October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
Offered is a pair of letters from 1951 regarding back and forth correspondence between William Heffelfinger and Alex Weyand, both three time college football All-Americans. At the time, Weyand was a sports historian and was seeking to assemble a college football “All-American” team from 1888, since naming All-American teams did not begin until 1889. Weyand wrote letters to various players from that 19th century era seeking their recollections about players and who might have been chosen. These letters include Heffelfinger’s handwritten responses to these inquiries. Both men were three-time All-American football players, with Heffelfinger playing for Walter Camp at Yale, achieving All-American honors from 1889-1891, while Weyand played at Army (with Dwight Eisenhower) and was All-American from 1913-1915. Heffelfinger was one of the first truly great college football players, and Weyand informs him that one man he already contacted rated Heffelfinger with the highest marks! After his college career, Heffelfinger was often times asked to play for club teams for important matches. In one game for Allegheny on September 12, 1892, Heffelfinger was paid $500 to play, thus becoming the first paid, professional football player. The first typed letter is dated November 16, 1951, covers two 8.5” x 11” pages, and is signed “A.M. Weyand” grading an (“8”). Heffelfinger gives a very long response to a series of questions on this letter, plus three smaller sheets on “Yale Club” letterhead, all handwritten in blue ink. However, the only Heffelfinger signature is on a torn piece of letterhead, grading a (“9”). The second typed letter from Weyand is dated, November, 29, 1951 and asks for more detailed responses to Heffelfinger’s prior remarks. Heffelfinger hand wrote his more detailed answers regarding this inquiring on both sides of this 8.5” x 11” letter, signing his name “W. Heffelfinger” twice very boldly (“both 10”) in black fountain pen on the reverse. The “A.B. Weyand” signature on this letter is penned on the front in blue ink (“8”). These letters are in excellent condition with usual folds, paper clip marks and some light edge wear. There is much discussion regarding the players and various game strategies and techniques from the extreme early days of the sport. Total of three Heffelfinger signatures. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.