After I got Bruce a few years ago, I remember opening up a box searching for another player and saying, “uggggghhhh…”, After I realized that I had a beautiful Skybox card of him that I wanted to have him sign. I set it aside and waited patiently hoping he’d still be a good signer when the time would come around again.
As the pandemic set in, I started really developing and formalizing a lot of set needs. I used to like to just pick and choose action shots and pretty cards to send to players, but now I’ve become more directed, as all four of these sets became set needs after COVID came and supposedly went.
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.
Nate Lewis came a long way to get to the professional ranks, playing WR at 3 different colleges.
Began college career at Oklahoma A&M, before transferring to Georgia for his Sophomore and Junior Seasons.
After being dismissed from the football team for academic reasons, Lewis ended up at tiny Oregon Tech.
A leg injury caused Nate to miss a significant portion of the season, but he still managed 27 catches for 434 yards and 2 TDs.
Still there was enough tape to impress scouts, and with sub 4.5 speed, Nate was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 7th round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
Made the roster of the San Diego Chargers and saw 3 starts in his rookie season, moonlighting on kick and punt return units as well.
First career TD came on a 63 yard punt return against the Seahawks during his rookie year.
Played 4 seasons for the Chargers, posting 450+ yards from 1991-93.
Had a memorable 95 yard kick off return for a TD against the New Orleans Saints in the Chargers 24-21 win in 1991.
Finished out career playing 2 additional seasons for the Bears (94-95)
NOTES:
I really liked Nate’s Skybox Premium and his Gameday too. Unfortunately he switched out the Gameday for this Bowman. Ah well, at least he was nice enough to sign them and replace the other card too.
For a 7th round pick, Nate had some great cards over his career. Besides the ones mentioned above, he slid in on Action Packed (1992), Score, Proline, and Topps Stadium Club among others.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
130
1802
13.9
13
62
KR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
169
3825
22.6
1
95t
PR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
35
327
9.3
1
63t
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
