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Football Autographs and Memorabilia
14 Lots
 Lot 266. Autographed Rare Early Football History by Dr. Harry March, “Father of Pro Football.” March may not be a household name, but he significantly influenced the early days of the professional game. His account of those days is presented in “Pro Football: Its ‘Ups’ and ‘Downs’ (A Light-hearted History of the Post Graduate Game),” which was originally published in 1934. This updated version from 1939 is ex, published without a dust jacket and with gilt lettering on the red boards. It contains illustrations by Burris Jenkins, the New York “Journal-American” cartoonist whose original artwork appears elsewhere among the collectibles from the Bert Randolph Sugar estate. Photos also punctuate the book, which contains an introduction by Grantland Rice and a brief, concluding essay by Paul Gallico. A reporter who became a physician and historian, March helped to organize the National Football League and the second American Football League. He talked Tim Mara into buying the NFL New York franchise, which became the Giants, a team March served as secretary and the president from 1925-33. Spending much of his life in Ohio, he was one of the team doctors for the early 1900s Canton Bulldogs. He was present for the 1906 betting scandal related to the Bulldogs and Massillon Tigers. His account of the scandal, presented here, has been questioned by more recent football historians. March signed the flyleaf on Sept. 25, 1939. The autograph is personalized to Rud Rennie, a sportswriter for the “New York Tribune” (later the Herald-Tribune”). In 1940, Rennie passed the book on to Jesse Abramson, a Herald-Tribune writer who became the first reporter inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph March applied with a steel-tipped pen. It is nm-m 8.
Winning Bid $180.
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 Lot 267. Knute Rockne Book and 1931 Metal Relief Plaquette. The bust sculpture, 5” x 6.75”, is signed (facsimile) by known artist Morgan V. Hinchman and dated 1931. Nm-m. The book is a biography, “Goals: The Life of Knute Rockne” by H. W. Hurt, 1931 apparent first edition, vg-ex, not dust jacket. Lowell Thomas wrote the book’s introduction. The sculpture is a very rare item produced after Rockne died in a plane crash in 1931. Closing in on one century after his death, he remains one of the most highly regarded coaches in football history.
Minimum Bid $100.
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 Lot 268. “Illustrated Football Annual” Complete Run of 24 Issues, 1930-53. Forget the huge volume of quality photographs in each issue and the excellent articles by staff and guest writers such as Walter Camp and John Heisman. The covers alone are worth a strong bid for these annuals, which provide some of the best coverage ever of college football. Issues contain either 72 or 96 pages. All but five issues have been bound in four hardcover volumes: 1930-35, 1936-41, 1945-47 and 1948-51. These magazines have been trimmed by about 5/16” top-to-bottom to fit the hardcover format. Covers through 1941 feature illustrations. Frank Sinkwich adorns the 1942 cover, and later subjects include Herm Wedemeyer, Bobby Layne, Chuck Bednarik and Les Richter. The pages of the hardbound issues generally are nm. Most covers in these issues are ex-m or better. The 1930 cover is vg-ex; 1934 f-g; and 1945 and 1947, ex. The unbound annuals are 1942 vg-ex, 1943 ex, 1944 g+ to vg, 1952 g-vg and 1953 vg.
Winning Bid $121.
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 Lot 269. F. (Frank) Leahy Autograph on a Typed 1949 Letter to Bert Sugar. In the letter typed on Notre Dame stationery, Leahy thanks Sugar for his interest in Notre Dame and transmits a photo (not included) of the 1948 football team. A case can be made that only Knute Rockne, who coached Leahy as a player, was more successful as a college football coach. His career record is 107-13-9. He won national championships at Boston College in 1940 and at Notre Dame in 1943, 1946, 1947 and 1949. He was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1970. Leahy died in 1973. His signature is nm-m 8 and authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $50.
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 Lot 307. Impressive Print Signed by 53 Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 1970s Dynasty. This 23” x 39” Wayne Prokopiak lithograph was autographed by Steelers’ stars and support players alike at the 1999 “Team of the Decade Reunion Weekend” in Pittsburgh. In includes Lynn Swann, who did not sign some of these prints because of a contract dispute with the promoter. The sharpie signatures are strong 10s by Larry Anderson, Matt Bahr, John Banaszak, Tom Beasley, Theo Bell (died 2006), Rocky Bleier, Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Ed Bradley, Larry Brown, Jim Clack (d. 2006), Robin Cole, Craig Colquitt, Dick Conn, Steve Coursin (d. 2005), Bennie Cunningham, Gary Dunn, Glen Edwards, Frenchy Fuqua, Steve Furness (died 2000), Reggie Garrett, Roy Gerela, Joe Greene, L. C. Greenwood (d. 2013), Randy Grossman, Jack Ham, Terry Hanratty, Franco Harris, Reggie Harrison, Greg Hawthorne, Ernie Holmes (d. 2008), Ron Johnson, Marv Kellum, Jon Kolb, Mike Kruczek, Jack Lambert, Rick Moser, Gerry Mullins, Chuck Noll, Ted Petersen, Dave Reavis, Andy Russell, Donnie Shell, John Stallworth, Cliff Stoudt, Lynn Swann, J. T. Thomas, Sidney Thornton, Mike Wagner, Bobby Walden, Mike Webster (d. 2002), Dwight White (d. 2008) and Dwayne Woodruff. The print, No. 406 of 1,000, is professionally matted and framed to 30 ½” x 44 ½”. The autographs, generally mint 9 or gem mint 10, have been authenticated by Kevin Keating and JSA Authentication. The JSA Auction Letter of Authenticity may be exchanged for a full LoA at a discount.
Winning Bid $587.
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