Tag Archives: ttm football autograph

NFL

Armstrong, Bruce (2)

pset92 armstrong pset91 armstrong PCards: ProSet 1991, ProSet 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 11/17   Received: 11/24    (7  days)
See Also: Bruce Armstrong

The venerable Bruce Armstrong really nailed down the right/ left tackle positions for New England throughout the late 80s and into the 1990s, so much so that he was nominated for the NFL HoF in 2011, and the Patriot organization retired his number. Armstrong over his storied career played in a franchise high 212 games. Amazingly enough he started as a tight end at Louisville, before switching over to tackle as a Senior- where he allowed zero sacks. Armstrong had it all over his career with the Patriots, combining speed, power, and durability, making him a formidable pass and run blocker.

Merv Corning’s work on the Pro Set Superbowl cards were  not enough, so the company had him come back to create the All Pro subset in 1991. He also chipped in some spot work on ProLine as well. While I was never a fan of ProSet 1992’s break in style between the two series that year, they still had some pretty good photos littering the set and this card with the red pants is a really nice throwback issue the Patriots briefly did.  A solid signer, the venerable Armstrong boasts a 90% response rate (250+ attempts) through 2015.

 

AFL, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Joiner, Charlie

ud97lgd cjoiner
Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 1/2     Received:  2/2    (31 days)

Charlie Joiner played an exhaustive 18 seasons in the AFL/NFL. Originally a 4th round pick of the Houston Oilers in 1969, as a defensive back, he made the switch to wide receiver and then started 8 games in 1970. He’d record 28 receptions for 416 yards and 3 TDs, including a 87 yarder.  He’d play with the Oilers through 6 games of the 1972 season but was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Joiner spent the next 3 seasons there where he started coming into his own during the 1975 season. He’d pull down 37 receptions for 726 yards and 5 TDs.  The Bengals then traded him to the Chargers, where Charlie became the perfect fit for Air Coryell’s West Coast Offense catching passes from young Dan Fouts. In the midst of the ‘Dead Ball Era’, Charlie had 50 receptions for 1056 yards and 7 TDs -earning his first Pro Bowl nomination. He’d return to form in 1979 with a career high 72 receptions and 1008 yards with his second Pro Bowl berth.  The following year in 1980, Charlie earned his final Pro Bowl trip, and his first and only All-Pro Honor with 70 receptions for 1132 yards and 7 TDs. While he’d log a career high 1,188 yards in 1981, he did not earn any additional honors for the remainder of his career.  Joiner personified longevity in a league meant to break people.  He continued to play for the Chargers until his retirement after the 1986 season.  His 239 games played as a wide receiver, receptions, and yards, were NFL records at the time of his retirement.

G/GS  239/211      REC 750       YDS 12146     AVG 16.2    TD 65   LG 87

NFL

Hawkins, Courtney ‘Hawk’

aprks92 chawkins
Card: Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:   7/23/15  Received:  11/2/15   (102 days)

Courtney Hawkins played collegiately for the Spartans at Michigan State.  A dangerous kick and punt returner, Hawk got his chance to shine as a receiver in his Sophomore year when he made 60 receptions for 1080 yards and 6 touchdowns.  At the time of his graduation Hawkins had 138 receptions for 2210 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Courtney played 9 seasons in the NFL. Originally a second round choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hawk’s best season came in 1993 when he caught 62 balls for 933 yards and 5 touchdowns.  He was also used seldomly on punt return duties.  Hawkins joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997 and had a renaissance in 1998, with 66 receptions for 751 yards and a TD. During that season,  Hawk broke a Steelers team record with 14 receptions (for 147 yards) against the Tennessee Oilers.  He retired after the 1999 campaign.

Currently he is a highly regarded head coach and athletic director for the Beecher School District in Michigan.  Beggars can’t be choosers, and while I really wanted to get my Star Pics 1992 card signed as well, I guess he decided to keep that one in exchange for his autograph on his Action Packed Rookies entry.

G/GS  131/81     REC  366    YDS  4573     AVG  12.5   TD 18      LG  67
PR 68    YDS 553      AVG  8.1      TD 0       LG 47
KR 9       YDS 118      AVG  13.1    TD 0      LG 18