E - A - G - L - E - S!........................EAGLES!!! !

Loved enjoying the game last night with great friends.

Sports ain't everybody's thing and I get that. Hell, I have lots of other interests: Music, Film, Disc Golf,  Food, Comedy, Trivia, and Theater all quickly come to mind.

But man nights like the Eagles winning the SuperBowl make me feel sorry for folks that just blow off sports entirely.

There is something unique about having watched literally hundreds of games - lots and I mean LOTS of which are meaningless. However the time we all get to spend together before, during, and after those games is far from trivial.

All those games are remembered collectively as good times spent with my Eagles Family. Last Night is the Night that we will remember forever. It was great time and I am glad we got to experience it together.

2009 Topps #91 Jason Peters

 

When I returned to collecting a little over a decade ago I took an interest in just about any type of card, but I quickly realized that I had the most fun when I was focused on Baseball. My football collection is in pretty much a disarray but I was able to dig up a couple of Eagles cards.

 

The Jason Peters above is interesting to me, because he is a 14 year veteran of the NFL and has been with the Eagles for about a decade. Unfortunately for Peters he was injured and did not get to participate in the SuperBowl as a player. However I believe I saw a player bring out his jersey at some point during last nights game. Good stuff to see and it is always good to see the Lineman getting respect out there.

 

Fly Eagles Fly!  

 

Sources and Links

NFL

 

 

40 Years Ago: Randy Jones Makes the Cover of Sports Illustrated

We have reached All-Stat Week in San Diego and it turns out the game will be played on the same date in which Randy Jones appeared on the Cover of Sports Illustrated Forty Years ago.

1999 Skybox Autograph Collection Randy Jones

Several cards from the 1999 Skybox autograph set appear on Sports Illustrated Covers. The Randy Jones cover originally appeared with a Publish Date of July 12 1976. The Issue can be found here in the SI Archive. The corresponding article was penned by the San Francisco Based sports writer Ron Fimrite.

In addition to incorporating the SI cover the Card also features Randy Jones Autograph. A Nice touch on the signature is the Southpaw's uniform Number #35 within the bottom loop of the cursive J in Jones.

The cover photo was taken June 28 1976 or June 30 1976.  Getty Images specifies the earlier date, however the capsule information related to the photo lines up more with 6/30, which I am pretty sure is the correct date.

Jones and the Padres defeated the powerful Cincinnati Reds that day 3-1. It was his 14th Victory of the season. Jones went the distance allowing six hits and a pair of walks against 2 Ks.

The Photo was taken by John G Zimmerman who also took a picture that many Philadelphians are familiar with, the Chuck Bednarik/Frank Gifford Photo.

2008 UD Masterpieces #14 Chuck Bednarik


Flip

1999 Skybox Autograph Collection Randy Jones

For folks interested in such details the Randy Jones card come with a Certificate of Authenticity regarding Jones' signature.


Sources and Links
1976 ASG Index

Randy Jones Index
Game Dated Cards Index
Sports Illustrated Vault
Getty Images - John G Zimmerman
SF Gate
Baseball-ref

1979 Topps #31 Tom House: Relief Pitcher and Quarterback Coach?

I have started hearing Tom House's name a lot recently.

1979 Topps #31 Tom House

For me, the former major league relief pitcher first reappeared in connection with the Million Dollar Arm film.

More recently House has emerged locally in discussions of the Football team. The Philadelphia Eagles have picked up Tim Tebow as a QB based off of Tom House's endorsement.

The trivia in the Tom House Bio doesn't end with Film and Football. In a 2005 USA Today article he admitted to using steroids as far back as the 1960s. He estimated 6-7 pitchers on every team were experimenting with Steroids or HGH.

On a much happier note, House is also the know for catching Hank Aaron's record break 715th Home Run.

I hope that Tom House is right about Tim Tebow, I find him fun to watch and he is always great press.

I also hope House is wrong about the steroids. 

Sources and Links
Business Insider - Tony Manfred
USA Today

Chuck Bednarik 1925-2015

Today I awoke to the sad news that Phiadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik has died at the age of 1989

2008 UD Masterpieces #14 Chuck Bednarik

Known as "Concrete Charlie" Chuck Bednarik played both offense and defense - thus a second monicker "Sixty Minute Man".  He was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles last championship squad, clear back in 1960. And he was the man who knocked Frank Gifford down so hard he missed a year of football.  

2007 UD Masterpieces was one of my favorite sets to release since I returned to the hobby. After the initial success of the baseball set UD came out with Hockey and Football sets in 2008. This fine Chuck Bednarik card featuring the image from the famous Frank Gifford play is just one of many fine examples of the great cards in Masterpieces.

Too check into our Hall of Fame profile of Bednarik click here. Rich Hoffman's piece for the Daily News can be found here.

Sources & Links
Sports-Ref
Philly.com

The 17 other coaches in Philadelphia during the Andy Reid era

Andy Reid was hired as coach of the Philadelpiha Eagles in January of 1999.  During the span the other three major sports teams in town have had 17 Head Coaches.  The Eagles have, of course, had one. 

2012 Phungo #8 Charlie Manuel (Led 2008 World Series Champs)

Each of the 4 franchises has Lost a championship in that time frame.  Additionally the Phillies Won a Championship.  Two of the fired coaches won Championships subsequent to their firing in Phialdelphia (Terry Francona Boston 2004,2007; Larry Brown Detroit 2004).  Former Flyers head coach John Stevens was also involved in the LA Kings 2012 Stanley Cup effort. 

