Tag Archives: ttm autographs

NFL, WLAF

Kennan, Larry

Cards: Pro Set 1991 First Game, Pro Set WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Incarnate Word University
Sent: 11/12  Received: 12/5   (23 days)
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o NFL Coaches Assn.

After playing quarterback for the LaVerne Leos, Larry Kennan went right into the coaching ranks where he built an impressive resume as an offensive coordinator and positional coach even before I was born. He spent time with UNLV (73-75) and at SMU (76-78) as an OC before landing the head coaching gig at Lamar University, outside of Houston.  Kennan coached the Cardinals through 1981. During his stop there with the college, Kennan’s highlights were posting a 6-3-1 record in 1979, and knocking off the 20th ranked Baylor Bears 18-17 in 1981. Overall the attendance to games improved to record levels.

Larry made his first stop at the professional rank in 1982. He’d coach with the Los Angeles Raiders through 1988, -first as quality control and then later as a quarterbacks coach, where he had the privilege of working with players like Steve Beuerlein, Jay Schroeder, Jim Plunkett, Marc Wilson, and Rusty Hilger. Kennan spent the next two seasons with the Broncos (WR coach, 1989) and (quickly moved up to be) the Colts offensive coordinator for the 1990 season with head coach Ron Meyer working helping indoctrinate rookie Jeff George into the pro game, while at the same time trying to find an offensive balance for future HoF RB Eric Dickerson.

After the season the London Monarchs of the WLAF came calling and made him an offer to join their staff as head coach in 1991. The team ran away with the league title that year winning World Bowl I over the Barcelona Dragons 21-0. The Monarchs also won the first game in league history against the Frankfurt Galaxy. His team was outstanding through and through, with quarterback Stan Gelbaugh setting numerous passing records behind an incredible offensive line, and wide receiver Jon Horton. The defense was also equally good as well, and the team posted a 9-1 record. Plucked from the WLAF after the season, Larry returned stateside to the Seattle Seahawks for 1992 to become Tom Flores OC.

The Seahawks were not doing so well on offense. After jettisoning longtime quarterback Dave Krieg, the team was in flux between Dan McGwire and Kelly Stouffer. In fact, it got so bad that Kennan had to dial up Gelbaugh to help out. Rick Mirer was drafted to lead the offense in 1993, and Kennan did an admirable job of triage with him, but by 1994 with numbers slumping the the Seahawks still doing badly in the standings, the staff was released. Larry continued to find work in the NFL with the Saints (1995, TE’s), Raiders (1996, QB’s), and 1997 with the Patriots as offensive coordinator. He then moved up to the executive level working for the NFL Coaches Association from 1998-2011. As of 2012, Larry is the head coach of the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

WLAF:   W 9     L 1     T 0     Pct .900

 

NFL

Toon, Al

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, ProSet 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 3/26    Received: 11/23  (242 days)

An incredible track man who actually had great hands, Wisconsin found a steal in Al Toon where he excelled at wide receiver for the Badgers over a 4 year career. Considered a world class athlete he competed for the 1984 Olympic trials in both the triple jump and the hurdles. The most well-rounded wide receiver prospect on the board of the 1985 draft, Al went 10th to the New York Jets. (This draft was a strong draft for the position with notables Eddie Brown, Jerry Rice, Eric Martin, Andre Reed, Jessie Hester, and Steve Tasker all being drafted after him.)

After a respectable rookie season, where he posted a career high 78 yard touchdown, Al had an even better 1986 catching 85 balls for 1,176 yards and 8 touchdowns. It’d be his first AP and Pro Bowl mark. Narrowly missing the 1,000 yard mark in 1987, Toon led the NFL in receptions but still earned his second and third Pro Bowl and AP nominations for his 1987 season and his banner 1988 season, in which he had 93 receptions for 1067 yards. The 93 catches led the NFL and were a Jets record, and he was named the AFC Player of the Year. Brutal 1989 and 1990 seasons limited Toon’s production, but he rebounded in 1991 to lead the team in receptions with 74 and post 963 yards. Lingering concussions ended Al’s playing career after the 1992 season and he became one of the first players to publicly retire due to them and then by 1994 entered the league’s ‘sponsored’ concussion study program as one of its earliest patients.

