Tag Archives: ttm autographs

NFL

Harris, Tim

Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 11/13    Received: 11/19  (6 days)

Tim Harris was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 4th round of the 1986 draft out of the University of Memphis. While there he set the team record for most career tackles behind the line of scrimmage with 47.

He worked his way into the starting lineup by week 7, and finished with 8 sacks and 67 tackles. The Packers named him their rookie of the year that season. After a subpar ’87 (7 sacks),  Harris came in lights out in 1988, posting 13.5 sacks and leading the team in tackles with 97 (86 unassisted).  These numbers were the best by a Packers linebacker since 1983 and 1985 respectively, but Tim was snubbed for the Pro Bowl as Green Bay surprisingly hard charged into the playoffs after the season. 1989 was different as Tim improved off of his breakout season and finished second in the NFL with 19.5 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries.pset90 tharris Tim was a key member of the ‘Cardiac Pack’ team that grabbed many comeback and close victories to go 10-6. After the season, he’d not only snag Pro Bowl honors but also All Pro as well. 1990 became Tim’s final season in Green Bay. In his swan song he posted 7 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

Intent on holding out for a larger contract, the Packers decided
they’d have no part of Harris in 1991, trading him to San Fransisco for 2 high draft choices ( a 2nd rounder in 1992 and 3rd rounder in 1993). Noted was the fact that Harris’ new contract stipulated that he be a good citizen- essentially meaning he needed to stay on his best behavior. He had been fined for marijuana use in 1987 and had a colorful personality that did sometimes run him close to the edge.  Tim wasn’t a factor that season at all, only managing 3 sacks. With the departure though of Charles Haley to the Cowboys in 1992, the 49ers investment in Harris paid off as he finished with his second best season recording 17 sacks that year.  He’d sign with Philly in 1993, but only manage to start 3 games. Injuries kept him down and a drunk driving charge didn’t help either. sco90 tharrisAfter spending one season there, he returned to San Fransisco and played there through 1995 as a situational pass rusher earning a Super Bowl ring with the team (XXIX).

Tim has picked up in coaching since retirement and has moved out to California. He responded to my autograph request like he was sacking a quarterback- very quickly.  I love these cards. They really
capture the essence of Harris as a passionate player. I do suspect
that the ProSet 1990 and the Score 1990 are the same photo from different angles, which wouldn’t be a first. I like the Score one a bit more than the others though because the photo feels more dynamic with the side view. You have to wonder if he just made a sack or is trying to rev up the crowd before a play.

G/Gs 122/93    Tac 536   Sac  81   Fum   8
Int 0     Yds  0   Avg  -.-   Td 0    Lg -.-

 

NFL

Mauck, Carl

Cards: Topps 1971, Topps 1980
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 9/7    Received: 9/13   (6 days)

In the Jurassic Era of AFL football, even before offensive linemen Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews roamed the gridiron for the Houston Oilers, perhaps one of the most solid technicians to play OL for the team was Center Carl Mauck.  Originally drafted by the Baltimore Colts way back in 1969 in the 13th round of the NFL draft, Carl bounced around his first 3 years in the league. After only 4 games under his belt in 1969, Carl moved to the Dolphins for a season for another 3 games experience. It’d be in his time in San Diego in ’71 he’d finally position himself as an outstanding lineman, leading the Chargers from center for the next 4 seasons.

The Oilers signed him in 1975. With a new head coach in Bum Philips, the team was trying to change its losing ways and signing Mauck was a way of stopping the revolving door on the offensive line. The 6-4, 243lb, offensive lineman had 55 games under his belt, and immediately became a guiding force in young quarterback Dan Pastorini‘s football life. Mauck was also a road grader, providing great inline blocking for Earl Campbell. In 1978 the offense set an NFL record with the least sacks allowed on the season with 17. He’d also succeed in stabilizing the line woes starting 94 games over the next seven seasons, retiring after the ’81 season.

