It's Football Season! Show your vintage football memorabilia

[ramram]

In honor of football season, how about sharing your vintage football items (let's stick with memorabilia rather than cards since we're on the memorabilia side over here).

I'll start it off with an photo I picked up a few weeks ago.

I recently came across what appeared to be a pretty neat image of a football team albeit in rough condition. As you can see, the picture was fairly large and was in a frame and had considerable dirt/mold within it.

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As I began to clean it up, it became apparent that this was the Homestead Library Athletic Club team of 1900. This was one of the earliest professional teams in existence and in spite of the odd sounding name, they were the best football team in the world and were considered the national champions in 1900 and 1901, going undefeated and unscored on in 1900. This team played at Pittsburgh’s Exposition Park and was loaded with All-Americans. The team was paid by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minority owner William Chase Temple. Players were paid between $50 - $100 per game plus expenses.

As I further cleaned it, I was thrilled to notice that the players were identified along with their prior college affiliation or hometown. The players included Art Poe, wearing a very early harness helmet (one of the six Poe brothers to play football and brother of the Poe that is in the Mayo Cut Plug set) and also Dave Fultz, kneeling far right, who played major league baseball (see 1902 Sporting Life Cabinet set and 1903 E107 Breisch Williams set).

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Player’s identification are: Top Row – Pete Overfield (Univ. of Penn.), Arthur “Artie” Miller (Carlisle Indian School), Farr (Homestead, PA), Church (Princeton), Bemus Pierce (Carlisle), Hibbard (Univ. of Cin.), Brooke (Penn.), McNulty (Notre Dame), Winstein (Woods Run, PA), Lawich? (Braddock, PA), Bottom Row – John Hall (Yale), Arthur “Art” Poe (Princeton), John Ashley “Daff” Gammons (Brown), Lewis (Bucknell), Willis “Little” Richardson (Brown), George Young (Cornell), Otto Wagenhurst (Univ. of Penn.), David Lewis Fultz (Brown).

Watermark Photo 1.jpg

The team folded after the 1901 season. Reportedly the 1900 and 1901 seasons were two of the rainiest seasons on record which prevented much of the fan base from attending (notice how muddy the lower half of the player’s uniforms are in the photo which was taken on the field of play). However, many of the players joined the Pittsburgh Star’s team in 1902 (Christy Mathewson played on this team) which was part of the first professional football league, the NFL.

Rob M

[baseball tourist]

Great photo and excellent history behind it! Love the jerseys and the nose guard .

[Bumpus Jones]

Nice work and nice photo Rob!

Yes, there was an NFL team in Cincinnati also called the Cincinnati Reds. They only lasted about a year and a half before folding and heading to St. Louis and changing their name to the Gunners. Here are some mementos from their brief existence. If anyone else has anything relating to this team, please let me know... Thanks.

[Fballguy]

A football thread...I love it! Started by someone named "ramram" no less. So I have to ask...Are you a Rams fan (like me)?

I'll try to get some pics posted tonight.

[murphusa]

Found today Sitting on curb with other trash 10" weighs 7 lbs

[ramram]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

A football thread...I love it! Started by someone named "ramram" no less. So I have to ask...Are you a Rams fan (like me)?

I'll try to get some pics posted tonight.

No, but I'm a "Rob" like you, lol. Chiefs fan here!

Rob M

[Bill Rayburn]

Here are some of my football prints.

[Bill Rayburn]

A few more.

[effe]

1913 Milwaukee Normal School (now UW-Milwaukee)


1931 Packers/Dodgers ticket


1933 Packers/Giants program (only Packers home game ever played at Milwaukee's Borchert Field)

[perezfan]

WOW... amazing stuff, everyone. Bill... What an incredible collection of Football Prints.... just insane!

Here is a pretty cool early figural piece.... the original circa 1880 prototype statue used to create the Walter Camp Award. Perhaps not as iconic as the Heisman, but they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

[Huysmans]

Hey Mark,

I love it! Its visually stunning.
Do you know the artist?

[Bill Rayburn]

Great piece Mark...I assume by being a "prototype" it is one of a kind? And thanks for the comments on the prints

[perezfan]

Perhaps "prototype" was the wrong word. Although I've never seen another example, I suppose others were likely made. Maybe it was a popular figural piece in its day. Not sure how many (if any) others have survived, but it's got to be a very small number.

The materials, style and construction of the statue are strikingly similar to the Muller Baseball Statues of 1868 (Pitcher and Striker). I do not know the artist, or how this piece was selected to be the subject of the Walter Camp Award. I haven't taken the time to do the research. But regardless, it's pretty amazing that this same figural is still in use to this day.

