Tag Archives: ttm autograph

NFL, University of Texas, wfl

Talbert, Don

phomem dontalbertutud11 dontalbert

Card: University of Texas Upper Deck 2011, Photograph Memorabilia
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 12/28/15   Received:   1/11/16  (14 days)

The Talberts (Charlie, Don, and Diron) were a family line that infused the University of Texas during the 50s and 60s with raw talent. Don Talbert, the eldest of the clan, 6’5″, 210, was a two way star playing both offensive line and defensive line for the Longhorns from 1959 to 1961. He was a co-team captain and earned All SWC and All-American Honors after the 1961 season.

Don was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in 1961, where he played both sides of the line.  (He was also selected in the 34th round of the AFL draft by the Houston Oilers, but declined their offer.) After serving 2 years in Vietnam, he returned to the Cowboys in 1965. Don was selected by the expansion Atlanta Falcons in 1966 where he grew into starter material until he was traded to the Saints in 1969.  After two seasons blocking up front for New Orleans, Don was traded again- this time back to Dallas.  Talbert played for the Cowboys through 1973 and won a Super Bowl ring (VI).

Don joined the upstart WFL in 1974 as a member of the original Houston Texans. (The franchise did not last the year and moved to Shreveport where it was renamed the Steamer.) He’d retire after the season concluded.

Don signed this UT card of his in a very short time. He also mailed me this signed photo memorabilia as well. For a while there after football Don was owner and president of Talbert Investments- specializing in real estate out of Houston.

G/Gs 103/33

NFL

Foster, DeShaun

Cards: Playoff Contenders 2005, Leaf Rookies & Stars 2005 Longevity
Acquired:  TTM 2017, C/o UCLA
Sent: 8/29    Received: 9/17   (18 days)

I remember DeShaun Foster playing for UCLA back in I think it was 1998. The University of Texas was beginning to feel its oats again, and big things were expected out of the Longhorns that year. UCLA was the home opener- and well, Foster and the Bruins blew the doors off of UT. Over his 4 years in LA, DeShaun rushed 696 times for 3087 yards and 39 TDs.

He’d be selected in the 2nd round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, but be injured during the preseason. He’d return in 2003 and be paired up in the backfield with former Redskin Stephen Davis. Davis was more of a straight ahead between the tackles back, while Foster was a slasher with good speed.  It wouldn’t be until 2005 that Foster surpassed Davis in the lineup as the primary starter. Over the next 3 seasons, he’d post almost 3 identical seasons hovering between 875-900 yards rushing.  He’d sign with the San Fransisco 49ers where he played a final season in 2008. Afterwards he had a tryout with the Rams but did not make the squad and opted to retire.

Foster went into coaching first as a volunteer assistant at UCLA in 2013, and then later in 2016 as the RB coach at Texas Tech. He rejoined UCLA in the same capacity in 2017, where he kindly signed these 2 cards of his in less than a month’s time.

G/Gs 79/42     Rush 927         Yds 3570        Avg 3.9         Td 11          Lg 71t
Rec   142           Yds 1129              Avg 8.0         Td 5            Lg 47

NFL, WLAF

Painter, Carl


Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991 League Leader
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 11/4     Received: 11/13  (9 days)
Failure: 2011, 2017, C/o Home

The Orlando Thunder had a stacked offense. At runningback they featured a variety of styles of runners including former Detroit Lion track man Carl Painter. Carl earned his keep primarily on kick off return duties, averaging a league leading 24.9 yards on 24 returns. He set a league single game record when he had 6 kickoff returns for 178 yards against the Knights. Carl sprained his shoulder in a week 8 contest against Sacramento, and finished the season with 15 carries for 47 yards to go along with 13 receptions for 157 yards.

Painter played two seasons for the Detroit Lions, after being selected by them during the 6th round of the 1988 draft. Over two seasons, he had 106 yards on 32 carries and 4 catches for 42 yards. He also chipped in 18 kick returns for 361 yards and a 20.1 yard average.

A sensational runningback at Hampton, Carl rushed for 3,223 yards from 1983 to 1987, and led the team in scoring in both 1985 and 1987, netting him all-conference honors with the Pirates. In 2009, he was inducted into Hampton University’s inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame.

Being that Carl had 2 cards in the vaunted ProSet WLAF 1991 set, I had tried multiple times to get Carl but had lucked out. I have been collaborating with Mark of Mark’s Signing Bonus for some time on tracking down players from the league. Luckily he got a nice hit on Carl, so I sent out to him immediately the next day. Carl wrote me a really nice note, thanking me for remembering him along with the two autographs. As of 2017 he works in management for a city Parks and Recreation department in Virginia.

NFL   27/0         RUSH 32       YDS 106       AVG 3.3        TD 0        LG 13
REC  3                  YDS 42          AVG 10.5         TD 0             LG 27

WLAF   RUSH 15      YDS   47      AVG  3.1           TD 0         LG 18
REC    13                    YDS 157        AVG 12.1          TD 0         LG 26

KR    24       YDS    597          AVG 24.9          TD 0             LG 48