TTM Stats
- Sent: 12/15/2017 | Received: 2/9/2018 | 54 Days
- ’82 Topps
- Address: PO Box
The Story of the Autograph
Billy Sims was a running back in the NFL for five years with the Detroit Lions. While he didn’t play very long in the grand scheme in the NFL, he was pretty good while he was a pro and he was amazing in college.
Billy went to Oklahoma where he played for Barry Switzer from 1975 through 1979. He gained an extra year of eligibility after being injured in his Sophomore season. Then in 1978 he broke out with almost 1900 yards on the ground and 22 rushing touchdowns. That yardage total stood until Adrian Peterson beat it. That performance earned him a Heisman Trophy that year. The next year was another great season with almost 1700 yards on the ground and 23 rushing touchdowns. He would finish second to Charles White in the 1979 Heisman voting.
And after that great college career the Lions drafted him number one overall in the 1980 NFL Draft. He went over 1,000 yards three times in his career and the first two years he got pretty close to having 2,000 total yards. The 1300+ rushing yards and 600+ receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns earned him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 1980. He made the Pro Bowl for the first three years of his career.
But as does happen a lot with running backs, he suffered a catastrophic knee injury that took his career. He made an attempt to comeback in 1989, many years after the injury. He even offered to come back on a “blank check” and let the Lions determine his salary as he went along but nothing ever came of his comeback.
The Score on Billy Sims – 5.0
Billy has a sort of “initial style” autograph where really his initials are a lot of the focus of his signature. I like his signature but his signature would have probably come out even better if the marker that he used was a little thicker. The card is a bit busy where he signed to so it would have helped his signature stick out a bit more. I think this was the only card I have of his, but it’s also a bit of a run on “In Action” cards from ’82 because I have cards from Terry Bradshaw and Dan Fouts I got back recently too.
Thanks Mr. Sims! I’m giving this one a 5.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Pro Football Reference.