Lot 480. Circa 1925 Intercollegiate Foot Ball Tin Litho Game by Hustler Toy Corporation. The spinner is in good working order on this classic game, which features attractive football graphics. One wire that extends across the field is absent, and some indentations are present. A letter signed by Mrs. Sugar is included; it verifies that this item is from Bert Sugar’s collection.
Winning Bid $61.
Lot 481. Circa 1950s “The Duke” Bert Bell Official NFL Black & White Football. In honor of New York Giants owner Wellington Mara, the NFL used footballs with “The Duke” on one panel from 1941-69. Mara was called “The Duke.” Wilson produced the footballs. This specimen is interesting because the Wilson logo has been replaced by a log for Thorp Sporting Goods Inc. of Fifth Avenue, New York. Bert Bell’s name is on the ball as the NFL commissioner, a position he held from 1945 until his death in 1959. The ball is white with black stripes. An owner’s name, which is no longer readable, is one a panel, and another may hold an autograph that his no longer discernible. The leather shows some cracking. The printed areas remain strong. Vg. A letter signed by Mrs. Sugar is included; it verifies that this item is from Bert Sugar’s collection.
Winning Bid $592.
Lot 482. Scarce New York Stars World Football League Full-Sized Pennant. The WFL lasted through the 1974 season and part of 1975, but the Stars folded before finishing their 1974 schedule. The team was relocated to Charlotte. The black, and white pennant on gold is ex. A letter signed by Mrs. Sugar is included; it verifies that this item is from Bert Sugar’s collection.
Winning Bid $45.
Lot 483. Scarce 1961 American Football League Media Guide. Representing the league’s second season, this 96-page guide provides a summary of the first AFL championship game, 1961 draft choices, team rosters and statistics for the 1960 season. The league’s first championship team, the Houston Oilers, is pictured on the back cover. The front cover shows wear, and a few pages have minor notes by Bert Sugar. Otherwise, the guide is ex. It comes with a letter of authenticity, signed by Mrs. Sugar, saying that it is from the famous writer’s collection. A letter signed by Mrs. Sugar is included; it verifies that this item is from Bert Sugar’s collection.
Winning Bid $204.
Lot 484. 9 Editions of the “Official American Football League Guide” and a League History. These guides, all from “The Sporting News,” cover nine of the 10 seasons the AFL operated. Another “TSN” publication, “American Football League Official History 1960-69” provides a comprehensive overview of the league. Edited by Harold Rosenthal, this softcover is relatively scarce. Ex+. The 1964 guide is g-vg; 1967 vg (name on front); 1962, 1965 and 1968 vg-ex; 1963 vg+ to ex; 1965 and 1966, ex-m and 1969 nm. A letter signed by Mrs. Sugar is included; it verifies that these items are from Bert Sugar’s collection.
Winning Bid $366.
Lot 485. 24 “National Football League Record Manuals,” 1963-83, and 3 Team Manuals. These annuals, from the reference library and estate of Bert Sugar, offer information on the preceding season, trades, statistics, league records and much more. The format is approximately 5’ x 7”. The 1963-69 issues are perfect-bound with the page count ranging from 200-270. From 1970-83, the manuals are “official” publications, spiral-bound with 330-400 pages. The 1963-74 editions have photo covers. These volumes average vg-ex. The three team “Record and Rules Manuals” are for Detroit 1958, Baltimore 1960 and Philadelphia 1961. These teams were NFL champions in the preceding season. Twenty-seven manuals. A letter signed by Mrs. Sugar is included; it verifies that these items are from Bert Sugar’s collection.
Winning Bid $50.
Lot 486. 16 National Football League Media Information Books, 1970-83 and 1985. From the estate of Bert Randolph Sugar, these annuals provide a week-by-week summary of NFL games, key statistics for each team in the preceding season and rosters for the current season. Each Information Book is spiral-bound. For 1970-73, the NFL issued separate books for AFC and NFC teams. Beginning in 1974, they are combined into a single book. This collection has AFC Information Books for 1970-73, NFC books for 1971-73 and combined books for 1974-76 and 1979-83. The combination books contain at least 160 pages. The 1970-73 books each have at least 90 pages. These annuals average vg-ex. (Pages are ex-m to nm, some with notations by Sugar). These scarce NFL annuals come with a letter of authenticity, signed by Mrs. Sugar, saying they are from the Bert Sugar collection. A letter signed by Mrs. Sugar is included; it verifies that these items are from Bert Sugar’s collection.
Minimum Bid $50.
Lot 487. “TSN” 1972-81 “Football Registers,” 1973-75 “National Football Guides” and More. Cover subjects of the “Registers” include Terry Bradshaw, Fran Tarkenton, Bert Jones and Walter Payton. Their condition ranges from vg-ex to nm and averages ex+. Each volume contains the career statistics of players active in the previous season. The “National Football Guides” have covers with Mercury Morris, Larry Csonka and Franco Harris. Vg-ex (1974) to nm (1973). The guides have summaries of each game played during the preceding season and extensive statistics. Also, “Sporting News” “Super Bowl Books” for 1981 and 1985. Vg-ex. These softcovers summarize each Super Bowl, list everyone who ever played in the game and provide a summary of the NFL Championship games beginning in 1933. Fifteen publications. A letter signed by Mrs. Sugar is included; it verifies that these items are from Bert Sugar’s collection.
