Tag Archives: Wild Card WLAF 1992

NFL, WLAF

Jones, Tony (WR-DB FL)

CARDS: Ultimate World League 1992, Wild Card World League 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 6/10 RECEIVED: 6/20 (10 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • In college, playing at Florida, Tony split time at WR and DB.
  • Gifted with fleet speed as a track man, Tony finished second at the SEC indoor track championship in the 55 meter dash as a Sophomore.
  • Tony had a knack for blocking punts too- notching 4 during his college career.
  • Signed as a free agent by the Denver Broncos in 1990 but did not make the squad.
  • Selected in the second round of the World League Positional Draft by the New York- New Jersey Knights.
  • Tabbed 37 total tackles, 1 sack, and 2 picks in 1991.
  • Against Orlando that season, he blocked and returned a field goal 57 yards.
  • Followed that up in 1992 with 3 picks for 89 yards in 1992.

NOTES:

Tony Jones WR-DB from Florida (pictured here) is not to be confused with Tony Jones WR from Texas or Tony Jones who played for the Browns- that ALL played around this same era.

Tony’s Ultimate World League card is considered an error because he was listed as a WR, although it could probably be overlooked or forgiven since he did play WR in college. (It is an uncorrected error.)

Back around the time I had gotten ahold of Andre Alexander through Facebook I dug through his friends list and reached out to Tony. At that time I must have said the wrong thing or talked about the success of Fresno State at the World League level. He thumbs downed my conversation starter- so I took that as bad.

Later my Instagram friend Brent was able to get him TTM and said he was pretty cool and wrote him a nice note. I thought I should give him another shot and he signed these two cards for me in no time flat!

NFL, WLAF

James, Tim

CARDS: Wild Card 1991, Wild Card World League 1992, Ultimate World League 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 7/16 RECEIVED: 7/29 (13 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Tim James played both SS and FS for the Colorado Buffalos from 1988-’90.
  • He was a starter on the 1990 National Championship team.
  • Over his college career he displayed a knack for the ball, intercepting 13 passes, including 6 in his Senior season.
  • Selected by the New York Jets in the 8th round of the 1991 NFL Draft.
  • Hamstring injury ended his NFL career before it began.
  • A late signee of the World League in December of ’91, James played for the Ohio Glory in 1992.
  • During that season he posted 1 pick for 15 yards.

NOTES:

I had seen recently a few successes on eBay for James- so I knew there was a valid address on him out in the wild he’d sign from. I had reloaded since my failure in 2019, but forgot that he had a Star Pics card. I guess I got so excited because Mark had given me a box of cards and I had no clue he had a Wild Card issue. Anyway, Brent from Instagram, came to the rescue again on this one and he kindly posted the address so I could knock out another member of the Ohio Glory.

NFL, WLAF

Laufenberg, Babe (2)

CARDS: Wild Card World League 1992, Ultimate World League 1992 Promo
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 6/9 RECEIVED: 7/15 (36 days)
FAILURE: TTM C/o Home, 2010, 2014, 2019, 2022

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

And after the 5th try, the elusive Babe Laufenberg decided to sign these two cards and write me a great response dripping with his signature snark. -I loved it.

Lee-

Well, you certainly sound like a big fan. I grabbed another card to enclose with yours. I think you may want a “back up” and being basically a career back-up in the NFL, you can imagine I am quite sure I am fond of a good back-up! Thanks for your kind words and you be safe down there in Austin.

Babe Laufenberg

Big win years in the making!

I had actually missed out on Babe back in 2019 in person! In 2019, The Spring League (the precursor to the new USFL) was hosting their regular event, this time in Austin. I decided to go and grabbed a stack of cards of players who were trying out. It was cold for April, and I ambled up and put on my HOUSTON Oilers Apex jacket. Then some guy buzzed past me in a Dallas Cowboys Apex jacket from the 90s as well. I was both amused and annoyed that I got shown up! I found out later that it was the Babe himself! I kicked myself for YEARS not recognizing him.

Shout out to my new TTM friend Brent who is trying to encourage me to post addresses again by sharing a recent spate of WLAF successes with me. He gave me this address and I got a response in a bit over 30. Afterwards I got two or three private messages from IU fans who had tried Babe 5 or 6 times with no luck themselves.