Lot 97. Bernie Kosar Boldly Signed Cleveland Browns Wilson Prestige Teams Jersey. Kosar’s signature on his number on the back of the size 48 jersey is a very large gem mint 10. In 1983, Kosar helped the Miami Hurricanes to win their first national championship. Playing for the Browns from 1985-93, he made the Pro Bowl in 1988. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys in 1993. Tommy John added Kosar’s jersey to his collection because he saw the quarterback as someone like him – a person who had to work hard to be successful. The jersey comes with an authentication letter “From the Desk of Tommy John” and has been authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $248.
Lot 219. Vince Lombardi Signed 1960 Green Bay Packers Check. In nine seasons, the legendary Hall of Fame coach led the Packers to five NFL championships. He died in 1970. His signature is a 10 on a Packers’ check dated Sept. 8, 1960. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $484.
Lot 220. Super Bowl Ticket Poster with 29 Autographs – Meredith, Maynard, Swann, Dawson, Etc. This 23” x 31” poster celebrates 30 years of Super Bowls by reproducing the tickets from each. The poster has been signed by Deacon Jones, Ray Nitschke (died 1998), Bob Lilly (3 times), Len Dawson (2), Don Meredith (2) (d. 2010), Don Maynard, Lynn Swann (4), Ray Guy (3), John Hannah, Harry Carson, Bill Ard (2), George Martin (2), Pepper Johnson (2), Stephen Baker, Carl Banks, Greg Jackson and two others. The autographs range from nm-m 8 to gem mint 10 and have been authenticated by Kevin Keating. The poster is vg. Fourteen Hall of Fame autographs and two Meredith signatures as well could be yours for as little as our
Winning Bid $110.
Lot 221. Baltimore Colts Full-Sized Pennant Boldly Autographed by Raymond Berry (HoF). When he concluded his NFL career in 1967, Berry led the league in receptions with 631. Most of the passes came from Johnny Unitas. He and Unitas formed one of the most effective quarterback-receiver duos in NFL history. His signature is mint 9, with “HOF ‘73” added, on an ex (several tack holes) 1960s-70s pennant. Authenticated by Kevin Keating. An outstanding display item!
Winning Bid $75.
Lot 222. John Cappelletti – 1973 Heisman Trophy Winner – Autographed Mini Helmet. The only Penn State player to receive the award, Cappelletti placed a bold gem mint 10 signature and “’73 Heisman” on a Nittany Lions mini helmet. Kevin Keating authenticated the signature. Cappelletti was also named UPI’s 1973 Player of the Year and earned the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award. Perhaps his highest honor, however, came from his coach, Joe Paterno, who called him “the best football player I ever coached.” Cappelletti was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $40.
Lot 223. Jim Finks (HoF) Autographed Typed 1978 Letter on Chicago Bears Letterhead. Finks had a decent career as a quarterback for poor 1950s Pittsburgh Steelers teams before distinguishing himself as an executive with the Minnesota Vikings, Bears and New Orleans Saints. He died in 1994. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame the following year. His signature, as the Bears’ executive vice president and general manager, is a 10 of 10 on 5 ½” x 8 ½” stationery that has not been folded. The mailing envelope accompanies the letter. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $198.
Lot 224. Red Grange (HoF) Autographed 1950s Newspaper Photo Showing Him with George Halas. Grange was the biggest football star of the 1920s. Both he and Halas were members of the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame class in 1963. The 8” x 10” b&w photo, ex with some light discoloration in the center at the top, is from the files of the “Philadelphia Inquirer.” Grange’s signature is nm-m 8 to min 9, shows some evidence of his advanced age and is Authenticated by Kevin Keating. Grange passed away in 1991. The photo itself of these two football pioneers is worth our
Minimum Bid $100.
Lot 225. Clarke Hinkle (HoF) Signed Handwritten 1971 Letter with Excellent Football Content. In 1941, after 10 seasons as the Green Bay Packers’ fullback, Hinkle retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. He is a member of the Pro (1964) and College (1971) Football Halls of Fame. Offered here is THE ONLY KNOWN HANDWRITTEN HINKLE LETTER THAT CARRIES HIS FULL SIGNATURE, which is a gem mint 10. In the letter, Hinkle discusses the 1939 Packers’ team, including Arnie Herber, writes about the character of the players of his era and quotes Arch Ward after the Packers defeated the 1940 College All-Stars: “Pro football has finally arrived!” He also mentions the key players on the 1932 Green Bay team, including Hubbard, McNally, Herber and Michalske, and describes Milt Gantenbein as “the greatest blocking tight end who ever lived.” Hinkle wrote the letter from Toronto, OH, where he passed away in 1988. Outstanding letter and signature! Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $134.
Lot 226. 3 Bronko Nagurski (HoF) Autographed Photos. A charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Nagurski played fullback and offensive and defensive for the University of Minnesota and the Chicago Bears. He is in the College HoF as well, and each year, the Bronko Nagurski award is presented to the NCAA’s best defensive football player. In 1999, “The Sporting News” rated him as the 35th greatest football player of all time. He is the only player selected for the Pro Bowl at three different positions. After his football career ended, he became a successful wrestler. Nagurski’s autographs are on three photos in a 1973 magazine article titled “Bronko Nagurski: The Living Legend” by John Wiebusch, Vince Lombardi’s biographer. All of the photos are about 4.5” x 7”. The football pioneer signed a photo showing him as a Golden Gophers ball carrier, as a Bear and as a civilian in a suit. Two of the autographs are gem mint 10s, and one is a 9. Nagurski passed away in 1990. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $134.
Lot 227. Jerry Rice (HoF) Autograph on an Oakland Raiders Commemorative Football. Mint 9 signature by the wide receiver, who spent the last four years of his 20-season Hall of Fame career with the Raiders. Rice is generally regarded as the best wide receiver in NFL history. In fact, the NFL Network’s NFL Films believes he is the BEST PLAYER in the league’s history. He holds most of the career records for wide receivers. Rice autographed a panel of the ball. Another panel has the Raiders’ logo and lists the championships garnered by the team since its days in the AFL. The ball shows light box rubbing along one seam and a minor manufacturing imperfection. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $75.
Lot 228. Lawrence Taylor (HoF) Autographed New York Giants Jersey. Gem mint 10 signature by the Hall of Fame linebacker on the “5” of #56 on the back of the Apex One Pro Line Authentic large jersey. A variety of sources consider him to be the NFL’s best defensive player ever. He was a Pro Bowl selection 10 times, a first-team All-Pro nine times, the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1981, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year several times and a member of the NFL 1980s All-Decade and 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He has had less success off the field. Taylor entered the Hall of Fame in 1999. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $92.
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.
