Tag Archives: score 1991

College Football HoF, NFL

Mayes, Rueben

Cards: Score 1991, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o home
Sent: 10/15   Received: 3/3  (128 days)

Score Cards made some really nice cards in 1989 and 1990, but already by 1991 you felt that the brand was losing its traction and the quality was beginning to slide. It wasn’t that the photos were bad, -it was really the design. With a gradient background that goes from white to purple, a diamond shaped area to frame the team logo, and a hideously bold serif type family to announce the name, about the only thing that could top that was the position of the player spelled out underneath it all- and that is just the front! It’s just a bad looking design all around. Now compare that to the Pro Set 1990 card. A really well designed set the Pro Set series hit its stride that year with an extremely simple design.

Rueben Mayes was actually born in Saskatchewan, Canada. He’d go to college at Washington State in 1983, where he’d become the most prolific runningback in the school’s history. Mayes would set a then college record with 356 yards rushing against Oregon- a record that still stands to this day, in the Pacific 10. The Saints would draft Rueben in the 3rd round of the 1986 draft. He’d turn out to be a steal for the Saints who under new head coach Jim Mora, liked to establish a strong ground game. Mayes would lead the team to a 7-9 record in the all out rough and tumble NFC West. It’d take him some time to get established as the team’s leading running back, but in week 6 he’d really have his breakout game against Indianapolis rushing for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rueben would follow that up with a 172 yard effort against the Bucs,- but save his best for last rushing for 203 yards and two touchdowns in week 14 against the Dolphins. His rookie season of 1353 yards and 8 touchdowns would be rewarded with a ProBowl appearance and being named NFL rookie of the year in 1986. While injuries would hamper his Sophomore season Mayes would still turn in another ProBowl caliber year averaging 76 yards a contest just finishing under 1000 yards. Mayes 1988 would continue the downward slide in a runningback by committee approach utilized by the Saints. He’d still manage to find the endzone 6 times.  Rueben’s 1989 would be a total wash. Due to an injury sustained in the preseason, he would be placed on injured resereve and not see any playing time that season. He’d make a comeback in 1990 scoring 7 touchdowns in 8 games.  Things looked up for the stalwart running back but he’d once again be injured and placed on IR for all of 1991. In 1992 Mayes would be traded to the Seattle Seahawks  where he finished out his career in 1993 and retired after 7 seasons.

In 1995 and 1998, Rueben was named to the Washington State Cougars All-Time team. A well deserved honor since he was like the Herschel Walker of the Northwest. Mayes has been involved in a variety of charitable organizations working with at risk juveniles. He earned his Master’s degree and is a regional director of Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon.

Rueben was kind enough to sign these two cards for me in around 130 days with his signature, number and an inscription from the Bible.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” – Revelation 3:20

I must admit when I read that the inscription was from Revelation, I worried that it was a grizzly, or a foreboding statement of impending doom; However, it was more controversial than anything being that it can be interpreted in a variety of ways through loose translation. I always enjoy it when players inscribe their cards with verses from the Bible. It gives me great insight into players and who they are and their place in the world with Christ.

G/Gs  76/41       Rush  866         Yds 3484         Avg 4.0      Td 23      lg  50   |
Rec 57     Yds 401      Avg  7.0       Td 0   lg  66

 

NFL

Jackson, Steve

Cards: Score 1991, Playoff 1992, Star Pics 1991, ProSet 1991
Acquired: In Person 1991, 1992, Houston Oilers Training Camp.  TTM 2010, C/o The Washington Redskins
Sent: 3/26/10    Received: 1/26/2011  (324 days)

So far, Steve Jackson takes the prize for the longest wait now at a whopping 324 days (not that I don’t have ones pending that have been out there longer at the moment); However, well worth the wait I’d say. Part of my Oiler blitz of cards I sent out in 2010, I’ve got to say the former members of the squad have been highly responsive with 11 out of 16 from that blitz have responded now. Jackson’s Playoff card remains one of my favorite. With bright colors and a definite contrast between the players it just makes them pop off the background.

Steve Jackson was one of the Oilers ‘Young Guns’ drafted in 1991 when the team went gangbusters for defensive backs in that draft. Taken in the 3rd round out of Perdue, Jackson was an excellent man to man defender, with good size, speed, and among his best attributes- not afraid to tackle. (Steve reminded me a lot of recently retired Oiler defensive back and Autograph Hall of Fame member Steve Brown.)  Jackson felt like the happy middle between Mike Dumas and Darryll Lewis taking a completely different path than the two other Young Guns.

Starting only two games his rookie season Steve would play backup to Dishman and Lewis, making 34 tackles a sack and 2 fumble recoveries. It was impressive enough that by 1993, Jackson would start 12 games for the Houston Oilers on their last good squad and playoff run. He’d make 5 interceptions and 55 tackles. In 1994 he’d also serve as secondary kick returner for the team returning 14 kicks for 285 yards. After the season he’d return to the bench providing valuable depth starting 11 games over the next 6 seasons. Jackson would also win the team’s comeback player of the year award in 1998 after he returned from a ruptured tendon making 72 tackles. He’d transition with the franchise to Tennesee and appearing in the Traitor’s SuperBowl in 1999 and would retire.

Jackson headed over to Buffalo and served as safeties coach for the team from 2001-2003. Jackson thereafter joined the Redskins after the conclusion of the 2003 season, and has served in the same capacity for them as the Bills for the last 7 seasons with distinction.

G/Gs  118/26     Tac  280    Sac  9   Fum  4     Int 13        Yds 74       Avg  5.6     Td  1        Lg  22

NFL

Lohmiller, Chip

Cards: Pacific 1992, Topps Stadium Club 1992, Score 1990, Score 1991, Pro Set 1993 PB, Fleer 1990
Acquired: In person, CGA Youth Golf Tournament 1993

Minnesota Golden Gopher kicker Chip Lohmiller would be taken in the second round of the 1988 draft. The Redskins were in desperate shape to locate a kicker and hadn’t had consistency at the position since Matt Moseley left. In fact the previous season 4 different players kicked extra points for the team during the 1987 season. With Lohmiller the team immediately fixed their kicking problem, and in fact made a massive upgrade at the position. The Redskins were one of those teams that weren’t embarrassed to take field goals and in the competitive and defensive NFC East, it certainly did help to have an accurate kicker with a booming leg. From 1989 -1992 Lohmiller would lead the league in field goal attempts making at least 40 attempts each season. He’d also lead the league in 1991 and 1992 hitting 31 and 30 field goals respectively. In fact in 1991 his 143 points were more than the entire Indianapolis Colts squad put up combined. Lohmiller could have probably had a long career with the Redskins and it is assumed that the team which was hemorrhaging in the new age of the salary cap made the agonizing decision to let him go. 1995 would see a short season for the New Orleans Saints- and his 1996, which would be his final, Lohmiller would finish out his career with the St. Louis Rams. Since football Lohmiller has taken up coaching and is currently a highly regarded coach at the high school level. While at the CGA Youth Golf Tournament in 1993 he’d sign all the cards I provided for him. He apparently is a great golfer with at one point a -3 handicap.

G/Gs 135/135    Xpa 309    Xpm 301   Pct 97.4%     Fga 284    Fgm 204   Pct 71.8