1946 Cleveland Browns "Sears" Team Set

[TanksAndSpartans]

Motley has long been one of my favorite players (this goes back to when I was a kid and read about him - I picked up a library book about football and read his chapter - it was my first exposure to NFL history and I never forgot it).

The only source I've ever found on the vehicular homicide conviction is from a writer named Dan Daly - the book is called "The National forgotten league". I never read it, but excerpts were published for promotional reasons and can be found online. I suspect there are some good stories in there, but I guess personally I wasn't excited about it because the Motley part has a bit too much of a tabloid feel to it. The story explains that Motley tried to pass a car by driving into the opposite lane and crashed head on into an oncoming car. I believe it was nighttime and that's about the extent of the details provided.

I had found the exclusion of Motley and Willis suspicious and disappointing, but in fairness, I think 1946 was the AAFC's first season. Otto Graham was a star at Northwestern and drafted by the Lions, but beyond him, not sure anyone else could've been projected to be a star before the season started.

P.S. On a brighter note, this was a great thread to read - I wasn't here the first time around, and this was a set I always found interesting since it arguably contains "rookie" cards of Graham and Dante Lavelli.

P.S.S. Speaking of AAFC collectables, there isn't anything on Spec Sanders, right?

Huge Motley fan as well and have done some research on the car accident, March 24, 1940. An interesting sidenote were the passengers in the car w/Motley; 1939 Reno Mountain Eagles baseball teammates Ralph Turner and Eddie Claxton (son of Jimmy Claxton). A decent ballplayer Motley played outfield and pitched for the black baseball team in Reno, the Dixie Club 1940-41, as well as integrated the Verdi, Nevada amateur baseball team for a few games in 1940. Eddie was an outstanding Reno High School/semi-professional baseball player (pitcher/firstbaseman), and freshman at University of Nevada at Reno. Motley separated his shoulder, Turner escaped with scrapes, and Claxtons' left wrist was shattered which ended his baseball career.

In regards to Willis, it is simply incredible that a player can have a 10 year Hall of Fame career and not have a football card until 20 years after his retirement from the gridiron...

[TanksAndSpartans]

Thanks Ty for the additional info - so the vehicular homicide was a case of aggressive driving? Nothing more to it than doing something stupid at the wrong moment and paying a high price?

I finished Otto Graham's bio recently and subjectively, I'd say Willis was the player Graham spoke most highly of in the parts of the book that were his quotes.

It sounds strange for a HOFer to be underrated, but this is probably a case of that - I've never heard Willis come in conversations of great linebackers. I believe technically he was a "middle guard", but to me that's basically the precursor for the middle linebacker, although I believe a big part of what he did was rush the passer - I honestly never researched him - now I'm curious to check the PFRA archives....

It seems that Motley attempted to pass a car on a two lane highway. The driver of the car being overtaken sped up, and would not allow the car Motley was driving to merge safely in front of him.

A family of six Japanese laborers in what was described as a "jalopy" coming the opposite direction were hit head on by Motley's vehicle. Ted Nobori, 60, was killed and two other Nobori family members seriously injured. The driver of the third vehicle was never found or identified.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by DezHood

P.S. On a brighter note, this was a great thread to read - I wasn't here the first time around, and this was a set I always found interesting since it arguably contains "rookie" cards of Graham and Dante Lavelli.

And HOFer Frank Gatski! This is a great set that is a must have for anybody who collects AAFC memorabilia or pre-rookie cards of HOFers.

With Jon's discover of the Yonakor, it's very possible there was a second sheet that was created either for promotional purposes or just never distributed. I don't know that we will every know for sure.

jeff

[TanksAndSpartans]

Thanks Ty for the additional info on Motley - since the incident was mentioned, I'm glad we added the context.

Jeff, how rare are these? Unless I'm misreading, we only have about 5 examples of each in PSA holders?

http://www.psacard.com/psasetregistr...e.aspx?c=10999

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by DezHood

Thanks Ty for the additional info on Motley - since the incident was mentioned, I'm glad we added the context.

Jeff, how rare are these? Unless I'm misreading, we only have about 5 examples of each in PSA holders?

http://www.psacard.com/psasetregistr...e.aspx?c=10999

Rare! Many of the five graded sets out there came from the same Browns collector who had multiple sets that he sold off. My bet is there's at least that many sets raw / in uncut sheets but probably not more than a total pop of 15-20 out there for each card.

jeff

[TanksAndSpartans]

Thanks Jeff.

[jp1216]

Just seeing if anyone picked up any nice AAFC items from the 2015 National.
Now 5 of these Browns '46 sets have now been graded/authenticated by PSA?

Am I crazy that every one of these has been graded/authenticated as a complete set? I can't imagine that after all these years not a single/separate card has been graded. Always all 8 at a time.

Still a mystery set. Not a lot of information out there.

[jefferyepayne]

Didn't get them at the National but recently snagged a few of the Sohio Cleveland Browns premiums from 1949.





Here's my list of AAFC football cards/premiums. There isn't a lot out there from the AAFC ... what else is on your list? We should start a thread on AAFC items. I have some vintage photos as well.

1946 Sears Browns
1948 Colts Matchbooks
1949 Silbers Bakery Colts
1949 Sohio Browns premiums

[jp1216]

Just bumping this from last year. I picked up a nice Type 1? '46 Gatski press photo. First one I've been able to get from the '46 Browns Sears set of 8. This set still fascinates me. Haven't seen any become available in years. Zero. The Yonakor card still puzzles me.

[davemri]

Nice.. I have the PSA 4

[jp1216]

^^ Thanks for sharing! That card looks great.

What are your thoughts on these? Compare the font with my posts #7 & #8.