The Minister Who Sacked
Written: Dec 26 '04 (Updated Jan 11 '05)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: An attractive and interesting card of a great defensive player
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Reggie White: 1961-2004. A man whose most famous ministry may have been on the football field.
|
|
|
| pmills1210's Full Review: Topps Philadelphia Eagles Reggie 1986 Rookie Tradi... |
Whenever he took the field, Reggie White was one of the most feared and respected defensive ends of his era. In fifteen NFL seasons with the Eagles, Packers, and Panthers, White recorded 198 sacks, a number topped only by Bruce Smith. In nine of his fifteen seasons, he logged 10 or more sacks. White led the NFL in that category twice, including a career best of 21 sacks in the strike-shortened 1987 season. Whenever Reggie White took the field, offenses had to be on their guard. Their efforts to stop White often weren't good enough. Not only did White show proficiency for nailing quarterbacks, but he also had a knack for stuffing runners and forcing fumbles. He was twice named NFL Defensive Player Of The Year for his superior skills.
After starting his pro career with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL in 1984, White joined the Philadelphia Eagles, who held his NFL draft rights, in 1985. His first NFL campaign was a strong one, where he logged 13 sacks. He became an integral component in the Eagles' Gang Green defense. His NFL rookie card came in 1986, before he started wearing his familiar #92 jersey for the Eagles (Smiley Creswell wore #92 for the Eagles in 1985). On his Topps card #275, White is shown wearing #91, but did switch to #92 in his second NFL season. In the featured photo, White strikes a pose as if couldn't wait to take the field and wreak more havoc on his opponents.
The design of the card was one of the best Topps devised in the eighties. The borders on the front are green with white yard markings which resemble a football field. The lettering looks like the boldface version of typewriter type. The Eagles' team name appears in a red snipe just below White's picture. Even the back is more colorful than the typical Topps card of the time. The predominant colors are maize and brown, with very little of its gray cardstock visible. The text also tells a little about White's impressive first season in the NFL, as well as briefly explaining that the Eagles had owned his NFL draft rights. His card currently lists for $10 in Beckett Football magazine. Only Steve Young's NFL rookie card ($20) and Jerry Rice's rookie card ($100) have higher values in this set (Note: Young and White did appear on cards in each of the years Topps made a set for the USFL. However, because Topps released their 1984 and 1985 USFL cards as sets only, any players with their initial cards in these sets have cards which are considered extended rookie cards, or XRCs for short).
Among his other achievements, Reggie White was named an All-Pro thirteen times, and was a key member of Green Bay's Super Bowl winning team in 1997. White is assured of a place in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2006, when he first becomes eligible. Off the field, he was the opposite of the aggressive defender he was on the field. He was an ordained minister (with beliefs that sometimes still stir controversy), which led to White being dubbed "The Minister Of Defense" by his teammates. Occasionally, he sought divine advice as he pondered retirement. He left the game for the last time following the 2000 season, when he played for Carolina following a year away from the game. Sadly, Reggie White died suddenly at his North Carolina home, exactly one week after turning 43 years old. Not only was White one of the best of his time, but he will be remembered as one of the greats in NFL history.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
pmills1210
|
 in Movies |
 in Movies |
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Pat Mills
Location: East Chicago, In.
Reviews written: 909
Trusted by: 363 members
About Me:
"Nothing in moderation." - Ernie Kovacs. Read and enjoy!
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.