Lot 229. Check Signed by George Trafton, NFL Pioneer, Chicago Bears Hall of Fame Center. Mint 9 to gem mint 10 signature authenticated by Kevin Keating on a check dated April 13, 1968. In 1920, Trafton played center for the Decatur Staleys of the American Professional Football Association, forerunner of the NFL. When the team moved to Chicago in 1921, he went along, and except for 1922 when he coached college football, he remained with the team through 1932. He was named to all-league teams six times. Teammate Red Grange called Trafton the “meanest, toughest player alive.” Trafton was the first player to center the ball with one hand, and he was among the first to rove on defense. In the 1930s, he turned to boxing, losing to Primo Carnera but defeating four other opponents. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964 and passed away in 1971. Checks signed by Trafton are scarce. This one is a beauty.
Winning Bid $110.
Lot 231. Football Hall of Fame Collection of 14 Signed Letters. Most of the letters describe in one handwritten (ALS) or typed (TLS) page what it means to have been selected for the HoF. Kevin Keating authenticated the signatures, which grade predominantly mint 9 or gem mint 10: Red Badgro (d.1998), ALS. Chuck Bednarik, ALS. Mel Blount, TLS. Coach Weeb Ewbank (d.1998), ALS on his “New York Jets” notepaper apologizing for his late response. Lou Groza (d.2000), ALS on insurance company memo paper initiating fee negotiations in exchange for his response. Ed Healey (d.1978), ALS on note paper describing some of his career highlights and listing some of the teams he played for. Mel Hein (d.1992), ALS describing his greatest thrills, nm-m 8 to mint signature. Clarke (Hinkle) (d.1988), two-page ALS describing his greatest thrills; he signed “Clarke” only. Elroy Crazylegs Hirsch (d.2004), ALS. Sam Huff, one-sentence ALS responding to the question: “What did your induction into the pro football hall of fame mean to you?” Yale Lary, ALS describing the greatest thrills of his football career. Dante Lavelli (d.2009) , ALS signed “D.L.” George McAfee (d.2009), two-page ALS (front and back). And Alex Wojciechowicz (d.1992), ALS. This group will be an excellent addition to a collection or to dealer inventory. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $264.
Lot 232. 29 Different Pro Football Hall of Fame Autographs on Government Postcards. More than one-half have postmarks ranging from 1967-77. The signatures are predominantly mint 9 or gem mint 10: Chuck Bednarik (personalized), Dick Butkus, Len Dawson (pers.), Mike Ditka, Bill Dudley (pers.), Bud Grant, Joe Greene, Forrest Gregg, Sam Huff, Sonny Jurgensen, Marv Levy (pers.), Bob Lilly, Don Maynard, John Mackey (pers.), George McAfee (pers.), Chuck Noll, Jim Otto, Mel Renfro (slight smudge), Andy Robustelli (pers.), Joe Schmidt, Lee Roy Selmon (pers.), Don Shula, Bart Starr, Roger Staubach (slight smudge on “ach”), Ernie Stautner, Jan Stenerud, Charley Taylor, Roger Wehrli and Randy White. In each case, the personalization could be matted out. Most cards have the player’s name typed in the upper left, and his team, in the lower left. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $198.
Lot 233. 44 Heisman Trophy Winner Autographs, Primarily on 8” x 10” Color Photos. Twenty-three Heisman winners are represented in this collection. All of the photos are different; there are no duplicate signed items. Each signature is mint 9 or gem mint 10 on a color 8” x 10” photo unless otherwise noted: Billy Cannon (b&w photo), John Cappelletti, John David Crow (b&w), Glenn Davis (5” x 7” b&w photo, personalized signature), Pete Dawkins (signed 1992 typed letter), Doug Flutie (2), Mike Garrett (2, signatures are large and show as nm 7 against dark backgrounds), Archie Griffin (3, one b&w), Paul Hornung (b&w), Desmond Howard (2, one on a “Sports Illustrated” cover trimmed to 8” x 10”), Johnny Lattner (reproduction “Time” cover), Steve Owens, George Rogers (4), Johnny Rodgers (b&w), Mike Rozier (b&w), Rashaan Salaam (2), Billy Sims (6 photos, 7 signatures, one printed and signed on both sides, 2 b&w), Pat Sullivan (3, one b&w), Vinny Testaverde, Herschel Walker, Charlie Ward (2, one as a basketball player), Andre Ware (3) and Charles White (2). Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $240.