Eagles
Andy Reid	1999-	NFC Champion 2004
Phillies
Terry Francona	1997-2001	WSC Red Sox 2004, 2007
Larry Bowa	2001-2004
Charlie Manuel	2005-	WSC 2008, NLCS 2009
Flyers
Roger Neilson	1998-2000
Craig Ramsey	2000-2001
Bill Barber	2001-2002
Ken Hitchcock	2002-2006
John Stevens	2006-2010	Interim and Asst Coach for LA Kings Stanely Cup Champions 2012
Peter Laviolette	2010-	EC Champs 2010
76ers
Larry Brown	1997-2003	NBA Champion w/ Detroit 2004, EC Champion 76ers 2001
Randy Ayers	2003-2004
Chris Ford	2004-
Jim O'Brien	2004-2005
Maurice Cheeks	2005-2008
Tony DiLeo	2008-2009
Eddie Jordan	2009-2010
Doug Collins	2010-

Happy Anniversary NFL Champion 1960 Philadelphia Eagles

The 1960 NFL Champion Philadelphia Eagles are being honored prior to the teams 2010 Season opener today.

On the day after Christmas in 1960 the Eagles Defeated the Green Bay Packers 17-13. I believe it is the only playoff loss of Vince Lombardi's coaching career.

Today the 2010 edition of the Eagles are hosting the Packers once again. The Eagles will be wearing throwback uniforms to mark the occasion. I am certainly hoping they look good and play well - partially because I enjoy following the Eagles, and also as a Vikings fan I have a vested interest in rooting against the Packers.

2008 UD Masterpieces #14 Chuck Bednarik

I really loved a many of the historical shots from all four (2 baseball, 08 NFL, 08 NHL) of the Masterpieces releases. It is a shame that the product is no longer being made.

Chuck Bednarik was one of three Hall of Famers (Tommy McDonald, Norm Van Brocklin) from the 1960 Eagles team. For more info on Bednarik and this great card check my Philadelphia HOF posting from January of 2009.

2010 Topps NFL Football - First Pack

No time to Talk just wanted to mention I was at a big box store yesterday and picked up some 2010 Topps Football Cards. The cards come 12 to a pack and went for $2.10 w/ PA Sales Tax included.

First Football Card of the Year
2010 Topps NFL Football #67 Joey Porter


The Rest

I liked pretty much every card I got in the pack - click to enlarge this one and you will get a peak at a B-side of Matt Ryan. The Gridiron Giveaway is the football version of Baseball's Million Card Giveaway.


Got two Vikings - sort of. The first is a Peterson Attax card.

The Last 3 cards in the pack were all Rookie Cards. The Last Card is of Jahvid Best, he was the highest pick among the 3 cards featured here (#30 overall). On the back of the card it specifies:

"This is 1 of 5 Jahvid Best Rookie Cards in 2010 Topps Football"

Sounds Like some parallel insanity or rookie inserts galore for The newest edition of Topps Football.

I will have a more formal review later - I am just posting these for images right now. Perhaps I will have a more thorough post at aPTBNL if nobody else has posted one by this evening.

Hall of Fame Thursday - Chuck Bednarik

2008 UD Masterpieces #14 Chuck Bednarik

For Hall of Fame Thursday in recognition of the upcoming Superbowl we are having a football post today. Chuck Bednarik was drafted first overall in the NFL draft of 1949 by the Philadelphia Eagles with whom he spent his entire career. He was the last two way player in the NFL (center and Linebacker) and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles last two Championship teams (1949 and 1960). He was known as a fierce tackler and is best known for the tackle of Frank Gifford on the above UD Masterpieces card. That is about as nice a card as you will see, and it is one of the reasons I will miss Masterpieces.

Bednarik was originally from the Allentown area near Philadelphia, attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and still resides in the nearby Lehigh Valley. There have been riffs between Bednarik and the Eagles, but Bednarik is still good about getting out to the community and autograph signings. He also does TTM signings.

Chuck Bednarik was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

Philly Sports Hall of Fame - Harold Carmichael & Al Wistert

1975 Topps #80 Harold Carmichael

For Pro Football Sunday Phungo would like to recognize Harold Carmichael and Al Wistert. Both football players were recently honored with induction into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame as members of the 2008 class.

Harold Carmichael played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1971-1983, during his career he caught 590 passes, 79 for touchdowns. He was likely the greatest receiver in Eagles history, he played for the Eagles 1980 Super Bowl team and was also elected to four Pro Bowls. Carmichael is also a member of the NFL 1970s all-decade team.

The 6' 8" receiver was a tall target for Ron Jaworski and other Philadelphia QBs. He was also durable and played in 162 consecutive games from 1973-1982. At one point Carmichael caught at least one pass in 127 consecutive games, which was the NFL record until 1986.

Carmichael remains in the Eagles organization as the Director of Player Programs. His duties include assisting rookies and new players with acclimating themselves to Philadelphia NFL. He also helps with coordinating Alumni activities.

Al Wistert played his entire career (1943-1951) with the Eagles as a two-way lineman. He was a member of both the 1948 and 1949 NFL Championship teams. Wistert also earned All-Pro honors eight times and served as the Eagles captain from 1946 through 1950.

Wistert is still living at the age of 87 and was able to make it to the Philly Sports Hall induction ceremony. He was able to visit the Eagles practice while in Philadelphia.

I would also take this time to mention that the NFL Alumni Association recently has won a lawsuit that may allow them to have better pensions and medical benefits. The ruling will likely be appealed, but at least temporarily the players of yesterday, who the NFL was built upon, may be able to reap some of the benefits of the cash cow that the NFL has become today.

Sources for this article are Wikipedia, the Philadelphia Eagles Web-Site, Football-Reference, and the Philadelphia Eagles Encyclopedia via Google Books