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Mario Bailey Wide Receiver Galaxy 1995-2000 Inducted in 2002
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When it comes to discussing the best of the best who ever played in NFL Europe, it's too easy to get distracted by a player's subsequent NFL performance and ignore what they actually did on this side of the Atlantic. Another problem is that most guys, who have success over here in a single season, don't return after that so it's difficult to gauge their performances, as longevity is always a key in these types of arguments. Taking both of these factors into account however, we submit to you that Mario Bailey is quite simply the best player the league has seen. Super Mario never managed to catch a single NFL pass, but he hauled in a record 252 passes for 3,805 yards and 35TD's over a 6 year span from 1995-2000. That's 101 more passes, 2,150 yards and 21TD's more than the #2 on those career lists. Not only that but he played in a record 4 World Bowls, winning two (in 95 and 99), catching a record 19 passes for 276 yards and 3 TD's in the process. The only 2 seasons the Galaxy failed to make the World Bowl when he was there, were either because he sustained a season ending injury (1997) or because of the Dick Curl - Ted White fiasco (2000). During his Purple days he caught TD's from eight different QB's - Paul Justin, Steve Pelleur, Chad May, Brad Bretz, Damon Huard, Pat Barnes, Jake Delhomme and Ted White. |
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Mario played college ball at Washington, where he is still regarded as one of the best Husky receivers ever (in a group that includes Jerome Pathon, Paul Skansi and Lorenzo Hill). His holds the Husky career record for receiving yards (2,093) and TD's (26) and his 131 total catches is 2nd to Skansi on the all-time list. It was his senior year that Bailey exploded onto the scene, catching 62 balls for 1,037 yards and an amazing 17 scores (highlighted by two 3TD game performances versus Oregon State and Toledo), including a career long 71 yard bomb from Billy Joe Hobert versus Kansas State. Bailey's season helped 11-0 Washington clinch the PAC-10 title and a spot in the Rose Bowl versus Michigan for the national title. The Wolverines had a strong team that year featuring Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard as well as other future NFL stars such as Elvis Grbac and Tyrone Wheatley. But Mario would out-shine them all catching 6 passes for 126 yards (Howard was held to only 1 catch), including a game clinching 38 yard bomb from Mark Brunell as the Huskies won 34-14 to become National Champions.
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Mario at Training Camp in Orlando, 2000 |
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Despite this he never managed to latch onto a NFL team when he gradulated, so when NFL Europe (or WLAF as it was still called) re-started in 1995 it was perfect timing for Mario to get on the field again and play ball. The Galaxy started slowly, but around mid-season when Paul Justin hit form they were the league's best 2nd half team giving Amsterdam it's only regular season loss. Those two teams would meet again in World Bowl 95 in Amsterdam, where Mario's Galaxy would hold on in a nail-biter for a 26-22 win. 1996 saw the Galaxy return to the World Bowl, but the season was a struggle with starting QB Steve Pelleur fighting injuries and inconsistency during a mid season slump. Mario had the distinction of fielding the opening kickoff of World Bowl 96, but when he was hit by Claymores S George Coghill the ball popped loose and team mate Markus Thomas returned it for a stunning TD to give Scotland a 7-0 lead in front of a frenzied home crowd. However there was no quit in Mario and he came back to catch 8 passes for 104 yards and 2TD's - but the Claymores would run out 32-27 winners to end Frankfurt's bid of a repeat.
 Another spectacular grab, 1996 1997 was the low point of Mario's Galaxy days. The passing offense under new QB Chad May was terrible and Mario's numbers had dipped at mid-season. Then in a Week 6 game versus the Monarchs in Frankfurt Mario broke his collarbone and was done for the season. But he bounced back in 1998, leading the Galaxy into the World Bowl on his home field in the Waldstadion. However in the "Back-up QB Bowl", Galaxy #2 QB Chris Dittoe couldn't master the wet conditions and the Rhein Fire won 34-10. The disappointment of previous years, would subside in 1999 as Mario caught a career high 63 grabs playing along side Andy McCullough to give Frankfurt maybe the best one-two combo in league history. "One-two combo" was how coach Dick Curl ran the QB position that year, and behind the two headed monster of Pat Barnes and Jake Delhomme, Frankfurt beat Barcelona 38-24 with Mario catching a clinching TD to claim its second championship.
Shuggie and Mario at a fan meeting in Dusseldorf for World Bowl 99. Mario was always terrific with his many fans.
Barnes was back in 2000, and helped Mario catch a career best 10 TD's. However Curl tried to continue his 1-2 punch at QB, even when newcomer Ted White started to struggle and incur the wrath of the Waldstadion faithful. This highly questionable coaching move (Curl took a job with the Chiefs after the season, the team had allocated White) cost Mario any chance of a World Bowl ring in his final season. But he went out fighting as we all expected. Never was there more evident in a 53-14 embarasssing Week 9 loss to the Fire at the Waldstadion where the team seemed to have packed it in. With his team trailing 53-7 in the 4th quarter Mario sjowed no quit in racing 69 yards for his 2nd score of the day. It was his 4th 100 yard game of the season - a career high that included a career day among them (11 balls for 159 yards and 1 TD vs the Fire in a Week 3 loss). He finished his Galaxy career catching his 35th and final TD is a 24-17 home win over the Thunder and was carried off the field by his team mates. With any NFL opportunity
now long gone, Mario even ended up playing for ex Rhein Fire coach Galen
Hall when the XFL came calling in 2001. Playing for the Orlando Rage,
Mario again established himself catching 27 balls for 379 yards and
2TD's. After that venture ended he is believed to be in retirement.
For now. The league (and Galaxy for that matter) certainly hasn't been
the same without its signature player. You'll welcome back anytime Mario!
Congratulations on making the Hall of Fame Mario!
Career Stats Regular Season Year No Yards Avg TD World Bowls Year No Yards Avg TD
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