns, the nickname stuck.

I had been after Gerald for quite sometime, and finally was able to find him via… SotL.com. (Notice a recurring theme here yet?) After geeking out for a while, I exchanged some communication with him, where he told me the best way to get an autograph was sending it via the Browns who he acts as an ambassador for (along with the Texans). I zipped out a few cards and after about 40 days, I finally got my hands on the slippery Ice Cube again and completed out the collection of cards that I owned of him- sans the nasty Topps cards of that era.

NFL

Blades, Brian


Cards: ProSet 1989, Score 1989, GameDay 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 7/19   Recieved: 11/5 (109 days)*
*Slight delay. Forwarded from old address

Brian Blades, along with his brother Bennie were members of Jimmy Johnson‘s University of Miami squad during the late 80s. Brian would be drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the stacked wide receiver 1988 draft that included such names as Tim Brown, Sterling Sharpe, Anthony Miller, Wendell Davis, and Willie “Flipper” Anderson being taken off the board before Blades’ name would be called near the back end of round two.  The Seahawks were looking for a compliment or replacement for long in the tooth, Hall of Fame shoe-in Steve Largent.

A bit undersized at 5-11, Brian made up for it with his route runnning and hands.  He would make a nice fit for the ‘Hawks, and put in decent numbers his rookie season starting 7 games and making 40 receptions. In 1989, he’d have his best season as a pro earning AP marks with 77 receptions for 1063 yards and 5 TDs. The torch was effectively passed, as Largent retired after the season.  A disappointing 1990, with teams easily double teaming Blades would shut him down, halving his numbers.  (It also didn’t help that quarterback Dave Krieg had an increasingly short amount of time to function in the pocket.)  The Seahawks would decide to rebuild drafting signal-caller Dan McGwire in the first round of the 1991 draft, jettisoning Krieg to free agency.  In the meantime the team would go through a series of coaching changes and a quarterback carousel. Despite everything Blades would break the 1000 yard barrier again that season, before an injury plagued 1992 took his season after 6 games, but he’d quickly returned to form posting 2 back to back 80+ catch seasons, and a 77 catch season in 1995.

Over the next 3 final seasons, Brian’s career would be consumed by personal tragedy, after a gun discharged accidentally fatally injuring his cousin in 1996. He’d be placed on trial and be found guilty of manslaughter, but the charges would be dismissed by the judge, within hours based on lack of evidence. His numbers would decline due to injury, and he would retire before the 1999 season.

Blades played his entire 11 season career with the Seahawks and the team would honor him with an induction into the team’s 35th anniversary team.  I always got he and his brother Bennie confused but none the less, you could always count on Brian on Tecmo Super Bowl to come through in a pinch for the punchless Seahawks.  I got Brians autograph in about 100 days on these 3 dynamic cards.

G/Gs 156/124      Rec  561    Yds  7620     Avg 13.1        Td  34      Lg 80t