Al is another great story cut short by the scourge of injury. He is a player that I speculate could have finished his career with near identical numbers to Andre Reed, if he hadn’t have suffered from so many concussions. Also Al played for some horrid Jets teams that had their share of bad quarterbacks as the team collapsed back into anonymity after their miracle 1985 run. During his playing time it was recorded that Toon received some 13 concussions while playing football.

He has suffered from post-concussion syndrome, but has not let it stop him from attempting to remain physically fit and active, and involved with the Badgers. Al was named to the 40th anniversary team of the Jets and has been inducted into the team’s ring of honor. His son, also a WR was recently drafted in the 4th round of the 2012 draft by the New Orleans Saints.

G/Gs 107/95     Rec 517    Yds  6605   Avg  12.8    Td  31   Lg   78t

NFL, Pro Football HoF, XFL

Butkus, Dick (1942-2023)

Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Topps 1971
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home*
Sent: 11/14    Received: 12/23  (9 days)
*Signing fee enclosed

Dick Butkus is one of the NFL’s greatest prototypical linebackers ever to play the game and redefined the position for a generation with his dominating play and fearsome presence on the field.  After an acclaimed career playing linebacker and center for the Fightin’ Illini, the Chicago Bears made Dick their #1 pick of the 1965 draft (3rd overall). The competing AFL Denver Broncos also made an offer, but Dick signed with his home state Bears and never looked back.  The 1965 draft was a watershed draft for the Bears who hit on a couple of great names during the draft including Gale Sayers, Jim Nance, and Steve Delong, but the team never seemed to be able to gel and turn the corner – especially against the powerful Packers.

Still Butkus had quite a reputation around the league as being incredibly durable and reliable, -but also as a dirty player as well. Over his time with the Bears he led the team in nearly every defensive category every season, tallying a career high unofficial count of 18 sacks in 1967. Butkus was also an independent thinker who regularly challenged the league on many issues that impacted the sport, from working with the XFL against the NFL, to helping to revolutionize the league’s policies on injuries and medical opinions.

A Bear legend even after his retirement, Butkus spent a few years doing commentary for the league, and endorsed many products and appeared in many different movies and TV shows. Butkus was elected to the NFL HoF in 1979, and was named head coach of the Chicago Enforcers for the XFL before they reshuffled the team prior to the season. Butkus was then promoted by the league to Director of XFL Competition as basically a rules enforcer. He’d appear in the first game and bolster the hopes of many that the XFL might challenge the NFL’s superiority, but by the 3rd week of the season, any of those dreams were dashed with sagging ratings. Butkus in the meantime remained committed to his foundation.

I had seen that Dick was hit or miss through the mail but another collector had some successfrom him by writing on the back of the sending envelope “DONATION ENCLOSED” and enclosing a small donation. With that stroke of genius I set off  to get the autograph one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history. I was pretty nervous about writing him and even called him ‘Mr. Butkus’ in the letter. Fans may have been able to get away with a smaller donation, however I felt that I could afford at least 20.00 a card for such a great player. Eventually he went to $51.00 an autograph- to not signing at all.

I’m pretty sure in 1995, while I was working opening stores for Best Buy and I was away from the autograph game, I encountered a throng of fans surrounding him for an autograph in the parking lot of the DC Airport. 

Tac  1020   Sac  N/a    Fum 27     Int  22    Yds  166    Avg 7.5       Td  0   Lg  n/a

EPITAPH:

10/5/23- It was announced today that Dick Butkus passed away in his sleep overnight, dying peacefully at his Malibu, FL home at the age of 80. No cause of death was given.