Winter 2014 Auction Closing Feb 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2014
Frank Gifford lives a stars life when he played on the gridiron. He was a star running back at Southern Cal, was drafted by the New York Giants 11th overall in 1952, and was a two-way player early in his career. Eventually elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977, no Giants player will ever wear #16 again. Gifford's status as football star afforded him perks such as custom made items, such as this late 1950s sideline jacket. The snap-closure blue jacket with red trim has the white felt interlocking "NY" on the left breast. Within the left pocket are three tags, the "Thorp Sporting Goods", "Bur-Mil Galey & Lord" and "Milium" all manufacturer and distributor tags. Below that is a white strip tag with typed lettering "GIFFORD 6-1 198 42" indicating height, weight and size. This is a first we have seen for this type of tagging, another indication this jacket was custom made for Frank Gifford. While game used jerseys from this era are seen here and there within auctions, it is extremely rare to see a sideline jacket, especially one custom made for such a star player. This jacket remains in very good condition with the usual wear along the cuffs and collar, dirt stains and a small hole in the fabric near the NY. In addition, there is significant wear along the snap closures with all having been pulled away from the fabric. Inside lining is damaged by neck wear indicates more than one season's use. Despite these small issues, this jacket displays very well, and is virtually a one-of-a-kind item.
Jacket matches 1958 Getty photo showing Tom Landry wearing an identical jacket with an interlocking "NY" logo identical to that on the Gifford, with a logo like the New york Yankees cap and home jersey logo. Later photos of similar jackets (1962 and 1965) show the NY insignia to be patterned after the Mets cap logo. Comes with LOA from Grey Flannel, and LOA from Dave Miedema.