In 1955, halfback Bobby Mitchell set the Big 10 collegiate record for yards per attempt in a season with 8.6 per carry.
Led the Collegiate All-Star team in 1958 to victory over the Detroit Lions when he caught 2 TD passes.
Mitchell could do it all, and with his diverse athletic skillset he played 4 different positions over his career (LH, HB, FL, SE).
A 7th round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1958 where he was put in the backfield with HOFer Jim Brown.
Used on special teams his rookie season, he had a 98 yard kick of return and a 78 yard punt return for a TD.
In his second season ran for 743 yards on 131 carries.
232 of it came against the Washington Redskins, including a league leading 90 yard scamper.
Led the Browns with 45 catches for 612 yards and 4 TDs, and rushed for 4 more for the Browns averaging 4.6 yards per carry in 1960.
In 1962, was traded to the Washington Redskins- ironically the last team to integrate, and moved to FL.
Had another 90+ yard TD that year, with a kick off return against the Cowboys.
Posted a banner season with 72 catches for 1384 yards and 11 TDs.
Set a franchise record catching a 99 yard TD pass in 1963.
Mitchell posted another 1436 yards and 69 catches (7 TDs) that season.
Led the league with 10 TD grabs on 60 receptions in 1964.
Over the next 3 seasons, averaged roughly 60 catches a season.
Retired during training camp in 1969.
Moved into the Redskins front office as a scout and served in the front office of the franchise through 2003.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1960, 1962-’64
All-Pro 1962-1964
Washington Redskins Ring of Fame
Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor
Washington Redskins #49 (retired)
Greatest 90 Washington Redskins
Pro Football Hall of Fame
University of Illinois Hall of Fame
NOTES:
It can not be said enough that Bobby Mitchell helped integrate the Washington Redskins, which in itself was a challenge, since the franchise was the last one to do so. He is also considered the first black player to play for the team. It was amazing that I found his certified autograph for so cheap on the secondary market.
In an era that prides itself on speed, Mitchell is one of those players who would’ve fit right in. Over his career he had NINE plays from scrimmage going 90+ yards.
RUSH
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
513
2735
5.3
18
90t
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
521
7954
15.3
65
99t
KR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
102
2690
26.4
5
98t
PR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
69
699
10.1
3
78t
EPITAPH: 4/5/2020- Bobby Mitchell passed away at the age of 84. No cause of death was given.
Channing suited up for the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL in 2020.
After the league folded due to COVID, he returned to the CFL and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, whom he’d been with briefly before signing with the XFL.
In 2022, he played for the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL.
He’d intercept 7 passes for 121 yards and make 14 tackles.
Afterwards, briefly was on the offseason roster of the Washington Commanders.
Although drafted by the Battlehawks of the XFL 23, Stribling opted to resign with the Stars.
With the USFL and XFL merged, Stribling was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2024 player dispersal draft.
Ultimately ended up on the roster of the Battlehawks- but was cut during the regular season.
NOTES:
Channing was on a shortlist of players I really wanted since he was impossible to get TTM and he had… four(?) cards I was looking to get signed. Since players didn’t really pay any attention to me pregame, I decided to troll the Battlehawks players.
I yelled at Channing that he wasn’t fooling anyone, since he changed his number from 41 to 14. (Wikipedia even showed it as 41.) I then heckled him about his time with the Express. He smiled and after the game gladly came over and inked these 4 cards. When he looked at them, he called them ‘classic’.
James played LB at Baylor (1986-’89) where over his career he posted 434 total career tackles.
In 1989, he set an NCAA single-season record with eight blocked kicks.
Earned SWC Player of the Year honors in 1989, when he totaled 129 total tackles, 4 interceptions for 99 yards, 8 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries.
He also moonlighted on the Baylor basketball team as well in the off season.
A first round pick of the Cincinnatti Bengals in 1990, he had 78 combined tackles, 8 sacks, and an interception that he returned 17 yards for a TD at ROLB.
He’d convert to LOLB in 1992, and add 6 more sacks to his resume and another 3 picks for 108 yards including a 66 yard TD.
In 1994, Francis had a career high 101 total tackles when he moved to LLB.
Added another 3 pick season in 1996, returning another one 42 yards for a TD.
Joined the Redskins in 1999, playing there for one season.
Retired before he turned 32, citing that it wasn’t fun anymore and that losing just drags on you after a while.
Lives in Central Texas, and has kicked the tires on going into coaching.
Action Packed 1992, #33
ACCOLADES:
All Rookie Team 1990
Baylor Hall of Fame 2001
NOTES:
James doesn’t sign TTM so I had to get as many of his cards signed as I could through a very affordable paid signing.
It’s said that Jimmy Johnson of the Cowboys during the 1990 draft really wanted to draft James Francis in the first round to man his defense over eventual Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. He didn’t get the chance to debate it as Francis went off the board at #12 overall and Smith went off at #17. One has to wonder how the trajectory of the Cowboys might have been altered if Francis was still sitting on the board at #17.
Francis makes an appearance in Tecmo Superbowl where he’s a pretty solid option to play at LB.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
562
33.5
11
11
205
18.6
3
66t
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