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by perezfan

The materials, style and construction of the statue are strikingly similar to the Muller Basdball Statues of 1868 (Pitcher and Striker). I do not know the artist, or how this piece was selected to be the subject of the Walter Camp Awatd. I haven't taken the time to do the research. But regardless, it's pretty amazing that this same figural is still in use to this day.

Only a matter of time until somebody objects to the all white subjects depicted on the trophy and they replace it with something more race ambiguous.

Just kidding (but sadly I wouldn't be shocked)...Great piece Mark.

Rob

[yankeesjetsfan]

Great stuff guys. I'll throw up some pics of my few vintage Jets items later in the week.

Mike

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by Bill Rayburn

A few more.

Fantastic prints collection Bill, Love it!

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

Fantastic prints collection Bill, Love it!

I have the one of the player in red football sweater with the ball tucked under his arm...talking to the girl under the goalpost. I believe it's titled "the goal". Have it packed away since my last move. Haven't checked it out in a while. Do you have any history on that one?

[Bill Rayburn]

Thanks Joe, Rob I don't have additional info on that piece. I have seen it cropped and in different publications. Most that I have seen have the title you mentioned.

[Showdawg]

Just obtained this.....:-)

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Showdawg

Just obtained this.....:-)

Very, very cool! You going to wear it for luck when you watch your Browns?

[Showdawg]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

Very, very cool! You going to wear it for luck when you watch your Browns?

No way....hope to get it signed very soon

[antiquefootball]

Most of my collection is game-used football equipment and uniforms from the turn-of-the-century. Here's my top memorabilia piece, an 1896 Michigan trophy football from their 6-4 victory over Minnesota that might be the game ball. Here's a link to a story I wrote about the ball last year.

http://www.antiquefootball.com/aom/aom_aug16.htm

[cmoore330]

Originally Posted by Bill Rayburn

Here are some of my football prints.

That print collection is incredible! Thank you for sharing, and please leave a few for the rest of us!

[cfhofer]

Chris,

That ball is phenomenal! Your website is such a treat to go through. All your articles are nicely researched too. Quite a unique piece of early football memorabilia. Thanks for sharing your collection with the rest of us.

Mark

[ramram]

Great looking football and back story. I always enjoy your site as well.

Rob M

[Duluth Eskimo]

I rarely share my collection, but early football stuff is near and dear for me. He is a little early Minnesota pro football stuff.

[Duluth Eskimo]

And a little Gopher football love with our only Heisman Trophy winner. This is a 1941 team signed football with rare Heisman notation

[Duluth Eskimo]

Another tougher Minnesota item

[Duluth Eskimo]

A great photo of Grange at Minnesota.

[ramram]

Outstanding collection Jason!

I'm guessing you're not a big fan of Chris's 1896 football.

Rob M

[antiquefootball]

Originally Posted by cfhofer

Chris,

That ball is phenomenal! Your website is such a treat to go through. All your articles are nicely researched too. Quite a unique piece of early football memorabilia. Thanks for sharing your collection with the rest of us.

Mark

Thanks Mark!

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by ramram

Outstanding collection Jason!

I'm guessing you're not a big fan of Chris's 1896 football.

Rob M

Yes, that football is off the charts. I wish I could afford it. I have seen it before and it makes me salivate. BTW, Chris' collection is absolutely incredible.

I do have a 1917 game ball versus Chicago that is signed by two time All American Bert Baston as well as a 1935-36 Ray Antil leather helmet signed by the 1935-36 team with Bud Wilkinson and other national champs from 34-36. I actually bought that from another board member (thanks Jeff P).

There are other things I would like, but my collection is vast and varied and my wallet is not thick enough to compete with some of the big boys for all the great stuff out there.

[Fballguy]

WOW...It's all I can say...about everything. Really enjoy seeing these. Please keep them coming.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Jason that is a wonderful collection and the way you have it displayed is magnificent. What is the approximate date of the red Duluth pennant? I have a similar pennant for my Alma-mater Henderson-Brown College in Arkansas.

[seattlerainiers]

Here are a few:

1. Game ball from 1919 U of W/Cal game
2. Christy Walsh football humidor signed by Rockne, Warner and Jones.

[jsage]

Jason -
Great stuff and excellent presentation.
Well done.
Jerry sage

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Jason that is a wonderful collection and the way you have it displayed is magnificent. What is the approximate date of the red Duluth pennant? I have a similar pennant for my Alma-mater Henderson-Brown College in Arkansas.

Thanks for the compliment. The answer to your question is going to start arguement. I would contend this is a Duluth Eskimos pennant. Others would disagree as I too have seen many pennants like this with most of them being college which dominated in those days. Pro football was barbaric until guys like Nevers and Grange made it ok to most.

