Summer Premium Live and Catalog Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/27/2017
Dick Plasman, "the last man to play without a helmet in an NFL game," was one of the last of the free-spirited wild men in football and is listed by Bleacher Report as one of the 40 toughest players in NFL history. Plasman once ran into a brick wall during a game at Wrigley Wall without wearing a helmet, was carried off semi-conscience and his first words were, "Did we score?" Plasman was also an original member of "Monsters of the Midway.”
In the 1940 NFL Championship game, Plasman, playing for the then Chicago Bears, was the only player not wearing a helmet. Plasman, who played at Vanderbilt University and was their captain in 1936, played for the Chicago Bears from 1937-1942 and then served in World War II. Upon his return from military service, he rejoined the Chicago Bears in 1944 and then played for the Cardinals in 1946 and 1947. He later became an assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers 1950-1952 and ended his career in the NFL as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers 1952-1962.
Presented here is a 14k gold charm that was presented to Plasman when he was a running back for the Chicago Cardinals’ squad during their 1947 championship season. The team consisted of the “Million Dollar Backfield” of Elmer Angsman, Charley Trippi, Paul Christman, and Pat Harder. The ‘47 Cardinals finished with a 9-3 record and went on to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Championship. The Cardinals played their home games at Comiskey Park and that is where they hosted the NFL Championship game where they defeated Philadelphia 28-21.
This football-shaped gold charm is approximately 1-inch long. The raised words “CHICAGO CARDINALS” are set above the raised laces of the football with the year 1947 set outside the laces. The words “WORLD CHAMPIONS” are set in raised type below the laces and “DICK PLASMAN” is engraved below the “WORLD CHAMPIONS” moniker.
This charm is in good condition and the necklace holder is still intact. This item comes with a LOA from Sharon (Plasman) Scott, the daughter of Dick Plasman, who attests in her LOA that this item has been in their family for nearly 70 years.