Tag Archives: ttm autograph

NFL

James, Lionel “Little Train” (1962-2022)

Cards: ProSet 1989, Topps 1989
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 4/5   Received: 4/16  (11 days)

 

Lionel James was one of the smallest players to don football pads in the NFL, measuring up at a tiny 5’6″, 172. The running mate to Bo Jackson in Auburn’s wishbone, James was a virtuoso, who had soft hands, speed, and great vision, playing runningback and returning kicks for the Tigers.

Lionel was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the 5th round of the 1984 draft, where he fit right into the offense run by Dan Fouts and coached by guru Don Coryell. A devastating returner, Little Train had 1488 yards from scrimmage his rookie year, with a league leading 959 yards coming on 43 kick returns. He also had 30 PR and a 58 yard touchdown. In his second season, (1985) the team officially committed him to running back, where he was part of a 3 headed monster with Tim Spencer and Gary Anderson.

James had a monstrous 1985, setting the then NFL record for yards from scrimmage with 2535 yards, while also setting the then NFL record for most yards receiving for a runningback with 1027. Little Train’s 516 yards rushing also led the team and in a game against the Raiders, he fell only 28 yards short of Billy Cannon‘s 373 all purpose yards in a single game, (set in 1962).  

As injuries finally caught up to Lionel in 1986, his all purpose yards slid to 806 in 1986, but he rebounded in 1987 with another 1136, in only 12 games. James played one final season in 1988, tallying 606 yards from scrimmage, but the wear and tear had caught up to him, and by the time the 1989 season rolled around, his career was over after really only 5 seasons.

G/Gs 67/22   Rush 231    Yds  1062    Avg 4.6   Td 4    Lg 56
Rec  209    Yds  2278    Avg 10.9    Td 10    Lg 67
PR 124   Yds 1193    Avg 9.6    Td 2    Lg 81t
KR 99    Yds 2094    Avg 21.2  Td 0   Lg 55

UPDATE 2/25/22- Lionel James passed away after a battle with a lengthy illness. He was 59.

NFL

Howley, Chuck (2)

pset90 howleyudldg97 howley

Cards: ProSet 1990 Super Bowl MVP,  Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 3/12    Received:  3/18     (6 days)
See Also:  Chuck Howley

Considered one of the greatest linebackers Tom Landry had ever seen, the bionic Chuck Howley split time between the Bears and the Cowboys. It would be with his Super Bowl V efforts, (the only one in which a player from the losing player won the MVP honors,) that Chuck really received his due.  The next season the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl VI, and Chuck retired officially after the 1973 season.  The 6 time Pro Bowler, and 5 time All Pro, made every one of those years playing for the Cowboys and is a member of the 20/20 club – with more than 20 interceptions and sacks in their career (although sacks weren’t an official statistic until 1982).  A cornerstone of the “Doomsday Defense”, the Cowboys traded a 2nd and 9th round pick to the Chicago Bears to acquire Howley, who had suffered from a catastrophic knee injury that kept him out of the previous 1960 season.  He earned numerous accolades since retirement from his native West Virginia where he was born and also from the state of Texas. The Cowboys inducted Howley into their Ring of Honor in 1977.  Chuck Howley- What a name. Just has that iconic ring to it that screams physical, down in the dirt, classic, football player. Now this is definitely a Cowboy I’d vouch for that deserves to be in the HoF. He’s got the stats, the championship, and the MVP honor.

I had been kicking the can down the road on Chuck for a while, but I had these two great cards sitting around and had to give it a shot. The ProSet 1990 Super Bowl MVP cards, that were included in the set, covered SuperBowls I-XXIV. Merv Corning did some amazing illustration for these pieces and I’d love to get a few more of these signed. I’ve also become fond of the Upper Deck Legends 1997 set. There’s some excellent photography, design, and typography in this definitive set.

NFL

Beebe, Don

pac91 beebeCards: Pacific 1991, Pro Set 1989, Topps 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 1/7       Received: 1/25  (18 days)

Don Beebe is a wide receiver best known for his Super Bowl moment, (during his stint with the Buffalo Bills,) when he swatted a football out of Dallas Cowboys Leon Lett’s embarrassed hands in Super Bowl XXVII.

Don sorta came out of nowhere, playing only two years of college football for Western Illinois (1987) and then at Chadron State (1988). While playing at Chadron, Don had 49 receptions for 906 yards and 13 touchdowns. With his breathtaking speed, Beebe averaged 18.5 yards per catch, and 25 yards per kick return, taking an additional ball to the house. His performance for the Eagles earned him Little All-America second team honors, and an invite to the NFL combine. He wowed the scouts there with his incredible speed, leaping, and work ethic, translating his efforts to a 3rd round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the deep 1989 draft. (In fact, it was so pset89 beebesurprising, that Pro Set struggled to find a photo of  Don settling for this granulated photo of him on his rookie prospect card.)

Don made his first catch against the Houston Oilers- a 63 yard barn burning touchdown. He then repeated the effort with another 63 yarder against the Dolphins that next month. He’d finish his rookie season with 17 receptions for 317 yards, an 18.5 yard average, and those 2 touchdowns. Occasionally Beebe got some time at returner his rookie season, posting an 85 yard kickoff return against the Falcons. His 1990 season was marred by injury and sitting behind incumbents Andre Reed and James Lofton didn’t help. Still he managed 11 catches for 221 yards and a touchdown. 1991 was a great season for Beebe, as he’d record a career high 6 touchdowns on 32 receptions. Through 1994 Beebe was pretty automatic to lock in for 30+ receptions recording a career high 40 in that final season with the Bills.

In 1995 the expansion Carolina Panthers were building their roster, and offered Beebe a free agent contract. While he played to90 beebesparingly that single season in Carolina making just 14 receptions for 152 yards, the team boasted a decent receiving corps led by Mark Carrier, Willie Green, and Eric Guliford. Don was cut after the season.

Don’s final two seasons were spent at Lambeau as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Returning to form in 1996, with Brett Favre at the helm, Beebe recorded 39 receptions for a career high 699 yards and 4 touchdowns, in 6 starts. Also after his Superbowl heartbreaking stint in Buffalo, Don finally got his ring in after the season. He’d play one final season in 1997 and retire. It is of note that in 5 out of his 9 seasons, Beebe caught a long pass greater than 60 yards.

A well rounded and respected member of the NFL community, Don is the maestro of operations for “The House of Speed”. He also coaches high school football, and has written a book about his journey to the NFL titled: “Six Rings from Nowhere”. Don suffered numerous hits over his playing career including a frightening one against Browns safety Felix Wright during the NFL Playoffs where he landed on his head (Pro Set 1990 card). Beebe has suffered numerous concussions over his playing time in the NFL and is one of the major names lending credence to the current concussion related lawsuit.

G/Gs  116/51      Rec 219     Yds 3416      Avg 15.6     Td 23      Lg 80t
Kr 81     Yds  1735     Avg 21.4     Td 1    Lg 90t