Tag Archives: ttm autographs

NFL, WLAF

Moorer, Patrick “Hitman”

ult92 moorerCard: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Louisville
Sent: 7/15    Received: 8/15   (30 days)

A four year starter who walked onto the Florida Gators, Pat Moorer led the squad in tackles in both his junior and senior seasons at inside linebacker, earning the apt nickname ‘Hitman’, and finishing with an even 300 career tackles.  Signed by the San Diego Chargers as a free agent in 1990, Pat did not make the squad, but instead went on to greater glory playing in the WLAF. During the WLAF positional draft in 1991, the Hitman was taken in the second round by the Frankfurt Galaxy which employed a 3-4 defense. His rookie season with the squad, Pat recorded 29 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. He’d play with the league another year before returning back to college to pursue his degree in Health and Human Performance from Florida in 1992. He then moved into the assistant role at the college until he was hired at Illinois in 1997, and then South Carolina in 1999 as the director of strength and conditioning. There he began to garner a great reputation as the personal trainer to RB Emmitt Smith. Patrick later was proudly awarded what amounts to a Masters in the field of Strength and Conditioning in 2006. In 2010, he joined the staff at Louisville, where as of 2013 he continues in this capacity.

WLAF    Tac  N/a    Sac 2.5    Fum 0    Int 0     Yds 0    Avg -.-   Td 0    Lg -.-

NFL

Butler, LeRoy

sco90 butlerCards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o The LeRoy Butler Foundation*
Sent: 9/10     Received: 9/26    (16 days)
*donation of $10 per flat.

LeRoy Butler’s story is an inspiring and amazing tale, as he spent the early years of his childhood confined him to a wheelchair.  As he recovered from his impairments, he got up, and never appeared to stop running.  LeRoy was part of a devious secondary for the Florida State Seminoles playing alongside Deion Sanders and high school friend, – runningback Edgar Bennett. He’d replace Sanders in the lineup at cornerback, converting from Safety in 1989. A solid tackler with a good nose for the ball, Butler played well for the Seminoles that year, etching 7 picks and 94 tackles. His 139 return yards that year broke the record set by Sanders, while his 106 yards against Syracuse broke Sanders’ single game mark.  LeRoy also spent time returning kicks, displaying his quickness and speed. He was also named first team All-American from both the AP and UPI in 1989. LeRoy finished his college career with 194 aprks90 butlertotal tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 9 interceptions for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Green Bay selected LeRoy with their second round pick of the 1990 draft. Used sparingly his rookie season, Butler still managed 3 picks, 19 tackles, and a forced fumble. That was enough for the coaches to promote him to starter at right cornerback in 1991 and Butler turned in another 3 pick season. As the Packers continued to remake their secondary with the addition of Terrell Buckley in 1992, Butler moved to his native strong safety position.  In the meantime the Packers also drafted Butler’s friend Edgar Bennett as well. It’s here that Butler enjoyed the best football of his career and perhaps for any safety in the league. After a quiet ’92, LeRoy in 1993 had his first AP season, with 6 picks and 2 fumble recoveries. It’d be in this season that he’s best remembered for taking a lateral from teammate Reggie White (who was gassed) and ran a fumble 25 yards into the endzone. At the end of the play LeRoy jumped up into the stands, thereby creating what is known today as ‘The Lambeau Leap’. Butler continued to play the next 9 seasons in Green Bay winning Super Bowl XXXI earning AP honors in 1996, 1997, and 1998. During the 1996 season, LeRoy intercepted 2 passes and returned one of them 90 yards for a score against the San Diego Chargers. Butler suffered a separated shoulder during the 2001 season, ending his season after 9 games.  Quietly though it also ended his career as during training camp the following season, it was discovered that it didn’t heal properly.

Since then Butler has devoted himself to charitable activities and speaking engagements.  A member of the NFL’s All-1990s team, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, and the first defensive back to earn 20-20 club honors, the hope is as more defensive backs finally get some recognition from the NFL HoF, Butler will also get the honor he’s long deserved.

G/Gs 181/165      Tac 721       Sac 20.5    Fum 13   Int 38    Yds 533     Avg    Td 1   Lg 90t

NFL

Craig, Roger (2)

pset89 craigudldg97 craigflr90 craigpset90 craigflrsi99 craigsco90 craigud91 craig
Cards: Fleer 1990, Upper Deck 1991, Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Upper Deck Legends 1997, Score 1990, Fleer Sports Illustrated Legends 1999.
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 1/2    Received:  1/7    (5 days)*
*signing fee $5 per card
See also: Roger Craig

Finally. Well the first line is cast and I already hooked a big one in the form of undervalued fullback/ runningback Roger Craig! Sending a check in excess of the fee request, netted me 2 extra autographs plus he was willing to answer the questions that I enclosed.

I’ve been trying to be a bit more wacky about what I ask players when I insert a question into a letter. First it makes me stick out, and second it might give them a good laugh. Roger disclosed to me that if he could’ve played for any other team besides the 49ers, Raiders, and Vikings he played for, he would have played for the Dallas Cowboys. Wow. Now that would’ve blown my mind to have seen him play in the silver and blue at the end of his career.  Back in his college days and his early playing days, Roger liked to sport a mean looking mustache. I asked him if he’d ever grow it back. To my surprise he answered that, “Yes, one day,” it will return and put a little smiley face next to it.  For my final question, I asked him what tree he would be, and he responded that, “He would’ve been an oak tree, because it is a very big and strong tree”.  – A great success in my books, and I was extremely surprised to have gotten it back so quickly. I knew that Roger had a very high response rate and that he was good to TTM fans, but this was a near legendary response from a player who should be in the Hall of Fame. Total class act. I was so jazzed about this one, I really am considering sending out 2nd shots to my favorite TTM successes at some point.

Some great cards here of Roger. It was very difficult to select which ones to send. I might have missed one or two cards, but overall these action shots really represent him well. Really have quickly grown fond of the 1997 Upper Deck Legends issue. The photos are great and they cover some really good players.  I vaguely remember that Roger’s Pro Set 1989 card/shot was so dynamic that it made the box. It’s too bad that Pro Set went up in smoke so quickly. It was the up close action shots like this that put Topps on the ropes early.