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Football Memorabilia & Autographs
12 Lots
 Lot 9. Huge Collection of 1,700 Different NFL Autographs – 42 HoF, 1920s Players, Etc. If you’ve ever thought about putting together an autograph collection of everyone who ever played in the NFL, here’s a good start! These signatures are on a good mix of unlined and lined 3” x 5” index cards, as well as cards with biographical information. A very small number are cuts that have been affixed to index cards. A few cards are smaller than 3” x 5”. Players range from NFL pioneers in the 1920s-30s to a few who are still playing. More than 250 of the signers are deceased. The Hall of Fame signatures are of Battles, Baugh, Bednarik, Bell, Berry, Butkus, Clark, Connor, Creekmur, Willie Davis, Donovan, Dudley, Graham, Grange, Healey, Hendricks, Hirsch, Kinard, Krause, Lary, McAfee, McDonald, Mack, Mackey, Marchetti, Matson, Nevers, Nomellini, Otto, Ace Parker, Jim Parker, Pihos, Renfro, Robustelli, Schmidt, Shula, Stautner, Strong, Stydahar, Trippi, Wilson and Yary. A sample of the non-Hall of Fame signers includes Hal Broda who played for Cleveland in 1927; Lloyd Cardwell, Detroit 1937-43; George Christensen, Portsmouth 1931-33; J. E. Detwiler, Hammond 1923-24; John Druze, Brooklyn 1938; Alvah Elliott, Racine 1922-24; Gene Gedman, Detroit 1953-58; H. W. Hanson, Frankford 1928-30; Bob Hoernschemeyer, Chicago Rockets 1946-47; Pop Ivy, Pittsburgh 1940; Luke Johnsos, Chicago 1929-36; Jim Nance, Boston 1965-70, and Ed Sauer, Canton, Akron and Pottsville in the 1920s. And many, many more. There are many familiar names from the 1950s-60s, such as George Mira, Jimmy Orr and Milt Plum. The autographs are overwhelmingly 9s and 10s, primarily in pen, with some in sharpie or pencil. The vast majority of this outstanding NFL collection is from the 1970s and earlier. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $2,197.
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 Lot 244. Willie Stargell & Terry Bradshaw Signed 1979 Sports Illustrated. Pittsburgh sports fans remember 1979 fondly as the year that the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers won the World Series and Super Bowl, respectively. This December 24-31, 1979 issue of SI commemorates the teams’ success with a shared Willie Stargell and Terry Bradshaw cover. Both have signed in black sharpie. Stargell’s autograph is an unimprovable 10, and Bradshaw’s is a nm-m 8 with a smudge on the “w.” Ex-m magazine with the address label. Stargell died in 2001. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $152.
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 Lot 265. 1947 George Halas Autographed 8” x 10” Photo. In black fountain pen, Halas wrote “To Michael Lopata – With best wishes from the Bears - George Halas.” The image in this photo was used to produce Halas’ 1952 Bowman football card. The lower left corner of the photo has a sticker reading “Chief Executive of the Chicago Bears.” The number 76 is written in the lower right border. The vg photo retains strong gloss. The Halas message and signature grade 9 to 10. Lopata was an enthusiastic collector who assembled a huge collection in the 1940-60s. A wonderful period photo with great character. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $100.
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 Lot 266. Nov. 12, 1945 Time Magazine Signed by Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard. Arguably college football’s best ever duo, Blanchard and Davis were largely responsible for Army’s record of 27-0-1 between 1944 and 1946. Blanchard was known as “Mr. Inside,” while Davis was “Mr. Outside.” Together, they were known as the “Touchdown Twins” because between them, they scored 97 touchdowns, a college record that stood until 2007. Blanchard was the 1945 Heisman Trophy winner, and Davis, the 1946 winner. After graduating from West Point, both, of course, served in the military. Afterwards, Blanchard continued his military career as a pilot, achieving the rank of colonel. Davis played for one year with the Los Angeles Rams before a knee injury ended his career. Both men are in the College Football Hall of Fame. The magazine, which has a mailing label, is vg+ to ex. Both sharpie signatures are bold 10s. Davis passed away in 2005. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $125.
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 Lot 267. Limited Edition Green Bay Packers Poster Signed by Nitschke, Starr and 8 Others. The poster, #18 of 350, features the artwork of Bill Gallo. This 18” x 24” vg-ex manila print bears the signatures of 9 former members of the Green Bay Packers along with that of the artist. Signers, all of whom have used green ink, are Jim Taylor, Jerry Kramer, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Tom Brown, Ray Nitschke (died 1998), Herb Adderley, Jim Ringo (d. 2007), Bart Starr and artist Bill Gallo. The Taylor signature is an 8; others are 9-10 and 10. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Additional information: A great Green Bay Packer World Champions Poster with players from Super Bowl I and II. What a collectible!
