Presented is a lot of over 40 signed and unsigned original photographs and letters, among other items, from the collection of former Cleveland Browns standout Alex Agase. Items include signatures of Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler and others. The first item in this lot is a two-page typewritten letter to Agase from Cleveland Browns coach and General Manager Paul Brown, dated April 16, 1951 on Cleveland Browns letterhead. Brown has signed his name on page two in black pen. The second item in this lot is a two-page typewritten letter to Agase from Cleveland Browns coach and General Manager Paul Brown, dated April 19, 1950 on Cleveland Browns letterhead. Brown has signed his name on page two in black pen. There are brown stains on both pages of the letter. The third item in this lot is a typewritten letter to Agase from National Football League Commissioner Bert Bell, dated December 17, 1952. Bell has signed his name in black pen. The letter is accompanied by a handwritten and typewritten envelope with tears along the top edge.  The fourth item in this lot is a Woody Hayes signature and inscription on a 9 ½ x 12-inch black & white photo of Hayes and Agase together at an event. Hayes has inscribed “To Alex Agase, A good friend and a great coach – a man who never dodged the real issues. I shall miss your support over Big Ten problems. Cordially, Woody” in black marker in the center of the photo, which is stamped in black on the back “July 31, 1975” and “Chicago Tribune Photo by Phil Mascione.”

The fifth item in this lot is a 7 x 8 ½ -inch black & white photograph of Agase, at left, posed with Hollywood film star Elizabeth Scott (holding a football at center) and football coach Ray Eliot. The photo is glued to a brown corrugated cardboard backing, with caption in blue pen and the date “Jan 1947.” The sixth item in this lot is a Bo Schembechler signature and inscription on a first edition hardcover copy of “Bo – Life, laughs, and lessons of a college football legend” by Schembechler and sportswriter Mitch Albom. Schembechler has inscribed “To Mike – Best wishes to one of the Agases – My favorite family – hope things are going well Mike, I’m looking after Daddy – Good Luck, Bo Schembechler 12/18/19” in black pen on the first interior page of the 1989 autobiography of the former Michigan football coach. The seventh item in this lot is a Purdue University contract with Agase for his job as Head Football Coach from December 18, 1972 to December 31, 1976. Agase has signed his name in blue pen in the lower right corner of the contract. The eighth item in this lot is a Sparky Anderson signature and inscription in black marker on an 8 x 10-inch color photograph of the Hall of Fame Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers manager posed with Agase in golf clothes. Anderson has inscribed “To Alex, thanks for always being a good friend. Sparky”. The ninth item in this lot is an Art Donovan signature and inscription on an 8 x 10-inch color posed publicity photo of the Pro Football Hall of Famer. Donovan has inscribed, in blue marker, “To Alex & Norma You are one of my all-time favorites God Bless Arthur.” The 10th item in this lot is an Eddie Olczyk signature and inscription on an 8 x 10-inch color publicity photo of the Chicago Blackhawks star. Olczyk has inscribed “To the Produce Pro Michael at Marianos Thanks Eddie Olczyk” in black marker.

The 11th item in this lot is a 5 x 7-inch black and white photograph of Agase with Oscar-winning actor, television and recording star Bing Crosby. Other items in this lot include an 8 x 10-inch black & white photograph of Agase signing a football for Hollywood film star Alan Ladd, an 8 x 10-inch black & white photo of Agase posed with Broadway legend Carol Channing. This lot also includes a black & white 8 x 10-inch photograph of Agase celebrating on field with a Purdue football player, and a black & white 10 x 13-inch photo of Agase coaching on the sidelines at Northwestern University. Additionally, this lot includes a typewritten letter to Agase from Eastern Michigan University president James. H. Buckley dated February 8, 1977, a typewritten letter to Agase from Eastern Michigan University vice president Gary D. Hawks dated November 29, 1977, and a typewritten letter to Agase from college football broadcaster Bud Wilkinson dated October 1, 1973. The lot includes a handwritten letter to Agase from October 1943, and two typewritten pages from December 1952 related to National Football League expenses, one page on NFL letterhead. The lot includes 17 8 x 10-inch black & white photographs of Agase and others from his playing and coaching careers, a 10 ½ x 14-inch black & white photograph of Agase in uniform from his college football playing days at Purdue, and a 10 x 14-inch document of Agase’s appointment as First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve dated June 15, 1949. This lot comes with a LOA from the Alex Agase Family and has also has been Pre-Certified by Beckett Authentication.

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