CARDS: Topps 1992, Pro Set 1990, Fleer 1990, Topps Stadium Club 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 3/21 RECEIVED: 5/20 (60 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Ray Berry was the backbone of the Baylor defense at LB from 1983-’86.
In 1984, made game saving interception to preserve victory over second ranked USC, 20-13.
At conclusion of career had 380 total tackles, 231 solo tackles, and 149 assisted tackles.
Selected in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Cut his teeth on special teams his first two seasons as the franchise had a logger jam of talented linebackers.
That all changed with the Herschel Walker trade, which saw the Vikings trade both LBs David Howard and Jesse Solomon to the Cowboys.
Replacing essentially Howard, Berry stepped in during the 6th game of the ’89 season and racked up 108 tackles and 3 sacks.
Ray posted impressive numbers boasting 152 tackles in ’90 and 159 in ’91.
After playing in only 8 games in 1992, Ray spent a final season in Seattle in 1993, and then retired.
ACCOLADES:
Baylor Athletics Hall of Honor
2007 Legend of Baylor Football
NOTES:
Ray was part of an impressive LB pedigree to come out of Baylor that included Scott Studwell, Mike Singletary, and James Francis. He had some great cards here with the Fleer and Pro Set cards, but I wish I had appreciated the Stadium Club set more, as it really is an outstanding professional photo.
CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Topps Stadium Club 1992, Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: TTM 2024, C/o Home SENT: 4/20 RECEIVED: 5/1 (11 Days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Jonathan Hayes played TE for Iowa from 1982-’84.
He caught 50 passes for 602 yards and 5 TDs for the Hawkeyes.
Second round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1985.
A formidable blocker he caught 22 passes in 1988, and then a career high 24 in 1993.
Signed with the Steelers in 1994 and finished out his playing career there after the 1996 season.
Joined Bob Stoops coaching staff in Oklahoma during 1999 as a TE/ Special Teams coach.
In 2003, took over the TE coaching duties for the Cincinnati Bengals.
He’d become a mainstay on the Bengals staff, serving in his duties through the 2018 season.
Jonathan got his first head coaching and GM gig with the XFL in 2020.
He’d guide the St. Louis Battle Hawks to a 3-2 record, before the league was shut down by COVID.
When the XFL returned in 2023, Jonathan was lured back to be offensive coordinator by his old coach… Bob Stoops and the Renegades.
After winning the XFL Championship he opted to return to Ohio and is currently an Athletic Director at the HS level.
NOTES:
I’m pretty sure that Jonathan walked right past me after the XFL Championship Game and I didn’t initially recognize him. Later I took a shot on Jonathan TTM, and it paid off, as not only did he sign my cards, he also drew up a play for me!
I had thought that at some point over the years, outside my Patriots Blitz back in the early ’90s (when the team truly stunk), that I had gotten Greg on a few other trading cards- but I had not.
The Gameday one is one in which I had a Mandela Effect about. I swore that I had gotten him on this card sometime ago, and that he also had a Skybox 1992 Impact card. (That one turned out to be Hart Lee Dykes.)
Also the Topps Stadium Club 1992 card is one that I was particularly sore about for sometime. It is a photo of him catching a TD against the then HOUSTON Oilers, as the Patriots upset them for the win at Foxboro. (I had to go to school the next day, eat crow, and pay out a 20 buck bet.)
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
