Tag Archives: skybox 1992

NFL, University of Texas

Baab, Mike ‘The Baabarian’

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psetplat93_mbaabpset90_mbaabpset91_mbaabscosup90_mbaabCards: ProSet 1990, Pro Set 1991, ProSet Platinum 1993, Score Supplemental 1990, Skybox 1992, UT Upper Deck 2011
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 2/16/15    Received: 4/3/16  (416 days)

Mike Baab was a fixture at center for the Cleveland Browns after being selected in the 5th round of the 1982 draft.   He is remembered perhaps most strangely for a film that he put together with his Browns teammates called “Masters of the Gridiron”, which was not only inspired by the Chicago Bears Super Bowl Shuffle, but also He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and the section of the crowd at the stadium that called themselves Baab’s Barbarians.

Mike played with the franchise through the 1987 season where he became a leader in and out of the locker room.  He then was unceremoniously traded to the New England Patriots one week before the regular season was to began in 1988.  (Apparently head coach Marty Schottenheimer wanted to start Gregg Rakoczy at center and Mike did not want to be a backup.) The move so angered Baab that he stormed out of the team facilities and players began to openly dissent- most namely starting quarterback Bernie Kosar who criticized the move.

While Baab toiled away in New England in 1989 and 1990 (which back then amounted to a Siberian prison camp) starting 28 of 32 games, the Browns offensive line suffered and the quarterbacks took a vicious pounding. Suprisingly he was left unprotected by the Patriots following the 1990 season, so Baab put his feelers out about returning back to the place he called home for most of his football career: Cleveland.

Mike returned to Cleveland and anchored the Browns line through the 1991 season.  He’d be lured to Kansas City for one final season before finally putting up his cleats and moving back to Central Texas.

Mike was inducted into the Longhorn Athletics Football Hall of Honor in 2008.  A letterman at Texas from 1978 to 1981, Baab was voted team captain for the Longhorns as a senior. That year, he helped Texas post a 10-1-1 record, including a 14-12 upset of then-No. 3 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, en route to second-team All-America honors.

There were so many good past and present cards of Mike, I did abuse this one slightly.  Baab was kind enough to sign these cards for me, albeit after a long wait.

Some real solid cards of here of Mike. I think my favorite of this group is the Skybox entry. The framing element that they use with the last name, really gave these cards a nice poster effect.  At the time I was surprised that these cards didn’t get more traction in the market because they were very cutting edge. I have a soft spot for the ProSet 1991 card. It’s got a nice rough close up of Baab backing up and demonstrating some sleight of hand technique while his pad rolls up his hand.  These cards pretty much encapsulated the height of my collecting days and the rebirth of it with the Upper Deck UT 2010 entry.

 

NFL

Perry, Michael Dean

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Cards: Skybox 1992, Action Packed Rookies 1992, Gameday 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:  7/1   Received: 10/3   (94 days)

With uncanny quickness off the snap Michael Dean Perry smashed the record books for career sacks (24) at Clemson from his defensive tackle position.  At 6-1, 285, Perry would be considered slightly undersized by today’s standards. Even then he was considered a bit smaller than usual, but Perry turned this to his advantage and wrecked opposing backfields.

sky92 mdperry BBeing drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2nd round of the 1988 draft was a blessing to MDP, and he’d quickly endear himself to legions of Browns fans everywhere. In his rookie season, Perry flashed his playmaking skills. Coming in as a situational pass rusher, he logged 25 tackles, 6.0 sacks, recovered 2 fumbles, one of which he rumbled with for a TD.  In 1989, Bud Carson switched the defense to a 4-3 alignment and Perry became a sensation. He’d earn the first of 5 Pro Bowl nominations, and his first of two All-Pro Honors. Michael Dean’s 1990 was so dominating (107 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 2 FF) that talk around Cleveland was that MDP should receive NFL Player of the Year Honors. At one point the fanfare around Perry was so crazy, McDonalds started selling burgers in the Cleveland area called the MDP- which consisted of a double quarterpounder with double bacon. Ugh… Michael continued to play for the Cleveland Browns through the 1994 season.  At that point head coach Bill Belichick was going in another direction on defense, so the team had a mutual parting of ways with Perry.

gday92 mdperryMichael still had some gas in the tank, so he signed with the Denver Broncos in 1995. He’d somehow earn one last Pro Bowl berth in 1996. 1997 was MDP’s final season in the NFL. He’d play primarily for the Broncos, and then the final month of the season with the Chiefs. By then the nicks and cuts had caught up with him and Perry decided to call it a career. While other teams attempted to lure Perry out of retirement, he resisted and sequestered himself to South Carolina.  Of the offensive linemen that he faced over the years, Perry considered Randall McDaniel and Mike Munchak his most difficult opponents.

Since then Michael has invested in a string of Subway sandwich shops.  He is the younger brother of William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry, who he remains extremely close to. I’ve always found it odd when a player decides to sign his card on the back. Still not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I was very happy to add this fan favorite to the collection.

G/Gs  148/127          Tac  534             Sac 61.0              Fum  13
Int  0         Yds 0          Avg  -.-           Td 0              Lg -.-

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NFL

Schroeder, Jay ‘Schraider’

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Cards: ProSet 1989, Score 1989, Action Packed 1991, SkyBox 1992
Acquired:  TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 1/29    Received:  2/6   (8  days)

Jay Schroeder had a solid career at UCLA but decided to pursue baseball instead. After kicking the tires around in the minor leagues, Schroeder declared for the NFL draft in 1984. He’d be selected by the Washington Redskins in the 3rd round and ride the bench behind Joe Theismann.  After a grizzly injury to Theismann ended his career prematurely, Schroeder stepped in and threw for a franchise high 4106 yards in 1986. He’d earn his only Pro Bowl appearance after the season. Jay had a really nice touch on the long bomb. This was ap91 jschroederevidenced by him leading the league in yards gained per pass completion- a feat he’d accomplish 3 separate times over his career.

He’d separate his shoulder in the season opener in 1987, and consequently lose his starting job to veteran Doug Williams who had the hot hand at the time. Schroeder asked for a trade and the Redskins acquiesced, trading him and some conditional draft picks to the Raiders in exchange for Jim Lachey.

sky92 jschroederJay played his next 5 seasons for the Raiders. His best season came in 1990 when he led LA to the AFC Championship game agains the Buffalo Bills. The team posted a 12-4 record and he threw 19 touchdowns to only 9 interceptions. In 1991 the Raiders drafted Todd Marinovich to eventually replace Jay.  By 1993 Jay was allowed to bolt from the Raiders, where he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, starting 3 games as David Klingler‘s backup. The following year he’d hop over to the Arizona Cardinals and split snaps under center with both Steve Beuerlein and Jim McMahon, posting a 5-3 record.

After the season Jay retired. A solid signer, as of 2016, he’s a coach at the high school level and signed these 4 cards for me lightning fast.

G/GS  118/99       ATT 2808     COMP 1426     YDS 20063      PCT 50.8%
TD  114    INT 108      RAT  71.7

RUSH  242      YDS 761        AVG 3.1      TD 5      LG 31