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Football Memorabilia, Autographs
8 Lots
 Lot 171. Oct. 11, 1930, Official Program from the Dedication of Notre Dame Stadium. Magnificent 24-page program features a color cover with artwork of legendary Knute Rockne in the sky smiling down on the stadium. The week before, the Fighting Irish had opened the stadium with a 20-4 win over SMU. At the dedication, they continued their winning tradition by smashing Navy, 26-2. Rockne’s team continued to win at home and on the road, finishing with a 10-0 record and another national championship. It was Rockne’s six national title, his second in a row, and it would be his last. Several months after the season ended, Rockne died in a plane crash. The inside pages of the program feature photos of Rockne, his coaches and his players. Among them are Frank Carideo and Marchy Schwartz, both All-Americans. A few pencil notations are on two inside pages; otherwise the program is ex.
Winning Bid $572.
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 Lot 172. Official Football Review of Notre Dame 1930 Signed by Leahy as a Player, 4 Others. The front cover of this exceptional publication features a raised image of Knute Rockne in gold on a rich red background. Ex-m. Inside are 112 pages of photos and biographical sketches of Rockne and his players who earned Notre Dame its second straight national championship. Rockne died in a plane crash following the 1930 season. Five players have signed by their photographs. All of the signatures are in blue ink, and each is a 10. Chief among the signers is Frank Leahy, a left tackle in 1930. Later, as Notre Dame’s head coach from 1941-43 and 1946-53, he recorded the second best winning percentage, .855, among NCAA coaches. Only Rockne had a better record. Leahy is in the College Hall of Fame. He added “Sincere wishes” above his signature next to his photo. George Vlk, a right end, also signed by his photos. Three other signers personalized their signatures to “John.” They are: Tom Yarr, center, 1931 team captain and an All-America; Frank Butler and Jim Harris. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $291.
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 Lot 174. 5 Original, Terrific 1960s-70s Illustrations by Alan Maver – Shula, Noll, Stram, Etc. His work syndicated by King Features, Maver is widely published and highly respected as a sports artist. These five original drawings, each measuring 7” x 10 ½”, are signed by Maver. Four carry a King Features identifier. Three are titled: “NOLL AND VOID” featuring Chuck Noll. “THE CHIEF PROBLEM” featuring Hank Stram. And “MAN IN A RUSH” featuring Otis Anderson. The two others feature outstanding portraits of Don Shula and Paul Brown.
Winning Bid $163.
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 Lot 175. 6 Hardback Books Chronicling the History of Professional Football. The star of this collection is the finest copy we have seen of The First 50 Years: A Celebration of the National Football League in its Fiftieth Season. With Bob Oates, Jr., as the editor, the NFL issued this book in 1969. Its 256 pages are extensively illustrated. Aside from some foxing on the page opposite the back end-page, the book is nm+ in an nm+ dust jacket. Apparent first edition. Trivia fans will enjoy another NFL book - The NFL’s Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football, 1973 stated first printing, ex book and dj with the owner’s name on the front end-page. A third book is endorsed by the NFL: The Game: The Official Picture of the National Football League by Tex Maule, 1964 revised edition, vg-ex book, g-vg dj with the owner’s name on the inside flap. The book contains an illustrated section on each NFL team. Robert Smith covers the game from the 1890s through the 1960s in the Illustrated History of Pro Football, 1970 first edition, ex book with the owner’s name in two places inside, g-vg dj. In a 1977 first edition, Jack Fleischer joins with coaches, including Otto Graham, John Madden and George Halas, to describe Pro Football at its Best. The book identifies the 15 greatest games. The lighter side of the game is the subject of Football With and Humor by Gene Ward and Dick Hyman, 1970 first edition, nm-m book, ex-m dj. Bill Gallo provided illustrations for the book.
Winning Bid $60.
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 Lot 176. Scarce Book from the National Football League: Lombardi The NFL produced this book following Vince Lombardi’s death in Sept. 1970. It’s a first edition hardback edited by John Wiebusch, who sets out to answer the question, “Who was Vince Lombardi.” James Dickey, author of Deliverance, wrote the epilogue. The 216-page book is filled with photos of Lombardi and his players, along with reminiscences and opinions of a Who’s Who of professional football: Bart Starr, Frank Gifford, Paul Brown, Willie Wood, Pat Summerall, Willie Davis, Tom Fears, Pete Rozelle, Sam Huff, etc. The book is ex with the owner’s name on the front end-page. It has a fragile, clear acetate dust jacket that is complete except for a couple of small corner chips, exhibits some foxing and very slight wear on some of the type. Almost four decades after his death, Lombardi remains a football giant. This book is a “must” for any football or Green Bay Packers library.
Winning Bid $75.
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 Lot 177. Wilson White-Panel Notre Dame Football Signed by Hornung, Buoniconti, Lamonica and Bleier. All of the autographs are in bold black sharpie, and each grades a 10. Notice the picture of the football. You have lots of room for signatures of many other special Notre Dame players with renowned football careers: the Steelers’ “Bus,” Jerome Bettis, for example. For the Steelers collector, this would be a great collectible. Bleier helped the Steelers win their first four Super Bowls. Just get a Bettis signature, and you have Notre Dame graduates for all five Super Bowls. You will still have room for many more Notre Dame football star signatures - Montana, Huarte, Quinn and Lattner. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $165.
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 Lot 178. 1930s-40s Wilson Black Leather Wing-Front “Transition” Football Helmet. What makes this helmet transitional is the hard plastic shell inside the leather outer shell. As the 1950s wore on, plastic would replace leather altogether in the manfacturing of football helmets. This Wilson Model D265A, size 7 ½”, has “Airlite” cushion original rubber padding inside. The head cushioning straps and chin strap are original. The piping shows wear, and the helmet has seen good game action.
Winning Bid $446.
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