Tag Archives: san fransisco 49ers

NFL

Craig, Roger (2)

pset89 craigudldg97 craigflr90 craigpset90 craigflrsi99 craigsco90 craigud91 craig
Cards: Fleer 1990, Upper Deck 1991, Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Upper Deck Legends 1997, Score 1990, Fleer Sports Illustrated Legends 1999.
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 1/2    Received:  1/7    (5 days)*
*signing fee $5 per card
See also: Roger Craig

Finally. Well the first line is cast and I already hooked a big one in the form of undervalued fullback/ runningback Roger Craig! Sending a check in excess of the fee request, netted me 2 extra autographs plus he was willing to answer the questions that I enclosed.

I’ve been trying to be a bit more wacky about what I ask players when I insert a question into a letter. First it makes me stick out, and second it might give them a good laugh. Roger disclosed to me that if he could’ve played for any other team besides the 49ers, Raiders, and Vikings he played for, he would have played for the Dallas Cowboys. Wow. Now that would’ve blown my mind to have seen him play in the silver and blue at the end of his career.  Back in his college days and his early playing days, Roger liked to sport a mean looking mustache. I asked him if he’d ever grow it back. To my surprise he answered that, “Yes, one day,” it will return and put a little smiley face next to it.  For my final question, I asked him what tree he would be, and he responded that, “He would’ve been an oak tree, because it is a very big and strong tree”.  – A great success in my books, and I was extremely surprised to have gotten it back so quickly. I knew that Roger had a very high response rate and that he was good to TTM fans, but this was a near legendary response from a player who should be in the Hall of Fame. Total class act. I was so jazzed about this one, I really am considering sending out 2nd shots to my favorite TTM successes at some point.

Some great cards here of Roger. It was very difficult to select which ones to send. I might have missed one or two cards, but overall these action shots really represent him well. Really have quickly grown fond of the 1997 Upper Deck Legends issue. The photos are great and they cover some really good players.  I vaguely remember that Roger’s Pro Set 1989 card/shot was so dynamic that it made the box. It’s too bad that Pro Set went up in smoke so quickly. It was the up close action shots like this that put Topps on the ropes early.

NFL

Harris, Tim

Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 11/13    Received: 11/19  (6 days)

Tim Harris was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 4th round of the 1986 draft out of the University of Memphis. While there he set the team record for most career tackles behind the line of scrimmage with 47.

He worked his way into the starting lineup by week 7, and finished with 8 sacks and 67 tackles. The Packers named him their rookie of the year that season. After a subpar ’87 (7 sacks),  Harris came in lights out in 1988, posting 13.5 sacks and leading the team in tackles with 97 (86 unassisted).  These numbers were the best by a Packers linebacker since 1983 and 1985 respectively, but Tim was snubbed for the Pro Bowl as Green Bay surprisingly hard charged into the playoffs after the season. 1989 was different as Tim improved off of his breakout season and finished second in the NFL with 19.5 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries.pset90 tharris Tim was a key member of the ‘Cardiac Pack’ team that grabbed many comeback and close victories to go 10-6. After the season, he’d not only snag Pro Bowl honors but also All Pro as well. 1990 became Tim’s final season in Green Bay. In his swan song he posted 7 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

Intent on holding out for a larger contract, the Packers decided
they’d have no part of Harris in 1991, trading him to San Fransisco for 2 high draft choices ( a 2nd rounder in 1992 and 3rd rounder in 1993). Noted was the fact that Harris’ new contract stipulated that he be a good citizen- essentially meaning he needed to stay on his best behavior. He had been fined for marijuana use in 1987 and had a colorful personality that did sometimes run him close to the edge.  Tim wasn’t a factor that season at all, only managing 3 sacks. With the departure though of Charles Haley to the Cowboys in 1992, the 49ers investment in Harris paid off as he finished with his second best season recording 17 sacks that year.  He’d sign with Philly in 1993, but only manage to start 3 games. Injuries kept him down and a drunk driving charge didn’t help either. sco90 tharrisAfter spending one season there, he returned to San Fransisco and played there through 1995 as a situational pass rusher earning a Super Bowl ring with the team (XXIX).

Tim has picked up in coaching since retirement and has moved out to California. He responded to my autograph request like he was sacking a quarterback- very quickly.  I love these cards. They really
capture the essence of Harris as a passionate player. I do suspect
that the ProSet 1990 and the Score 1990 are the same photo from different angles, which wouldn’t be a first. I like the Score one a bit more than the others though because the photo feels more dynamic with the side view. You have to wonder if he just made a sack or is trying to rev up the crowd before a play.

G/Gs 122/93    Tac 536   Sac  81   Fum   8
Int 0     Yds  0   Avg  -.-   Td 0    Lg -.-

 

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Tittle, Y.A. “Yat” (1926-2017)

Cards: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Topps Football Archives
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o YA Tittle & Associates
Sent: 10/12   Received: 10/22  (10 days)

YA Tittle first played way, way, back in the days of the AAFC in 1948 and 1949 for the Baltimore Colts. Arguably the best things that came out of the All-American Football Conference were the Colts, Cleveland Browns.. and YA Tittle, who joined the NFL in 1950.  While with the AAFC, YA was 309/598  for 4731 yards, 30 TDs and 27 picks. He’d be named rookie of the year in 1948.

Pretty good stats for a kid from Marshall, Tx who ran out on the University of Texas, went to LSU, and had asthma.  Well the Colts- went on hiatus really, after the 1950 season, so YA signed with the San Fransisco 49ers and became a major building block for the team’s “Million Dollar Backfield”. Although he shared passing duties his first two seasons, it didn’t seem to discourage Tittle, as he threw for 20 touchdowns in 1953 in his first season as a full-time starter. He’d also play most of the 1954 season with a broken hand. Tittle was named to the ProBowl in 1953, 1954, 1957, and 1959. For his efforts in 1957 where he threw for 2157 yards, completed 63.1% of his passes, 13 touchdowns, and 220 yards rushing, YA won AP honors.  During this period Tittle would perfect one of the first specialized pass plays called, the “Alley Oop”- a jump pass he spontaneously worked on with receiver RC Owens during that season. The alley oop was the predecessor to the modern day lob pass and actually inspired the basketball play by the same name. After 10 seasons with the ‘9ers and the emergence of John Brodie, YA thought about retiring but was traded straight up for a rookie to the New York Giants in 1960.

It’d be there that Yat cemented his legacy as a legendary quarterback and Giant great. The Giants turned him loose and the renewed 35 year old Tittle took the league by storm with 3 of the best seasons of his career setting the passing touchdown record in 1962 with 33, and 1963 with 36. In a game during the 1962 season, Tittle threw an earth shattering 7 touchdown passes and 505 yards in one game. The touchdown number has never been surpassed, but tied by 4 other players including George Blanda and Sid Luckman. Tittle won the NFL MVP honor in 1963 for his 33 touchdown passes.

The amazing thing about the touchdown passing record, is that it stood for over 20 years, from an era where passing wasn’t the science it is today, and it was done in  less games.  (His passing record would be shattered by Dan Marino, and later Tom Brady.) From 61-63 Yat was named to the Pro Bowl and AP, before he had an injury plagued final season in 1964. Tittle was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 and lives in California. He still runs his insurance agency YA Tittle and Associates, that he started when he was still playing football.

Att  4395     Comp  2427     Yds  33070    Pct 55.2%
Td  242     Int  248     Rat 74.3
Rush 372    Yds 1245    Avg      Td 39    Lg   45

UPDATE: 10/9/17- YA Tittle passed away today at the grand old age of 90.