Cards: Score 1990, Action Packed 1990, Topps 1990 Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o The University of Wisconsin Sent: 2/4 Received: 2/14 (10 days) See Also: John Settle
John still has it after all these years. He signed these cards in only 10 days care of Wisconsin. Much to my chagrin he did sign the autograph box on the back of the Action Packed card, but still these were very nice to add to my collection and probably wrap up any card of his that he had over the years.
After coaching for the Panthers from 2011 to 2012, John served one season with the Cleveland Browns in 2013. He returned to the college ranks and picked up a year with the University of Pittsburgh, before returning to the University of Wisconsin. John is a fixture as a RB coach since retirement, and has worked wonders tutoring many young backs to the pro ranks.
Matt Millen comes from a long pedigree of great linebackers to come out of Penn State- and was an All-American in 1978. He was selected in the second round of the 1980 draft by the then Oakland Raiders. He’d go on to be the Raiders leading tackler in 1981, 1982, and 1988- earning a ProBowl nomination in the latter, and All-Pro Nominations in 1984 and 1985. Over this period Matt also won SuperBowls XV and XVIII. A vicious hitter, player, and run stopper, Matt was unceremoniously cut by the Raiders right before the 1989 season began. He’d be snatched up by the San Fransisco 49ers and go on to win another Super Bowl. Two seasons later he’d round out his career with a final Super Bowl win with the Washington Redskins.
Matt moved into the broadcast booth where he honed his skills and then later joined the Detroit Lions as their General Manager. While Matt’s tenure there was rightfully much maligned- he was also placed into a difficult rebuilding situation. A tireless worker, it is said that he essentially lived at the team’s complex working non-stop for the franchise. After being dismissed from his time with the Lions, Matt was offered a job with the Oakland Raiders but he declined, and has returned to broadcasting.
A few years ago I had shot a few cards out to Matt who was a very reliable and consistent signer. At about the same time another greedy collector sent out a request- that included 23 cards. Viewing the successes on sportscollectors.net it was incredibly frustrating to see this other person get their request completely filled- while mine never was.
When I heard that he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis- the same disease as Lions LB Mike Cofer– and that he needed a heart transplant, I thought I should send Matt another letter. I didn’t really expect anything back, and I had hoped that he’d find some small comfort in what I wrote. He was really struggling and needing a heart transplant. Six months or so later I heard he had a successful heart transplant and was already recovering from the surgery. Within a few days, I got back all 3 of these cards signed.
I was genuinely shocked, but it’s quite a credit to Matt that he’d bother to send these autographed cards back out to me and I will always treasure them a bit more than I will admit.
Card: Topps 1990 1000 Yard Club Acquired: 2018, Future Considerations See Also: Dalton Hilliard
Lance comes to the rescue again with another autograph from Dalton Hilliard- a virtual no signer through the mail. Dalton has a stack of great cards, which I couldn’t find, but thankfully it just made this choice easier as this one really spoke to me after all these years.
I didn’t really like Topps back in those days. When I bought them at the 7-11 at the end of my day, they were they were filler in my collection. What was going for the set was that they were cheap. The 1000 Yard Club was an insert series that ran throughout the Topps football card brand for around 10 years. Beyond the week to week recap of the stas on the back, they were of a higher quality than the standard Topps issue (glossy), had an action shot and were usually a bit more ornate in design. One was included in each pack. Everything about this card really screams 1990, from the hand written manuscript underneath the bold 1000, to the strong yellow border. Dalton’s autograph shows up nicely on this card.
Dalton’s nephew Kenny Hilliard also went to LSU and continues on in his uncle’s football footprints. Lance told me that Dalton was going to be signing at a casino with a few other Saints. I loaded him up with cards and hooked him up with Deadhorse who also needed Hilliard. Thankfully Hilliard was more than happy to sign whatever Lance brought imploring him to, “Bust them all out.”
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
