Help a Fellow Collector

In my opinion, one of the best things about blogging is “meeting” tons of new collectors. I may never get to meet these new friends in person (unless I can get to the National in Baltimore in 2010), but I feel like I have gotten to know a few of them pretty well. Even the occassional passer-by who takes a moment to leave a comment on an old post is a welcome acquaintance. It is really cool when I am able to help that person out in some small way. For a few, this has been through trades to help them with set collation. For others, it has just been providing some information consolidated into one place. For a few others, I am hoping to take it to a new level.

A few weeks ago, a fellow collector, Ron, asked if I had any way to help him track down a copy of Mike Michalske’s 1975 Fleer Hall of Fame card, as featured in a past HOF Spotlight post. He noted that he was an old time Packers collector and has been searching for the card for quite a long time. I began searching around with no luck. I was able to locate a few autographed copies for around $100, but nothing else. I guess there is a reason I was only able to find an autographed image for my HOF post.

So I turn to you, my loyal and longtime readers (and you, too, Mr. Occassional Passer-by). If you happen to have a copy of this card you could spare or know where Ron could possibly obtain one, please let me know. For obvious reasons I will not publish his email address, but if you contact me, I will be sure to pass along any possible leads.

HOF Spotlight: Dan Fortmann

Name: Dan Fortmann
Position: Guard
Pro Career: 1936 – 1943
Team Affiliation(s): Chicago Bears
College: Colgate
Induction Class: 1965

Brief Bio: From young whipper-snapper to all-time great, Dan Fortmann was determination personified. Selected by the Chicago Bears in the very first NFL draft in 1936, Fortmann became the youngest starter in professional football at just 20 years old. Also considered too small for the NFL, many wrote him off as a bad pick from legendary owner George Halas. Fortmann proved them wrong. He helped to anchor a dominant Bears line that won three league championships and two other divisional titles during Fortmann’s 8 year career. An outstanding blocker on offense and tenacious tackler on defense, Fortmann was selected first- or second-team All NFL in every year of his career.

Career Stats: 86 games played; 8 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery TD

Featured Card: 1975 Fleer Hall of Fame #20. As a lineman, Fortmann did not receive much attention in the collectibles world, despite his brilliant career. Like many early football stars, he has been included in many HOF themed sets, like this 1975 offering from Fleer. Most similar cards will run in the $1-$2 range while autographs will fall into a $75-$100 range on eBay. Certain people are willing to make a quick dollar at any sacrifice of character possible, so always be aware of forged autographs. If the seller looks reputable, has great feedback ratings, and the autograph does not look “off”, you should feel safe to pull the trigger.

NOTE: You can find all of my Hall Of Fame Spotlight Features by clicking the HOF Spotlight banner above.

HOF Spotlight: Art Rooney

Name: Art Rooney
Position: Founder, Administrator
Pro Career: 1933 – 1988
Team Affiliation(s): Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers
College: Georgetown; Duquesne
Induction Class: 1964

Brief Bio: ”If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” If anyone in NFL history has lived those famous motivational words, it was Art Rooney. Rooney purchased the Pittsburgh football franchise in 1933 and waited more than 40 years before winning his first championship. In the 1970s, all of the pieces of the puzzle finally landed into place as the Steelers became the first decade-long dominator in the NFL, winning an unprecedented 4 Super Bowl titles in six years. Not only did Rooney build a storied and successful franchise, currently the owner of more Super Bowl rings than any other NFL team, he was also a great contributor to the NFL, serving as a guiding light in the early days of a struggling league. Rooney proved success could come by showing love, friendship, and grace, rare traits even in his time.

Featured Card: 1975 Fleer Hall of Fame #78. As a franchise owner, obviously Rooney does not have many cards. The one featured above was produced at the height of his success in the mid 1970s, and several HOF focused sets have included him since then. Trivial Beckett value of the featured card is $0.75. Most Rooney base cards can be picked up for around $1-4. Rooney’s autograph appears to be valued at just over $100 as index cards, photos, and cards all seem to be selling in the $125 ballpark. Obviously Rooney is a very recognizable name in the Pittsburgh area, so finding a seller in the southwestern states may prove useful in saving a few dollars if you are looking to add Rooney to your collection.

NOTE: You can find all of my Hall Of Fame Spotlight Features by clicking the HOF Spotlight banner above.

HOF Spotlight: Mike Michalske

Name: Mike Michalske
Position: Guard
Pro Career: 1926 – 1937
Team Affiliation(s): Green Bay Packers; New York Yankees
College: Penn State
Induction Class: 1964

Brief Bio: An innovator in a tough position, Mike Michalske became the first guard to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Considered one of the toughest positions in the 1920s and 30s, Michalske’s jobs as guard included taking on the biggest opposing linemen head-on, stopping the running game, and getting around the line to break up the passing game. Despite his tough position, Michalske became known as “Iron Mike” due to his true 60-minute workhorse demeanor and the fact that he never got injured or missed a play in his entire career. Anchoring the line, Michalske helped the Packers win championships in 1929, 1930, and 1931, while earning himself All-NFL honors in 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, and 1935.

Career Stats: 122 games played; 1 safety; 1 interception TD; 1 fumble recovery TD

Featured Card: 1975 Fleer Hall of Fame #56. Playing a position that rarely receives popular recognition and in an era before mass produced football card sets, we look to this HOF focused set from 1975 for a Michalske card. Trivial Beckett value is $0.75. Most base cards of Michalske listed on eBay carry a $2-$5 price tag while autographed cards (like the one pictured) run in the $80-$125 range. Similar to any HOF autographed card, do some research before you purchase. A PSA or other authentication is a plus. Also, look at online images of the player’s autograph and then see if the autograph on the card you wish to buy looks similar. If something just doesn’t look right, it’s probably better to walk away than risk spending >$100 for a forged autograph.

