CARD: Wild Card World League 1992 ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
As a Junior for Western Kentucky, David Smith rushed for 625 yards and 5 TDs.
Selected in the 8th round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 1990, played for the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League.
Joined the Monarchs of the WLAF in 1991 and played with team through 1992.
Scored the league’s first TD in a win against the Frankfurt Galaxy.
Finished season as the team’s second leading rusher with 302 yards on 84 carries, while adding 6 rushing TDs.
Returned to the Arena league after the World League reorganized, playing for the Cincinnati Rockers in 1992.
Continued one year stints playing forthe Tampa Bay Storm in ’93, the Massachusetts Marauders in ’94, and the Charlotte Rage in 1995.
NOTES:
I had been desperately looking for David for the last 13 years or so. The challenge lied in his name, which is one of the most common ones in the United States. I was able to locate this on Ebay and after negotiating with the seller, went ahead and pulled the trigger on this card, leaving me with just needing his Ultimate card. I doubt seriously anyone would fake this autograph since David is so obscure.
Briefly was on the off-season roster of the Browns that year.
Joined the Arena Football League in 1993, playing for the Thunderbolts through ’94, when the team folded.
Played for the Tampa Bay Storm from 95-98′.
Traded to the Iowa Barnstormers in ’98.
Played one final season in the Arena leagues for the Orlando Predators in 1999.
ACCOLADES:
1996 Arena Defensive Lineman of the Year
Arena Football League All-Star 1993
All-Arena 1995-’96
NOTES:
After I saw Kent’s autograph pop up on EBay, I started researching his address and was pretty confident I found a circumstantial fit near Omaha. I shot this request out shortly after and waited, and albeit a bit later than I figured, I got a hit. For only having one card, Kent Wells’ Wild Card World League card is an absolute winner.
Ultimate World League 1992, Montreal Machine Team Stats, #76
Fleer 1990, #204Wild Card World League 1992, #2
CARDS: Fleer 1990, Ultimate World League 1992, Ultimate World League 1992 W-O-R-L-D, Ultimate World League 1992 Team Stats, Wild Card World League 1992 ACQUIRED: Paid Signing, 2023 FAILURE: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Ultimate World League 1992, #90Ultimate World League 1992, Promo
NOTES:
At long last! Pete Mandley was one of the largest whales left that I still needed for my World League sets. I had spied out a private signing of his, and after being one of the many victims of his 0% signing rate TTM and hours of fruitless research online, I jumped at the chance to be in this signing, especially at such an affordable rate.
The promoter was more than accommodating with me, after I realized I sent my cards to them too late. So the promoter gave me their address to where they were going so that I could 2 day express more cards to them. I sweated it out a little bit, but it all worked out in the end. I got Pete’s autograph on all my remaining set needs.
The Ultimate World League set had 3 set needs. The base set card and the promo card are side by side above. The front of the cards vary very little as the promo uses a full helmet logo in the vertical marquee. On the back the promo spells out W-O-R-L-D. These cards were passed out during games as promotionals for the league, and although they had low volume, they also held very little demand in the secondary market, making them essentially worthless.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