Minimum Bid $20.
Lot 488. 1984 and 1985 Editions of the “USFL Guide and Register” by “The Sporting News.” From 1983 through 1985, the United States Football League offered a spring-summer schedule for football fanatics. The league attracted Heisman Trophy winners and future NFL stars such as Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie, Reggie White, Jim Kelly, Steve Young and Gary Zimmerman. The “Sporting News” annuals provide detailed information on the league’s first two seasons. The 1984 publication is vg+ to ex, and the 1985, ex+. Both are from the estate of Bert Randolph Sugar and come with a letter of authenticity signed by Mrs. Sugar.
Winning Bid $20.
Lot 553. Pro, College Football Books, Programs and Periodicals – Raiders, Bears, Super Bowl, Etc. One program is from Super Bowl XVI, vg+ to ex, and two from Super Bowl XLI, ex-m. Three programs are from Chicago Bears games, 1998 vs. Jacksonville, one page loose, vg; 1999 vs. Seattle, vg+, and 2007 vs. Denver, ex. Two softcover books focus on the Oakland Raiders: “Crowning Glories: The Raiders Three Super Bowl Triumphs,” 1986, ex-m, and “Will to Win: The First Five Years in Los Angeles 1982-1986”, 1987, nm. College football is the subject of Duke’s 1998 yearbook, vg-ex, and six Indiana State programs, one from 1979 and five the same from 1989, ex to nm. Six periodicals have football covers: “Sport,” Sept. 1999, Keyshawn Johnson cover, p-f, and Oct. 1999, Brett Favre cover, ex; and “The Sporting News,” Aug. 27, 1984 (Texas U.); Dec. 10 1984 (Eric Dickerson); Jan. 7, 1985 (Dolphins); Jan. 14, 1985, and Jan. 21, 1985 (Joe Montana). The “TSN” issues are folded horizontally, and the issue with Montana on the cover has a 2.5” tear. Twenty-two publications. Three signed “Property of Thomas Edward John” labels come with these publications. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs.
Winning Bid $15.
Lot 607. Rare 1938 Cincinnati Bengals Program Featuring NFL Players. These Bengals were a short-lived entry in two versions of the American Football League (1937 and 1940-41) and the Midwest Football League (1939). In 1938, the team competed as an independent team. The 12-page program, including covers, is vg with one horizontal and one vertical fold. It’s for a game with the Chicago Gunners. At least three players had NFL careers – Alton “Blond Blizzard” Owen and Connie Mack Berry of the Bengals and Ed Skoronski of the Gunners. The Bengals’ coach, Dana M. King, is pictured on the cover. He coached also at the University of Cincinnati. Five Bengals players, including Owen, are pictured inside.
Winning Bid $30.
Lot 608. 4 Florida Gators Football Programs, 1953, 1954 and 1974. The programs are 1953 vs. Georgia Tech, vg; 1954 vs. Miami, vg+, and Mississippi State, vg-ex; and 1974 vs. Duke, ex. Rick Casares is pictured as one of the Gators captains in the 1953 program. The 1953 Gators finished 3-5-2; 1954, 5-5; and 1974, 8-4.
Winning Bid $20.
Lot 609. 15 University of Illinois Football Programs, 1960-76. Among Illini opponents in this period were Notre Dame, Ohio State and UCLA. These programs average vg-ex. 1960: West Virginia and Ohio State programs. 1961: Washington and Northwestern. 1964: UCLA. 1965: Purdue. 1967: Pitt (future major league pitcher Doc Medich is pictured as a member of the Pitt team) and Notre Dame. 1968: Ohio State. 1969: Washington State, Iowa State and Iowa. 1970: Ohio State. 1971: Northwestern. 1976: Michigan State.
Winning Bid $35.
Lot 610. “1961 Official Denver Bears Magazine.” Long before the Colorado Rockies, Detroit’s Triple-A franchise played in the Mile High City. Sandy Amoros, J. W. Porter, Fred Gladding, Dick McAuliffe and Ron Nischwitz are among the players pictured in this 24-page publication. The back cover shows glue and minor damage from residence in a scrapbook; otherwise, the publication is ex-m.
Winning Bid $35.
Lot 611. 14 Hardback Football Books from the Random House Punt, Pass and Kick Library. Written from 1965-75 for young adults, each book has a photograph on the cover and at least 144 pages inside. Published without a dust jacket, these books average vg+ to ex. The pages are generally ex-m or better. The books in the series are numbered, and we have listed the number, the title and the author. 1. 2. “Great Quarterbacks of the NFL” by Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Anderson. Owner’s name inside. Johnny Unitas cover. 3. Green Bay Packers-New York Giants cover. 4. “Heroes of the NFL” by Jack Hand, damaged front cover, ex-m interior. 5. Jim Brown cover. 7. 8. “Strange But True Football Stories,” Zander Hollander, two copies. 9. Gayle Sayers cover. 10. Bart Starr cover. 13. 14. 15. 23. “O. J. Simpson” by Ray Hill. Except for the Simpson book, all of the books are from 1971 or earlier.
Minimum Bid $25.
