This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2019
Presented is a collection of vintage football memorabilia, including signed contracts, 1950s-era magazines, game programs and photos from former National Football League defensive back and kicker Bert Rechichar (July 16, 1930 – July 19, 2019). He played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers from 1952 to 1960. He also played for the American Football League's New York Titans in 1961. While playing for the Colts in 1953, Rechichar kicked a 56-yard field goal, setting an NFL record that stood for 17 years as the longest. He was twice selected for the NFL Pro Bowl.
This collection includes 170 total 3½ x 5½ black and white postcards with a posed action photo of former NFL player Bert Rechichar that he sent to his fans with a pre-printed message promoting the Highlander De Soto automobile dealership, and 18 total 3½ x 5½ black & white postcards of Rechichar labelled “Halfback Bert Rechichar Baltimore Colts.” The collection also includes a multi-signed copy of the 1990 book “Neyland The Gridiron General” by Bob Gilbert. There are 13 signatures and inscriptions on the front-end paper, including an inscription from the author to Rechichar. The bottom edges of this book are water stained. Other items in this collection are two copies of the Autumn 1949 issue of Pic Quarterly Football Pictorial Issue, two copies of the 1950 Illustrated Football Annual, one copy of the 1951 Illustrated Football Annual, the November 1951 issue of Sports Stars magazine, the 1950 and the 1951 editions of Football Yearbook Published by True, The Men’s Magazine, two copies of the 1950 edition of Stanley Woodward’s Who’s Who in Sports, Stanley Woodward’s Football 1950, Stanley Woodward’s Football 1951, two copies of the November 1950 issue of Sport Life and one copy of the December 1951 issue of Sport Life, Street and Smith’s Football 1957 Yearbook, the 1957 and 1957 annual issues of Pro Football, Street & Smith’s All Star Sports Football Autumn 1950 Issue, the fall 1950 issue of Sports Album, the September 1957 issue of Sports Review, the 1957 issue of Professional Football Yearbook, the 1957 issue of Pro Football Stars, the November 1950 and December 1951 issues of SPORT Magazine, the September 13, 1949 and September 12, 1950 issues of LOOK Magazine, the September 16, 1950 and September 15, 1951 issues of Collier’s, and the October 8, 1956 issue of Sports Illustrated.
This collection also includes two copies of the game program for the St. Vincent vs. Waynesburg college football game of October 11, 1946, and the game program for the October 12, 1947 Steubenville College vs. St. Vincent College game. This collection also includes two copies of the game program for the August 11, 1956 Baltimore Colts vs. Philadelphia Eagles game at Hershey (Pennsylvania) Stadium, as well as copies of the game programs for the September 16, 1956 Washington Redskins vs. Baltimore Colts contest, the September 30, 1956 Chicago Bears at Baltimore Colts game, the October 6, 1956 Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Colts game, the November 11, 1956 Baltimore Colts at Cleveland Browns game, and the July 10, 1965 game between the Knoxville Bears and the Chattanooga Cherokees. Also included in this collection are the Cleveland Browns 1952 and 1953 “Official Press – Radio -TV Guide” books. There is also a four-page pamphlet program for the Colt Nite 1956 Player Preview event on August 6, 1956 in Baltimore.
Also included in this collection is an 8 x 10-inch black & white posed publicity photo of Bert Rechichar, and a 7 x 9-inch color team photo of the 1954 Baltimore Colts produced as a promotional flyer for the Gunther Brewing Co. There is also an 8 x 10-inch black & white team photo of an unnamed college football team, and a multi-signed 8 x 10-inch black & white aerial photo of an unidentified football stadium. There is also a 12 x 20-inch black & white photo poster of the “All Star Football Squad 1952”. Among the documents included in this collection are Bert Rechichar’ s 1957 and 1959 contracts with the Baltimore Colts, signed by National Football League Commissioner Bert Bell in blue pen, including separate pages with by-laws and letterhead, as well as his 1965 contract with the Knoxville (Tennessee) Bears. Also included are two copies of the Knoxville Bears 1965 Annual Budget.