Friday 12 May 2017

RIP: Former Browns WR Michael Jackson


I haven't posted in a long while, and have some news to share, but I don't want to go into it in this post.


I just read that that former Browns WR Michael Jackson died today in a motorcycle accident in Louisiana at the age of 48.



1992 Pro Set Power #101


I'll admit it, my friends and I laughed when we heard that the Browns had drafted Michael Jackson in 1991. We would have been among the countless numbers making the same jokes about his name.


In any case, as a Browns fan and card collector, I soon started collecting as many Michael Jackson cards (and a few Michael Dyson cards too for a short name change) as I could get. I have 142 different ones in my collection.


Looking at a gallery of his cards that I own on The Trading Card Database, and borrowing the images from that site, I am surprised at how many different action photos they used of him that I like. Not just on the front of the card, but on the back too as shown below.


back of 1992 Pro Set Power #101


After playing for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in college, Jackson was drafted by the Browns in the 6th round of the 1991 NFL Draft.


1991 Wild Card Draft #10 - 20 Stripe


He spent the 1991 and 1992 seasons wearing the number 1, which makes him, as far as I can tell, the only Browns player to wear that number. He switched to number 81 for the rest of his career - 1993-1995 with the Browns, and 1996-1998 in Baltimore.


1991 Upper Deck #610

back of 1991 Upper Deck #610


Here are some of the action shots on cards that I love throughout his career.
1995 Crown Royale #119


1991 Pro Set Platinum #292
1993 Game Day #316
1993 Playoff #169
1993 Pro Set Power #101
 
back of 1993 Pro Set Power #101

1993 Wild Card - Field Force #CFF-98
1994 Pinnacle #140
1996 Collector's Choice #204


back of 1996 Collector's Choice #204
1996 Upper Deck #153 (looking familiar)

back of 1996 Upper Deck #153
1996 Stadium Club #81


Oddly enough, there are quite a few cards that show him throwing the football. This made me curious to see how many passes he threw with the Browns in his five years. The answer was four. He completed his first pass, was incomplete on the next two, and then the fourth was intercepted.


1992 Game Day #423
If he didn't throw on this play, he sure looked like he wanted to, or was going to.


1994 Bowman #182
1994 Finest #189
1994 Score #49
1994 Stadium Club #370 (same as Finest)
1995 Collector's Choice #309


Thanks to Pro Line I have a few autographed cards of Michael Jackson.


1995 Pro Line - Autographs

1996 Pro Line - Autographs Blue

1996 Pro Line - Autographs Gold



Finally, a last few cards to remember him by. Rest in Peace.


back of 1994 Upper Deck #246
1995 Score #175
1994 Action Packed #18