Tag Archives: utah blaze

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Hammel, Todd

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Insert
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2025
FAILURE: TTM 2013, C/O WORK. TTM 2017, C/O HOME. TTM 2022, C/O HOME. TTM 2024, C/O WORK

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Todd Hammel played QB three years at SF Austin from 1987-’89.
  • He had a year to remember in 1989, tossing for a whopping 5,364 yards and 48 TDs on 316 of 577 throws (23 interceptions).
  • A twelfth round pick of the Bucs in 1990.
  • Cut, he spent about a week on the Falcons later that year.
  • Hammel was selected by the New York/ New Jersey Knights in the 1991 WLAF positional draft.
  • He’d start the first contest in franchise history against the Barcelona Dragons, but was supplanted in the lineup by Jeff Graham.
  • Throughout the season, Hammel saw spotty playing time.
  • Signed with the Arena Football League in 1992 and joined the Dallas Texans.
  • After two seasons in Dallas, this led to a stint with the Fort Worth Calvary in 1994.
  • Then in 1995, it was off to Milwaukee where he saw his greatest success.
  • In 1998, Todd threw for 60 TDs and 3,100 yards.
  • Later in 1999, he became the first Arena player to throw for 300 TDs, 1,500 completions and 18,000+ yards.
  • From 2000 on, Todd entered the journeyman phase of his career, with stops no longer than a season playing for the Bobcats (’00), Thunderbears (’01), Rampage (’02), Gladiators (’03), Soul (’04), Rush (’05), and Crush (’06).
  • After a 2 year break from the AFL, Hammel returned again to play for the Iron (’09), Sharks/Rush (’10), and finally with the Blaze (’11).
  • Todd has gone into coaching and has been teaching in the Dallas, Tx area.

ACCOLADES:

  • J Association Hall of Fame 2003
  • SFA Hall of Fame 2003
  • AFL All-Star 1993

NOTES:

As you can see here, I’ve tried Todd quite a few times. One time I even asked a TTM friend of mine who worked in a neighboring school district if he could hit him up for me. No dice on that even. I saw a few successes on him throughout the years so I always wondered what gived? Furthermore I even got a ringing endorsement from his former teammate at SF Austin- Melvin Patterson, to hit Todd up. So after 4 attempts, I spied out an autograph on eBay and pulled the trigger.

That being said, I can finally close the book on the Pro Set 1991 Series II World League player inserts. The 32 card set- not including the 10 helmets, was a laborious effort, as many of these players I really had to work to find their addresses. Two of them were dead when I restarted the project, so I got lucky with Mike Lynn and Jack Elway. Later I also added the only international name in Jacques Dussault. Over the years, I had to eBay out Mark Maye, Ben Bennett– and Todd.

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRATLG
552532145.52353.739
WLAF
ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRATLG
396422552802256.944215091.0N/A
ARENA
Arena

Brown, Carlton

tntafl11 cbrown tntafl14 cbrown

Card: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: In Person, 5/3/2014 Talons vs. Barnstormers.

Carlton Brown earned First Team All SW Athletic Conference honors in 2005 after recording 27 tackles and 4 interceptions in 11 games for Jackson State.

He’d sign with the Utah Blaze in 2008, and record his first interception in 2010 while with the Milwaukee Mustangs. Brown played the 2011 campaign with the Kansas City Command, and return to the Blaze in 2012 for a 5 interception performance.

Mercenary defensive back Carlton Brown found a home with the San Antonio Talons in 2013, compiling his best season as a pro with 63 tackles, 10 pass blocks, 1 forced fumble and 8 interceptions. He’d be hit by the injury bug in 2014 after recording an additional 2 picks and 10 tackles. With the Talons suspending operations after the season, he’d play for both the Jacksonville Sharks and the LA Kiss in 2015.
Over his time in the league, Brown has also served time returning kicks boasting a 15.8 yard average on 101 returns and 3 touchdowns.

Arena

Lopez, Joe

tnttal14 jlopezCard: TNT Talons 2014
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:   8/16    Received: 8/25 (9 days)

The Talons were ravaged with injuries during their final campaign and their wide receiver and defensive back corps turned into turnstiles at one point.  Joe Lopez had a brief stay on the Talons. There were no acceptable photos that I could find to work with, so I had to doctor an existing shot, like in the Brett Reece card, and I was not disappointed in the results.  After a bit of digging I was able to track Joe down through Twitter where he quickly responded to my request.

Joe Lopez saw his first action in the AFL with the Utah Blaze back in 2011, where he tallied 7 tackles and 1 pass break up. He was assigned to the Gladiators in 2012, and joined the Talons in 2014. A nasty special teams gunner, Joe has the speed and the size to lay a lick on opposing kick returners, recording 9 tackles and 2 assists for the San Antonio. Over his college career at SUNY-Cortland Joe had an interception in 6 straight games, which stands as a school record.