Tag Archives: ttm football autograph

NFL

Willhite, Gerald ‘Steel Will’

Pro Set 1989, #112

CARD: Pro Set 1989
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/18 RECEIVED: 7/20 (63 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Gerald Willhite played RB for the San Jose St Spartans from 1980-81.
  • He rushed for 1,000 yards in both years, and had 542 carries for 2403 yards and 20 TDs over his time there.
  • At the time he was only the second player in NCAA history who ran for 1,000+ yards and caught 50 or more passes.
  • Selected at the bottom of round one by the Denver Broncos in the 1982 NFL Draft.
  • A scatback ahead of his time, Willhite contributed nearly 1,000 yards al-purpose yards in his first 3 seasons, before topping out at 1,397 yards in 1985.
  • In 1986, became the first Bronco to have two 3-TD games in one season.
  • That same year, he set the team mark with 64 receptions for a runningback.
  • Early in the ’87 campaign against the Vikes, suffered a gruesome injury, breaking his leg in two places, a bone chip, and an injured ankle.
  • He returned the following year and played for the Broncos for two more seasons before officially hanging up the cleats.
  • At the time of his retirement, his 4.4 yards per carry was also a career franchise mark.

NOTES:

Gerald played just long enough to get some great card love from Pro Set and Score. I wanted to get both of them signed- but he kept the Score card. Still I’m grateful he took the time to pen this one. What a beauty.

Gerald was a plaintiff member of the concussion lawsuit against the NFL. The smallish, (5-10, 200) Willhite was a fearless runnner who loved to hit, but his little body took a pounding. Outside of his major injury, he took concussions, hamstring injuries, and other unreported knicks and tears every season he played.

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
38016884.41752
RECYDSAVGTDLG
20717678.5563
KRYDSAVGTDLG
2652120.0040
PRYDSAVGTDLG
101101210.0170
NFL, WIFL, WLAF

Mitchell, Stump (2)

Score 1989, #88. Action Packed 1990, #216

CARDS: Score 1989, Action Packed 1990
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o The Cleveland Browns
SENT: 11/12 RECEIVED: 12/13 (31 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2011, C/o Home, TTM 2011, C/o Work

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Well after two failures early on in my collecting return- ten years later I finally square away Stump Mitchell. Stump holds a special place in my heart due to his association with the San Antonio Riders and the WLAF.

Arena, NFL, NFLE

Kubiak, Jim (2)

Bowman 2000 Chrome, #154
Leaf Rookies & Stars 2000, #276
Topps 2000, #356

CARDS: Bowman 2000, Topps 2000, Leaf Rookies & Stars 2000
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Work
SENT: 4/18 RECEIVED: 7/15 (88 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Jim had a few cards that came out at the turn of the century that I came across. After researching possible places he lived, I took a shot at where he’s currently coaching. Jim Kubiak is not related to former coach Gary Kubiak.