Tag Archives: sacramento surge

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Buddenberg, John

Cards: Ultimate World League 1992, Jogo 1994, Jogo 1995
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 8/29 Received: 10/8 (40 days)

A three year starter at the University of Akron at tackle, John Buddenberg clocked in at 6’5″, 279. He’d be selected in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and then later spent time on the rosters of the Minnesota Vikings (1989) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1990). During his time in the NFL, Buddenberg was shifted inside to play guard.

In 1991 John was selected by the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football. A stalwart member of the Surge’s offensive line front, he played in all 20 regular season games for the franchise over the lifetime of the World League (1991-1992), earning first-team All-World League in ’92. For both years he’d return to the NFL and was on the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons.

After the World League reorganized following the 1992 season- the Sacramento Surge jumped to the CFL and became the Goldminers. John joined the franchise and played both guard and tackle for Sacramento in 1994, and (for the franchise when it moved to San Antonio and became) the Texans in 1995.

John currently lives in Ohio. He responded with a nice note and two extra autographed cards (the Jogo ones) thanking me for being a fan of the World League.

Arena, NFL, usfl, WLAF

Bennett, Ben

Card: ProSet 1991 WLAF Insert
Acquired: 2018, EBay
Failure: TTM 2014, C/o Home 

Ben Bennett was a prolific quarterback for the Duke Blue Devils finishing as one of the top passers in NCAA history, throwing for 9614 yards on 820 completions (1375 attempts) and 55 TDs from 1980 to 1983. 

Selected in the 6th round of the 1984 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, but ended up playing in the USFL for the Jacksonville Bulls. Bennett then bounced around camps for the Falcons, Oilers, Cowboys, and Bears, eventually seeing a little action playing for the Bengals in ’87.  He’d join the Arena Football league playing for the Chicago Bruisers in 1988 and 1989, leading the team to the championship in the latter season. After playing for the Dallas Texans in 1990, he was selected by the Sacramento Surge of the WLAF during the first round of the positional draft. 

Ben was expected to be the starter for the Surge, but he’d be supplanted by former KC Chiefs 2nd round pick, Mike Elkins- who took all the snaps after the first game. Bennett returned to the Arena Football League later that year with the Orlando Predators.  Ben at this point became a star for the young league. He’d play for Orlando through 1995, before taking one season pitstops with both the San Jose SabreCats and the Portland Forest Dragons.  Ben is known in Arena lore for the ‘Miracle Minute’ in which he engineered a 16 point comeback in under 1 minute. Ben was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame in 2000. 

Outside of his impressive Arena Football resume, Ben has been involved as coach for the Milwaukee Mustangs (1998), Greensboro Prowlers (2000), Florida Bobcats (2001), Florida Firecats (2002-2004), Manchester Wolves (2005-2007), Austin Wranglers (2008), Orlando Fantasy LFL (2010), the New Orleans Voodoo (2011), and the Orlando Predators (2012). 

I had previously tried to get Ben way back in 2011, but had no luck. Since then, I’ve seen no successes or addresses for him that I could use, so I went ahead and just picked this autograph up off of EBay after verifying its integrity. 

NFLATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
0/1522533.3017.6
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
2178.509
USFLATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
0/213711353.810142.5
ARENAATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
192810691416855.426781N/A
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
11367.609
WLAFATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
1/02696034.60239.6
WLAF

Trainor, Kendall John

Card: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home
Sent:  6/11     Received: 8/21          (71 days)

Kendall Trainor was a well-practiced kicker for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1985-1988. During that period he set a few school records and tied a few others- going 5 of 5 twice (A&M and TCU) and 4 of 4 (HOU) in 1988 in field goals made. He holds the school record for most field goals made in a season at 24 (27 attempts) and his career mark of .889 stands as a school record as well. Named an All-American in 1988, Trainor was part of the legendary 1989 NFL Draft- selected in the 9th round by the Phoenix Cardinals. 

Kendall was selected as the first overall kicker in the WLAF Player Draft in 1991 by the Sacramento Surge. He’d go 4/6 on PATs and 8/13 on field goals while pulling double duty with 29 punts for 946 yards and a 56 yard long.
  
Later he’d sign with the New York- New Jersey Knights going 8 of 8 on extra points and 1 of 3 on field goals and finish with 39 total points ranking 5th in the league amongst kickers.

In 1992, Kendall won the kicking job outright in NY-NJ and finished 22 of 25 on extra points and 6 of 11 on field goals. He’d hit 4 of 7 from 40-49 yards including a career long 48 yarder. Kendall had a terrible game against the Ohio Glory missing 2 extra points and 2 field goals. He’d be cut the next day ending his NFL career.

These WLAF guys are getting harder and harder to track down over the years, but when you receive thank-you letters like I did from Kendall it makes it all worth it. Kendall returned home to Arkansas and worked for the Walmart Corporate offices for many years. He currently runs his own business specializing in information technology.

WLAFPATFGPCTLGPTS
34/3915/27.5554879