Lot 234. 160 Different Autographed 1951-79 Football Cards with Many Hall of Fame Players. This collection offers excellent potential break-up value for dealers or a great start on a more comprehensive signed card collection for collectors. For each card through 1974, we have listed the number and the player’s last name. After that, we have listed numbers and the names of key players only. In all cases, first and last names are signed. The signatures are overwhelmingly mint 9s and gem mint 10s. Almost all of the cards were issued by Topps. 1957T: #66 Arenas. 1958T: #3 Schmidt (HoF), 19 Glick, 37 Tarasovic, 46 Dodrill, 77 Varrichione and 78 Mathews. 1959T: #6 Schmidt, 18 Carpenter, 100 Lenny Moore (HoF) and 124 Reger. 1960T: #3 Moore, 22 Plum, 46 Schmidt, 65 Shofner, 77 Summerall, 89 Brookshier, 100 Tarasovic and 127 Walton. 1961T: #13 Hill, 20 LeBaron, 68 Plum, 75 Michaels, 90 Robustelli (HoF), 102 Brookshier, 132 Plum and 173 Kocourek. 1962T: #38 LeBaron, 103 Walton and 151 Kilmer. 1963T: #8 Marchetti (HoF), 17 McCormack (HoF), 35 Schmidt and 136 Kilmer. 1964T: #3 Buoniconti (HoF), 33 Paterra, 57 Nomina, 79 McLeod, 106 Spikes, 117 Loske, 135 Craig, 157 Faison and 162 Kocourek. 1966T: #3 Buoniconti, 37 Jacobs, 77 Evans, 78 Goode, 84 Spikes and 102 Snell. 1967T: #13 Buoniconti, 80 West, 84 Neighbors, 85 Evans, 87 Zecher and 88 Kocourek. 1968T: #49 Warfield (HoF), 54 Walden, 107 Cox, 111 Martha, 162 Ditka (HoF), 178 Matte and 196 Griese rookie (HoF). 1969T: #76 LeBeau (HoF) and 240 Kilmer. 1970T: #110 Trumpy, 151 Mack (HoF), 166 Kilmer, 170 Floyd Little (HoF), 216 Martha and 244 Buoniconti. 1970T Glossy: #24 Little. 1971T: #25 Butkus (HoF), 38 Martha, 39 Blanda (HoF), 92 Morris rookie, 126 Buffone, 131 Phipps, 132 Russell and 215 Jackson. 1972T: #9 Kiick, 60 Sanders, 80 Griese, 121 Kiick, 142 Jefferson, 155 Kwalick and 170 Butkus. 1973T: #90 Mack, 167 Culp, 214 Buoniconti, 270 Stanfill, 289 Little, 316 Kiick, 345 Hubbard, 367 Kuchenberg, 467 Joiner (HoF), 480 Russell and 493 Morton. 1974T: #52 Owens (Heisman winner), 123 Larry Little (HoF), 126 Mack, 170 Morris, 177, 225, 245 Blanda, 397 Langer (HoF), 410 and 479. 1975T: #48, 81, 132 F. Little, 175 Lilly (HoF), 196 Langer, 199, 262, 317, 420 Mack, 445, 526 Terry Bradshaw (HoF) and 528 Bradshaw. 1976T: #33 L. Little, 110 Mack, 134, 194, 210 Langer, 265, 289 and 396. 1977T: #60, 85, 95, 110 Stabler, 146 Carson (HoF), 150 Yary (HoF), 172 L. Little, 265 Mack, 390 Langer, 442, 492, 495 Kilmer and 526 Stabler. 1978T: #70 Langer, 80 Mack, 162, 167 Morton, 314 Lee Roy Selmon (HoF), 322 L. Little, 393 Carson and 405. 1979T: 123 Selmon, 165, 174, 308 Newsome rookie (HoF), 440 Griese and 515 Carson. Seven cards are from other companies: 1951 Bowman, #12 Bednarik (HoF). 1960 Fleer, #39 Spikes and 128 Maguire. 1961 NuCard #111. 1962 Post, #26 Robustelli. 1967 Philadelphia, #152. And 1974 Wonder Bread, #28 Owens. Four autographs by Buoniconti, two by Blanda and one other are personalized. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs. With more than 50 Hall of Fame signatures, this collection is well worth our
Winning Bid $472.
Lot 356. Nov. 12, 1945 “Time” Magazine Signed by Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard. Arguably college football’s best ever backfield 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.” They were known as the “Touchdown Twins” because together, 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 season 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-ex. Both sharpie signatures are bold mint 9s to gem mint 10s. Davis passed away in 2005, and Blanchard, in 2009. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $134.
Lot 358. Joe Namath Signed “Sports Illustrated” Showing Him in “The Last Rebel” Movie. Huge, bold gem mint 10 autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating on the cover of the Aug. 17, 1970 issue. After the 1969 football season, the Hall of Fame New York Jets quarterback devoted some time to his acting career. In “The Last Rebel,” set in Missouri in 1865 at the end of the Civil War, Namath plays a Confederate soldier. Ex-m magazine. Namath was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.
Winning Bid $125.
Lot 359. George Blanda (HoF) Autographed July 19, 1971 “Sports Illustrated.” Blanda was inducted into the Pro Hall o Fame in 1981 as a quarterback and placekicker following a 26-seaon pro career that took him to Chicago (Bears), Baltimore, Houston and Oakland. No one ever played longer in the NFL. Only he and two other players appeared in games in four different decades. At his retirement, he had kicked more extra points than anyone else. Blanda started his pro career with the Bears in 1949, but he achieved his greatest success in the AFL in the 1960s. He quarterbacked the Houston Oilers to three NFL championships, was a four-time All-Star and was named the league’s MVP in 1963, when he led the AFL in passing. In 1970, he was the NFL’s Player of the Year. In 1999, “The Sporting News” ranked him as one of the top 100 football players of all-time. Blanda passed away last year. His signature is a bold 10 that contrasts sharply with white of his jersey shown on the cover of the “SI” issue, which is ex with a label. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph.
Winning Bid $50.
Lot 407. Ace Parker Autograph on an OAL Bobby Brown Baseball. Known primarily as a Pro Hall of Fame quarterback for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Yanks and New York Yankees, Parker also played baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937 and 1938. On the diamond, he was a light-hitting utility player who slugged a home run in his first at bat. On the gridiron, he successfully ran, threw and caught passes, punted, kicked, returned punts and kickoffs, and played defense. Before pro sports, Parker was an All-American tailback at Duke. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame. His autograph, as Clarence “Ace” Parker, is a 10 of 10 on the sweet spot. He added “Phil. A’s 1937-38” and “FB HOF 1972.” The baseball is mint. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $68.