Winning Bid $291.
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 Lot 268. Extremely Rare 1928 NFL Detroit Program Featuring HoF QB Benny Friedman. In the National Football League’s first decade, football franchises – and their players – quickly arrived and departed. Such was the case with Detroit’s entry in the 1928 NFL, the Wolverines. Actually, they were probably better known as Friedman’s Wolverines than Detroit’s. The team was a one-season wonder that folded because of financial losses – despite success on the field. Friedman led the team to a 7-2-1 record, third best in the 10-team league. By 1928, only his second season in the NFL, Friedman had established himself as one of the league’s best players. A two-time All-America at Michigan, he was already widely known when he joined the NFL. In 1928, he led the league in scoring. Tim Mara, owner of the New York Giants, was so impressed with Friedman that he bought the Wolverines’ franchise just so he could have the rights to Friedman. In 2005, Friedman was enshrined at Canton. He is featured on the cover of the 12-page 1928 newsprint program, and again on the back, where he promotes “Henry the Hatter.” Inside, two other stars of the era are pictured, Gibby Welch and Bo Molenda. The program is for a game with the Dayton Triangles. The score is written on the cover and inside. There are various notations written by the roster inside. Technially, the program is g-vg. In this rare case, the cover is better than some of the inside pages. NFL programs from the 1920s very seldom turn up. With Friedman on the cover, this program is a wonderful find.
Winning Bid $484.
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 Lot 269. Panoramic Photograph of the 1924 USC Football Team with Kaer, Taylor, Badgro. In his final season, head coach Elmer Henderson led the Trojans to a 9-2 season. The team thrashed most opponents, but lost to Cal and St. Mary’s. The team featured three players of special note: Brice Taylor, the school’s first All-America in 1925 and one of the first African-American star football players. Mort Kaer, a touchdown-scoring machine who became the school’s first consensus All-America in 1926. And Red Badgro, a future pro football Hall of Fame player. The 6” x 16” b&w photo is well focused with excellent contrast. It is framed and adhered to the glass. It displays very nicely in its current form.
Minimum Bid $200.
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 Lot 270. 1930 USC vs. Pittsburgh Rose Bowl Emergency Armband. In Howard Jones’ inaugural trip to the Rose Bowl, his Trojans decisively defeated the Panthers, 47-14. Pitt faced an “emergency” situtation early in the game, giving up touchdowns on each of the first three passes by USC quarterback Russ Saunders. The armband is about 2 ¾” x 9”, trimmed somewhat irregularly on the right and has some scrapbook residue on the back. It displays as ex-m. The armband gave the owner admission to the Rose Bowl at Gate 27. Incredibly rare and unusual USC or Pitt collectible.
Minimum Bid $100.
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 Lot 271. 1931 USC at Notre Dame Sideline Pass. November 21, 1931’s game between Southern California and Notre Dame was one of the most memorable in the teams’ growing rivalry. The Trojans pulled off a huge upset, 16-14, for their first win at South Bend and then proceeded to win three more games and capture the national title. The win broke Notre Dame’s 26-game unbeaten streak. Leading 14-0 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Irish coach Hunk Anderson felt safe putting his second string in. Due to substitution rules, he was unable to send his first string back in when things got dicey through the combined efforts of USC’s Gus Shaver and Orv Mohler. Johnny Baker’s 33-yard field goal with one minute remaining sealed the fate of the Irish. Original, scarce “Sideline Privilege” pass from that game. Typical passes are torn; this one is complete in one piece. It is 2 ¼” x 4”, displays as ex-m and has some scrapbook residue on the blank back. Incredible piece.
Winning Bid $92.
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 Lot 272. 1940s-50s “Football” Gum Vending Machine by Multi-Vendor. When a customer inserted a penny into this vintage vendor, it dispensed a gumball and allowed the purchaser to play a game by catapulting it as many times as necessary in order to achieve a “Touchdown 6 points, Field Goal 3 points, Touchback 0 points, Conversion 1 point or Safety 2 points.” The gumball was then dispensed to the player through a metal corridor with a metal front flap. The vertical playing surface is circular, about 6” in diameter. Period graphics on the playing surface include players in vintage football attire and a “Football” identified with bold block letters. The vending machine is original and in good working order. It opens with the key provided. Extremely rare and equally desirable.
Minimum Bid $300.
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 Lot 273. 1966 Green Bay Packers NFL Champions-Super Bowl I Pennant. This classic gold-on-green pennant features a runner in a Heisman pose and reads “1966 National Football League Champions.” Packer fans bought these pennants as they prepared for the first NFL-AFL championship battle in Super Bowl I. Led by Vice Lombardi and Bart Starr, the Packers won the first ever Super Bowl title, 21-17, over the Dallas Cowboys. Ex example with two pin holes.
Winning Bid $444.
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