Tag Archives: san fransisco 49ers

NFL

Alexander, Kermit

Action Packed 1991 Whizzer White Award, #5
Topps 1969, #161

CARDS: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991, Topps 1969
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 9/26 RECEIVED: 11/23 (58 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kermit Alexander played runningback for UCLA from 1960-62.
  • Posted 708 yards on 128 carries (6 TDs), and caught 32 passes for 508 yards and 2 TDs over college career.
  • Opting to play for SF over Denver in 1963, the 49ers would utilize Kermit as a return man and DB.
  • Over 7 seasons in SF, Kermit had 5+ interceptions 5 times, lead the NFL in fumble recoveries twice (5 in ’64 and 8 in ’65) playing all DB positions.
  • In 1965, he led the NFL in returns (35) and return yardage (741).
  • At the turn of 1970, Alexander was traded to the LA Rams.
  • He’d only play two seasons for the franchise, but not before he added 7 more interceptions to his resume, including an 82 yard TD.
  • Retired after the 1973 season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1968
  • Byron Whizzer White Award 1972

NOTES:

I had coveted Kermit on this Action Packed card of his for sometime. After writing him back in 2019 I was surprised to get these cards back unsigned as he had a very good signing track record. I suppose that he may have taken offense to something I wrote in my letter, as I was unaware of his family tragedy.

Later a friend of mine got him through the mail and told me that in his response a family member stated that Kermit was struggling with his memory, so I figured now was as good as any time as any.

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NFL

Francis, Russ ‘All-World Tight End’ (1953-2023)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #104

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 1/3 RECEIVED: 3/23 (59 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Russ Francis was a three year starter at TE for the Oregon Ducks.
  • It was really in his Junior year in 1974 he put up some outstanding numbers, catching 31 passes for 495 yards and 4 TDs.
  • A monster prospect, clocking in at 6’6″, 245, Russ not only had the hands, he had the size as well.
  • Russ was a slam dunk first round pick of the New England Patriots in 1975, taken 16th overall.
  • Russ chewed up the scenery his rookie year with the Pats, with 35 catches for 636 yards and 4 TDs.
  • In 1980, Russ had a career high 664 yards and 8 TDs on 41 receptions.
  • After the Patriots refused to give Russ a bonus for his Pro Bowl appearance, combined with how the team treated teammate Daryl Stingley after his paralization, Francis opted to retire.
  • Russ became a broadcaster briefly with ABC Sports, but after having a conversation with 49ers Bill Walsh, decided to come out of retirement in ’82.
  • Russ joined the ‘9ers, through a trade, just in time to help them build their dynasty, and helping the team win Super Bowl XIX in 1984.
  • He’d post a career high 44 receptions in 1985.
  • Russ played 7 games with the ‘9ers in 1987, before returning back to the Patriots.
  • He played one more year with New England in ’88, spending the entire ’89 campaign on IR, retiring soon thereafter.
  • Russ has had a robust life since retirement, participating in Wrestlemania II, dabbling in politics, hosting radio, and outdoor shows.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1976-’78
  • Polynesian Sports Hall of Fame (Contributor)
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1978)
  • Wrestlemania II

NOTES:

I really, really wanted Russ to be my first response of 2022, but he ended up responding a few months later. Still, a great response from Russ, who put a lot of inscriptions on the card. He also wrote a nice note saying that he, “Had a great time in Wrestlemania II!”

Russ has two nicknames. He was dubbed ‘All-Universe’ because he could do it all when he came into the NFL. His second, ‘All-World Tight End’ was given to him by Howard Cosell during a MNF contest.

I think Russ deserved this card as a legend, and a lot more credit than he gets. A prolific receiver during the dead ball era, if not for an injury and retiring suddenly, he easily could’ve topped out over 6k yards. Nothing to sneeze at when 5 seasons were during the infamous dead ball era.

Russ appears on the original Tecmo Super Bowl as a member of the San Fransisco 49ers. He is notable as he is the receiver for a play that can not be defended against that if you time the pass right, catches the ball on every throw, even under heavy blitz.

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EPITAPH:

10/1/23- Russ had recently completed the purchase of the Lake Placid Airways Scenic Tours Business. He was on in a single engine Cessna 177 Cardinal with the SVP of the Pilot’s Association, when the plane started experiencing engine trouble after take off. The plane was unable to return to the runway. -Francis was just 70 years old.

NFL

Hearst, Garrison

Classic 1993, #3

CARD: Classic 1993
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 6/13 RECEIVED: 6/27 (14 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Finished second all-time in total all purpose yards (3,834) and rushing (3232) in Georgia history, behind only Herschel Walker.
  • Set SEC records for points, TDs, rushing TDs, and per carry average.
  • Cardinals traded Johnny Johnson and their first round pick to the Jets, moving up to select Hearst with the 3rd overall pick of the 1993 NFL Draft.
  • Ran for 257 yards and a TD, but a knee injury sidelined him for a majority of the season.
  • Had a 57 yard carry- the longest by a Cardinal since Stump Mitchell in 1985.
  • Another knee injury marred Hearst’s season early in 1994, as he finished strong rushing for 169 yards over the final 4 contests.
  • Topped the 100 yard barrier for first time in career in 1995, rushing for 121 yards against the Saints.
  • Broke the 1k barrier that year rushing for 1070 yards, and catching 29 passes, the best by a Card since 1982.
  • Released by the Cardinals and signed with Bengals in 1996.
  • Played one season with Bengals, initially as a backup, but pounded the rock for 847 yards.
  • Signed with 49ers in 1997 and rejuvenated SF’s rushing game.
  • Ran for 1019 yards on 236 carries (4 TDs) in ’97.
  • Had an even better ’98, running for a career high 1570 yards.
  • In Week 1 against the New York Jets in OT, had one of the greatest runs in NFL history, rushing for a 96 yard TD.
  • Broke his ankle during the 1998 playoffs- an injury that would keep him out of the league for two seasons.
  • Amazingly returned to form again in 2001, despite facing a career threatening injury, rushing for over 1,200 yards.
  • Played for the ‘9ers an additional two seasons, before playing a final year in 2004 with the Broncos.

ACCOALADES:

  • Doak Walker Award 1992
  • Second Team AP 1998
  • Pro Bowl 1998, ’01
  • NFL Comeback Player of the Year 2001
  • Florida-Georgia HoF
  • College Football Hall of Fame 2023

NOTES:

During this time of my life I was still going to training camps, but I started ratcheting down my card purchases. Whether it was cost, an over saturated market, or just discovering girls- this card came from one of those last packs I bought before I went into a long hibernation. When I came back to the hobby and went through all those boxes this card immediately went into the ‘priority box’. And 12 years later from that, I finally got Garrison’s autograph. Strange how accomplished it feels.