Tag Archives: san fransisco 49ers

NFL

Musgrave, Bill

Card: StarPics 1991
Acquired: In Person 1991, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

The heir to Chris Miller for the Oregon Ducks, Bill Musgrave enjoyed an excellent college playing career. With a logger jam at quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Musgrave would not make the team roster after being drafted by them in 4th round of the 1991 draft. He’d sign with the San Fransisco 49ers and he’d post a 71 quarterback rating throwing 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. He’d stay with the 49ers through 1994 and then sign with the Denver Broncos staying there through the 1996 season. Bill jumped almost immediately into coaching where he has remained since, working a season a piece for the Raiders and Eagles, and two for the Panthers. Musgrave returned back to the college ranks in 2001 tutoring future Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub at UVA. Again he’d surface in the pros with the Jaguars for the next two seasons through 2004 and the Redskins for 2005. Musgrave later spent the most time with the Atlanta Falcons from 2006 – 2010, -later signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2011 to be offensive coordinator. Musgrave experienced his first offensive play calling with the Eagles and Ray Rhodes, so he probably is a member of the Rhodes’ coaching tree.

NFL, Pro Football HoF

St. Clair, Bob “The Geek” (1931-2015)

Card: ProSet 1990 HoF
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home (signing fee)
Sent: 2/3 Received: 3/10 (38 days)

Bob St. Clair was an anomaly in a league where most players today- move around to different cities and stadiums on a regular basis. Bob played 189 games in the same stadium and later it would be renamed from Kezar to St. Clair in his honor because of this. Drafted in the 3rd round of the 1953 draft, St. Clair quickly garnered the nickname “The Geek” for his penchant for eating raw meat and his pure size (6′ 9″, 263). At that time he was considered one of the largest tackles in the history of the game and easily engulfed opposing defensive linemen on both passing and rushing downs. He’d play 10 seasons with distinction (5 Pro Bowls and 4 as All Pro)  and is simply considered the 49ers greatest offensive tackle of all time. An astounding special teams player, Bob would also occasionally see time in goal line and special teams situations, blocking 10 field goals in one season (1956), and lost 5 teeth once blocking a punt. St. Clair was a dominating presence. (By modern standards Darrell Green is considered the record holder in field goals blocked in a season with 4, and there are multiple players tied for the career honor at 10.  Bob blocked 10- in a season.) He’d retire in 1964 due to a nagging Achilles heel injury.

Since that time Bob has served as mayor of Daly City, Ca, and also owns a liquor store that still bears his name. In 1990, St. Clair was inducted into the Pro Football HoF as a senior nominee. The HoF itself is a statistically driven league and it is very nice that St. Clair, one of the best lineman of all time did get his day in the sun- however there is a dearth of offensive lineman in the hall.  I sent out for his autograph earlier this year- to which it was returned requesting a 10.00 signing fee. (Obviously I resent it and within a month or so I had his autograph on his card.)

UPDATE – On February 24th 2015, St. Clair suffered a broken hip but complications later set in. He passed away on Monday, April 20th 2015.

NFL

Haley, Charles

Card: Action Packed 1992
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1994.

Charles Haley is perhaps one of the craziest players I’ve had the pleasure of getting an autograph from and unfortunately this reputation has denied him from entry into the Pro Football HoF.

There’s always that guy you hear ‘stories’  and rumors about- The one who pulls out his manhood and runs down the hall peeing on Carmen Policy’s office wall. The guy who masturbated during team meetings and talked about other player’s wives while he did it.  The guy who attacked head coaches (George Seifert) and had a wonderful vocabulary that he loved to share with the media but they couldn’t print it. The guy who was so crazy it was rumored that Ronnie Lott was assigned to keep him in line. A guy who nicknamed himself “The Last Naked Warrior” -but it wasn’t his fantasy football team.  The guy who once received bananas in his locker as a joke because of his Neanderthal-like ways.  That’s what I heard.

But there’s the guy who you hear the straight up truth about what he left on the field as a player and father. He’s also the guy who suffered from Bi-Polar disorder, was manic, and was only diagnosed with it a few years after football. He’s the only guy who’s won 5 SuperBowl rings (49ers and Cowboys) and is modest enough not to wear one. He’s the guy who’s daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia and decided to retire. He’s the guy who came back for a final season despite injuries ‘for the love of the game’. He’s the guy who racked up 100.5 sacks over his career as a budding situational pass-rusher and then later defensive end. He’s the guy who wrote his wife poetry when they dated at James-Madison. He’s the guy who loved to go on shopping sprees- for his mother. He’s the guy who walks with a slight bend after constant back surgeries and through therapy, self-discovery and medication has come to understand what he’s done.  He’s the guy who with a committee that values winning over statistical performance, both which he’s demonstrated- still has not gotten into the NFL HoF.

The latter is Charles Haley today and that’s how I choose to remember him, and despite my penchant for hating on Cowboys- I really liked him.

In 2011, although drafted by the San Fransisco 49ers, Charles was honored by the Dallas Cowboys who selected him to announce their 2nd round pick during the NFL draft, and also with an induction into the Cowboys Ring of Honor along with Larry Allen and Drew Pearson.

G/Gs 169/109     Tac  485     Sac 100.5      Fum 26        Int 2    Yds 9   Avg 4.5      Td 0     Lg  8