October Legends and Americana Ending November 14th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2015
With his mop of curly blond hair, Fred "Curly" Morrison was the star of the first televised Rose Bowl. Morrison led his Ohio State to victory over the University of California where his 119 yards rushing earned him the 1950 Rose Bowl MVP Award. The Chicago Bears snatched up Morrison in the first round on the 1950 draft but it wasn't until his trade to Cleveland four seasons later that he became a legend. In each of his three years in Cleveland the Browns won the NFL championship. 1955 was Morrison's best, capped off by winning the very first Pro Football Player of the Year Award. Just like baseball, in the early years of pro football there were several entities that awarded player of the year awards. In 1955 it was the Touchdown Club of Columbus' turn to take up the task of selecting the best player and Curly Morrison was that man. The award is an 8 1/2" x 12" silver platter engraved with "Pro Football Player of the Year Award Fred "Curly" Morrison 1956 Cleveland Browns Presented by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Inc." The award shows nice even use from being prominently displayed by Morrison. The silver surface is slightly tarnished from age as would be expected and the engraving is still clear and easily read. A stunningly rare award from the early days of pro football.