NOTE: You can find all of my Hall Of Fame Spotlight Features by clicking the HOF Spotlight banner above.

Meeting Curtis Conway

I have met very few celebrities in my lifetime. You could probably say that I don’t get out much, but I like to think that I just don’t have the financial resources to go to big time events or pay to stand in autograph lines. I have met a few music artists over the years, but they have never amounted to more than a handshake, an exchange of a few polite comments, and possibly receiving an autographed photo or CD case. Even going to Penn State, the closest I ever got to meeting big time names was passing Paul Posluszny or Deon Butler (just to name two) on the sidewalk or in the dining commons and just happening to exchange a quick glance. I also saw Joe Paterno drive by in his silver BMW a few times, but that doesn’t really count as “meeting” either.

I point this out so that you can fully appreciate that I experienced a first on Friday night.

My wife and I were driving up to visit some close friends in the greater State College area. During our miserable drive (PSU football traffic sucks on a Friday afternoon), we were informed our dinner plans had slightly changed and that we would be dining out with my friend’s sister-in-law (sorta) and her “talent,” whatever the hell that meant. Fine. We were hungry. We met up with our friends and then met up with said sister-in-law at the Penn Stater Conference Center (hotel, fancy restaurant, etc.). It turns out said sister-in-law is a producer for a national radio station that broadcasts several NCAA and NFL football games each week. She was in town to cover the Penn State/Syracuse game the following afternoon. Her “talent” included a few engineers (who were quite funny and good story-tellers), a Penn State media relations employee, and her play-by-play and color announcers. Just before we took our seats, I was told the color announcer is Curtis Conway.

Curtis Conway? I have some of his football cards!

Click image for full sized scans

Sure enough, Mr. Curtis Conway joined us for dinner. Unlike many NFL veterns/retirees, Curtis was not a self-absorbed jerk or a pompous ass hole. He was very friendly and down to earth and insisted we call him Curtis. He rarely even brought up his respectible 12-year playing career, other than when we were discussing best/worst NFL fans and he told us that when he was playing with the Chargers later in his career, they were playing the Raiders and someone was stabbed in the stands. Surprisingly enough, we decided that Raiders fans were some of the best in the NFL because they are so passionate despite having an absolutely awful team. He also told us some amusing stories related to being married to Laila Ali, boxing champion and daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The only time I saw Curtis try to flaunt his celebrity status was when he asked the waiters to bring out a second mint chocolate cake to the dessert buffet. They gladly obliged, but he did say later that if they refused, he would have asked if they knew who his wife and father-in-law were. He also felt the need to bring up that he was on the USC roster when they beat Penn State in 1991, but also admitted he didn’t play a single down in the game. He claimed he helped to prepare the starters, and therefore, he helped beat Penn State. So my friend threw in a comment about the University of Spoiled Children, and he had a good laugh about it.

When I got home from the weekend, I checked my work-in-progess football card Access database. I currently have 6 Curtis Conway cards entered, all of which will eventually be partially featured right here on First and Goal as they were pulled from boxes I bought to write Product Review articles. As I work through the rest of my collection, I am hoping to find a few more, possibly even one of his 1993 rookie cards.

Curtis proved that athletes can still be class acts and worthy members of society — a refreshing thought in today’s world. Even my wife, who is by no means a football fan, was impressed with his demeanor and humbleness. I would definitely consider myself a Curtis Conway fan after meeting him on Friday. Will I become the next Curtis Conway super collector? Probably not. But I do feel privileged to have sat and ate with the former NFL receiver and will definitely be looking for his cards in any older products I bust in the future.

If you’d like to see some stats from Curtis Conway’s career, go here

HOF Spotlight: Ed Healey

Name: Ed Healey
Position: Tackle
Pro Career: 1920 – 1927
Team Affiliation(s): Rock Island Independents; Chicago Bears
College: Dartmouth
Induction Class: 1964

Brief Bio: The concept of trading and selling player contracts, a common theme in modern sports, had to start somewhere. That start, was Ed Healey. When Healey heard of a new professional football league forming, he immediately caught an overnight train to Rock Island and, after playing a game, was offered a permanent position with the Independents. Following a game in which Healey dominated the Bears, Chicago owner George Halas bought Healey for $100, giving him a raise to $100 per game and a clubhouse, a luxury not available in Rock Island. Halas would often call Healey the “most versatile tackle in history”. Healey was an all-league selection in five of his eight professional seasons and was perhaps the fastest tackle in league history.

Career Stats: 89 games played; 1 fumble recovery TD (defensive stats not kept in early NFL history)

Featured Card: 1975 Fleer Hall of Fame #55. The fans’ general lackluster appreciation of great defensive players, coupled with his career being complete before the release of major football card sets, Ed Healey does not have a true rookie card. For that reason, we once again look to a HOF focused set, this time with the 1975 product from Fleer. Trivial Beckett value for this card is $0.75. At the time of my research, only a few Ed Healey cards were listed for sale, with almost all of them carrying a $1 pricetag. Obviously if you find an autographed version like the one shown above, you can expect to pay quite a bit more.

NOTE: You can find all of my Hall Of Fame Spotlight Features by clicking the HOF Spotlight banner above.