Monday 29 July 2019

Players with only one card in my collection - 19

Let's continue the series of posts showing cards of five players with only one card in my collection. I'm using sorting tools at The Trading Card Database to look through my collection on their site to see who only has one card, and then finding the first five names that I haven't posted yet. I'm also using the images from their site.


2018 Donruss Optic - Pink #113


Damion Ratley was a sixth round draft pick of the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft. He played in thirteen games, starting three, during his 2018 rookie season. He had some nice moments during the season but will be in a fight for one of the last receiver spots on the team this year.

Damion Ratley has 93 cards listed on the Trading Card Database with cards in many sets. I've only managed to get this one so far, but have no doubt many will follow.


1963 Topps #22



I'm sure that most people don't know the story of Don Fleming. I can't remember when I first read about it, but I'm sure it was after I looked at the list of numbers retired by the Cleveland Browns, and found Don Fleming's #46 as one of them.

Don Fleming was originally drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the 28th round (yes, 28th) of the 1959 NFL Draft.

Fleming convinced the Cardinals to trade him to the Browns before the 1960 season where he could play with his good friend, and fellow defensive back, Bernie Parrish.

The card back above shows that over the 1960-62 seasons, that Fleming had 10 interceptions. Pro Football Reference shows that he also had 4 fumble recoveries as well, and that Fleming was named a First Team All-Pro by the Sporting News for the 1962 season.

During the off-season, Don Fleming worked a construction job. While on the job, on June 4, 1963, Fleming was electrocuted, and died one week shy of his 26th birthday. Earlier in the day, the Cleveland Browns had announced that Fleming had re-signed for the upcoming season.

Fleming's death came seventeen days after the death of fellow Brown, Ernie Davis. The Browns retired both of their numbers in memorium.

This is Don Fleming's only mainstream football card. He also has cards issued by Kahn's Weiners, and the National City Bank in 1961.


2017 SAGE Hit #4


Everybody knows about the quarterback issues that the Browns have suffered since their expansion return in 1999. I hope, and expect, that Baker Mayfield will be the answer to those problem.

From 1999 - 2012, the Browns had no problems with their kicker. It was Phil Dawson. There was nothing to worry about. Then he left as a free agent, and the Browns kicking problems began.

The Browns used five different kickers in the four seasons before they drafted Zane Gonzales in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

As a draft pick, he was expected to beat out incumbent Cody Parkey for the kicker's job for the 2017 season. He did, and was 15-20 on field goals, and 25-26 on extra points during his rookie season. An undrafted free agent was brought in to compete with him for the 2018 training camp, but Gonzalez was expected to win the job, and did, starting the 2018 season as the Browns kicker.

Unfortunately, the start of the 2018 season did not go well for Zane Gonzalez. He had a possible winning field goal blocked in overtime during the season opener against the Steelers, and then he missed two field goals, and two extra points in a three point loss to the Saints in Week 2. He was waived the day after the Saints game.

Zane Gonzalez doesn't have any cards in a Browns uniform, but has 20 cards in the 2017 SAGE Hit set. I'm sure that I will eventually come across some of his other cards for my collection.


2007 SP Authentic #114 (#/1399)



I can't believe that it has been so long since Charles Ali played with the Browns.

An undrafted free agent, fullback Charles Ali made the Browns team in 2007 and played two seasons with them before being among the final cuts of their 2009 training camp. There was a coaching change between the 2008 and 2009 season, and I wonder if role players like fullbacks are changed more than normal when the coaches change.

The Trading Card Database lists this card, and a gold parallel as the only football cards for Charles Ali's career.


2018 Panini XR #134



Chad Thomas was selected by the Browns in the 3rd round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He suffered a groin injury in training camp, and played very little for the Browns during the 2018 season.

I've read many articles hoping that Thomas will step up and be a valuable contributor to the Browns this year.

There are over 100 Chad Thomas cards listed on the Trading Card Database. I'm sure it is just a matter of time before I add some of them to join this card in my collection.

1 comment:

  1. I hadn't ever heard of Don Fleming before... that's really f'ing sad :(

    ReplyDelete