I had been circling back around to Greg since I got his Action Packed 1991 Rookies card via an acquisition. I really liked his Star Pics card, but I was struck by his Stadium Club entry as well- which has some really nice color in it. Playoff really came out at the tail end of when I was collecting back in the early 90s, and I’d always wanted to give the set a bit more love since the ink is absorbed so well by the metal finish.
As I was writing this, I was thinking about ‘the tail end of when I was collecting back in the early 90s’, and how now I’ve now basically entered into a second collecting recession. I don’t have any interest in buying boxes of first run cards right now. There are too many speculative buyers out there driving up an overpriced market. The design has gone into a disappointing direction, and there’s little room for value such as autographs included in the boxes. I wouldn’t be surprised if a contraction is coming to the trading card market soon.
Some good set needs knocked out of Steve here with the classic Pro Set card. It’s a great action shot. The Skybox premium is a really well designed card too. The Topps Stadium Club one is interesting all on its own. You just don’t see action shots like that, and Steve also has that oddball Score 1990 shot of him on the ground too.
Cards: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991, Topps Stadium Club 1992, Fleer 1990 Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home Sent: 3/8 Received: 4/2 (25 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Mike Kenn was a highly regarded lineman who played at Michigan from 1975-1977.
He was the Atlanta Falcons #1 pick in 1978, and was almost immediately slotted in at tackle.
He improved his overall strength and technique over the next few seasons.
By 1979, he went without penalty for the entire season, and earned numerous accolades.
Amazingly, Kenn went 26 in a row eventually without penalty.
Started 94 games in a row (including playoffs) before tearing up his knee in 1985.
Kenn retired after the 1994 season.
Over his career Mike was a part of an offensive line that set and broke team records for rushing yards and least sacks allowed in a season multiple times.
He played his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons: 17 seasons, 251 games started.
ACCOLADES:
All Rookie team 1978
First team AP 1980, ’83, ’91
Second team AP 1981, ’82
Pro Bowl 1980-’84
Polish Sports Hall of Fame
Byron Whizzer White Man of the Year 1990
Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor
Topps Stadium Club 1992, #157Fleer 1990, #380
NOTES:
Despite Mike’s utterly dominating resume, he’s rarely ever come up for consideration into the Pro Football Hall of Fame- An absolute injustice. It’s perhaps a side effect of playing for some absolutely terrible Falcons teams during long stretches of the 80’s that kept him under the radar, but in actual professional football circles, he’s considered one of the finest to play tackle in league history.
Great cards here. I wanted to get him on his Whizzer White Action Packed and Fleer cards, but the Stadium Club entry here is really well constructed. A simple design, but really good photography with just the right color.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