I paid quite a bit for this pennant at auction a number of years ago so, other than shill bidding, at least one other person agrees with me. The college in Duluth was an all girls teaching college until 1929 and only then opened to men and had some type of football program. I highly doubt a program like this would have put out such a nice pennant like this. Also, I grew up in Duluth and have been collecting / dealing for over 30 years and have never seen another.

Adding to that, I believe this pennant originated from the east coast and the Eskimos were a mainly traveling team which took them out east. I have seen an exact match for New York (blue I think). Again, this doesn't prove anything but Nevers brought huge crowds along with Grange to the east coast games.

Doesn't matter either way to me because it is what it is to me. Others will disagree, including Dave Bushing, but I don't care. I am extremely knowledgeable in vintage pennants and I was comfortable enough with to shell out well for it when I bought it from Lelands.

I am hoping to see more vintage football items as the site is dominated by baseball, which I also like. Just good to see some football now and then.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

I rarely share my collection, but early football stuff is near and dear for me. He is a little early Minnesota pro football stuff.

Great collection and so wonderfully displayed! That Gopher display cabinet is one of the nicest things I have seen. Thanks for sharing Jason.

This is a great thread!!

[ramram]

I posted this one a few months ago but will do it again just for the sake of this thread. I picked up a group of original photos of Kenny Washington who re-integrated the NFL in 1946. This is an autographed photo of him as he prepared for the 1940 College All-Star game against the NFL Champion Packer's team. At UCLA he played in the backfield with Jackie Robinson.

Rob M

KW Photo Group (1).jpg

[cfhofer]

Hey Guys,

This is one of my favorite pieces. It is a framed collage of original cabinet photos of the Championship 1893 Princeton Football Team, along with two banquet menus. One of the menus was signed by the entire team on the reverse. This banquet at the Princeton Inn was held two weeks after their historic victory over Yale. There are nine individuals from the 1894 Mayo Cut Plug set included here.

[CarltonHendricks]

[QUOTE=cfhofer;1694948]Hey Guys,

This is one of my favorite pieces. It is a framed collage of original cabinet photos of the Championship 1893 Princeton Football Team, along with two banquet menus. One of the menus was signed by the entire team on the reverse. This banquet at the Princeton Inn was held two weeks after their historic victory over Yale. There are nine individuals from the 1894 Mayo Cut Plug set included here.

Wow....well done!!!

[Duluth Eskimo]

That's a really nice Princeton piece.

[CarltonHendricks]

I'll post something different than most...I don't do much with high school football but these pieces had me...This Lick High School vs Seattle High School broadside was interesting from the get go as it took place about seven months after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake...I got it from Keith Schneider of Gasoline Alley Antiques in Seattle about 25-30 years ago...Keith was kind of a mentor to me when I was just getting going in collecting...Below a shot of a younger and thinner me twenty years ago at his house in Seattle buying a bronze from him...



http://sportsantiques.com/1895_bridg..._broadside.htm
Below is another High School Championship football broadside...this one from Connecticut...I sort of had to get this one because I now have championship high school football posters from both coasts...I did a story on this, link above...in which I brought out a lot of the background of the teams....HOWEVER...the most incredible thing happened about 3/4 the way thru writing the story...The question kept circling....where would the Yale Cup trophy be today...was it trashed...was it discarded into a trash heap in the 1950's...was it in someone's attic...in a trunk in a basement...had it already hit the market and sold in Legendary...Heritage...bla bla yada yada...Well...I FOUND IT!!!!!!...and you can see it in the story and read about how I found it there....

http://sportsantiques.com/1895_bridg..._broadside.htm

http://sportsantiques.com/1895_bridg..._broadside.htm

[cfhofer]

Wonderful well researched article. Fantastic broadside! Thanks for sharing Carlton.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Come on guys. If we can't keep this thread going for more than a week, I guess football should go back to the closet aka water cooler side. Here's some more Minnesota related items.

Joe Guyon is a Minnesota guy and this signed photo is one of my favorites.

I took a better photo of this Eskimos letterhead. Love this one too.

Lastly, this Gophers / Badgers print with both dressed in football gear.

[antiquefootball]

Here's a link to a story I just finished on the Pottsville Maroons and the rediscovery of their 1924 Anthracite League trophy at the 2017 National. It's a pretty incredible piece of pro football history.

http://www.antiquefootball.com/pottsville_maroons.htm

Chris
www.antiquefootball.com

[cfhofer]

Chris,

Amazing trophy and fantastic article.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by antiquefootball

Here's a link to a story I just finished on the Pottsville Maroons and the rediscovery of their 1924 Anthracite League trophy at the 2017 National. It's a pretty incredible piece of pro football history.

It actually wasn't rediscovered at the National, Chris. I was the underbidder for it on ebay about one week before the National. I showed up at the Natty a day after it sold again there so missed it twice in a week :-(

jeff

[pgellis]

Here you go...

[pgellis]

Some more...