Carl went straight into coaching, following Bum to New Orleans. Considered a virtuoso at coaching offensive line blocking, Carl spent the 1982 through the 1985 seasons with the Saints, before coaching with the Chiefs, Buccaneers, Chargers, Cardinals, Bills, and Lions. In his first coaching stint with the Chargers, Carl was reunited with Bum Philips’ son, Wade, where the team appeared in Super Bowl XXIX following the 1994 season.  From 2006-2007 he coached tight ends at his Alma Mater, Southern Illinois. Carl is an active NFL alumni and frequently gives his feedback on the state of the NFL, players and coaches. He also appeared at Fan Fest II in Houston. Currently he lives outside of Dallas, Tx.

 

College Football HoF, NFL

Jackson, Keith “Boomer Sooner”

Cards: ProSet 1990, Action Packed Rookies Update 1992, GameDay 1992, Action Packed All Madden Team 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o P.A.R.K.*
Sent: 8/28        Received: 9/10  (12 days)
*Autograph Fee $5 per card.

Keith Jackson was the highest rated tight end off the board in 1988 after a prolific career for the University of Oklahoma. A complete package at the position, Jackson had soft hands, and just about the right size, speed, and blocking ability to handle just about every duty assigned to him. Over his career at Oklahoma he racked up 1407 yards on 62 receptions- a whopping 23.7 yards per catch. He’d earn the appropriate nickname ‘Boomer Sooner’ from his teammates for his penchant to show up in big games, making big plays, leading the Oklahoma Sooners to a National Championship in 1986. During the National Championship game against Penn State, Keith caught a spectacular 71 yard touchdown pass.

He was selected in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Buddy Ryan, who was head coach of the time eschewed receivers, but loved the all around ability of Jackson and quickly put him to work.


It didn’t take long for Keith to become a fan favorite of the Eagles and Randall Cunningham, as he set the team mark for yards by a rookie with 869, to go along with 80 catches, and 6 touchdowns earning Keith his first Pro Bowl and AP nods. In a final accolade that season he won NFC Rookie of the Year Honors. 1988 was his best season statistically, but by no means did it represent the end of his career, as both in 89 and 90, he’d also be named AP and to the Pro Bowl for his solid seasons with 63 and 50 receptions respectively. After catching 49 balls his final season with the Eagles in 1991, Keith signed with the Miami Dolphins in 1992.

With the dawn of Free Agency and the Dolphins looking to add new weapons for Dan Marino, Keith quickly stepped right into the starting lineup for Miami, staying there for 3 seasons. Along the way Jackson scored 18 touchdowns on 146 receptions. Another ProBowl was in store for him in 1992, with 594 yards and 5 touchdowns. Keith moved on to the Green Bay Packers and became a nice redzone target for quarterback Brett Favre. Although his 1995 season was marred by injury, Keith recovered in time for 1996 scoring 10 touchdowns on 40 receptions. This earned Keith his final Pro Bowl nomination and culminated in the team’s victory over the New England Patriots in SuperBowl XXXI. He’d retire after the season.

Keith is a player who really hasn’t gotten his due, as he has never been considered for the Hall of Fame. Although the passing game has mutated into what it is today with tight ends that behave like wide receivers, Keith was an anomaly out of time. One surely wonders what sort of damage he would have done if he was playing during the current pass happy era of the NFL. Surely he would have posted some gaudy stats if things were different. Still when you look at the final count, in 9 seasons he was a 6 time Pro Bowler on 3 different teams, and a 3 time All Pro from his 3 seasons in Philadelphia. I had been long interested in adding Keith to my collection- as far back as 2009, but kept kicking the can down the road on this one. Wish I had sent out for this one sooner as it was a lighting fast reply c/o his charity P.A.R.K. He does color commentary on the radio currently for the Razorbacks, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

I really liked all these cards. Pro Set actually liked the 1990 card they produced so much that they used it frequently for promotion. I can see why with the way the light perfectly hits Keith’s pads, lighting up the green in contrast to the black background. It provides quite a silhouette. I was never really a fan of the ‘All Madden Team’ Action Packed cards that were produced, although this shot in particular is a good one. The GameDay 1992 cards were superior and unique cards, and along with the Action Packed, made great cards to get autographed due to their look.
G/Gs 129/105     Rec 441    Yds 5283    Avg 12.0    Td 49    Lg 73t