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ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

And It’s Good!

merican football is one of the most quartets in college football history. They were Stamped
popular sports in the United States. coached by the famous Knute Rockne. The footballs
ABoth college and National Football group was comprised of fullback Elmer weren’t quite as
League (NFL) games draw huge crowds of Layden, Quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, in demand, but the
team followers and all-around sports enthusi- right halfback Don Miller, and left halfback trend still popped
asts. Let’s take a peek at some interesting, Jim Crowley. up in that sport, 1969 New York Jets Super
signed football-collecting facts and tips. too. Obviously, Bowl III Logo Game Ball
More Popular Football Names to Collect real signatures are Team-Signed with Joe
A Quick History of Football and Today, individual football player signa- more valuable Namath front and center
Footballs in the U.S. tures from the past and present are held in than stamped in terms of resale value.
The first game we consider a true U.S. high regard by generations of fans. Some Forged signatures, while not quite as
football game was a college game. It was names that stand out include Reggie White, common in football as in baseball, are still a
between the universities now known as Tom Brady, Vince Lombardi, and Joe concern. It’s one thing if you see a player sign
Princeton and Rutgers on November 6, 1869. Namath. Footballs a ball with your own eyes. It’s another if you
At that time, football was more like rugby – featuring those sig- buy it well after its supposed signing.
teams used round balls that typically natures and signa- Provenance is vital. Make sure you know
contained inflated pig bladders, creating the tures from other exactly what you are purchasing. Learn the
nickname “pigskin” for the football. popular current or histories and signatures of your favorite
Early footballs had laces like the ones seen former players tend players or teams. Seek out expert appraisal
on footballs today but for an entirely different to have higher resale assistance when needed.
purpose. They literally held footballs together. values.
Today, they exist to help players grip the balls The other popu- Vince Lombardi saying Ways to Rule Out Fake Football
better when throwing and catching. The lar football signa- “Gentlemen, this is football.” Signatures
shape and design of the ball itself also tures to collect are The best way to make a final authentica-
changed, going from a round to an oval-like from famous teams tion of a football signature is to show it to an
shape. This can help you date original foot- or groups. For example, a ball signed by the expert. However, you can start the authentica-
balls, at least in part. Another indicator is Four Horseman and Mr. Rockne might be tion process easily enough on your own by
what materials were used to make each one. quite valuable. Another specific example is a ruling out obvious fakes.
One of the biggest inventions that came ball that sold back in 2016 for over $3,000 Look for clear signs of mechanized or
along in the 1800s was vulcanized rubber, that was signed by 52 members of the Green stamped signing or outright signature forgery.
thanks to Charles Goodyear. The pliable, Bay Packers championship team from 1967. If a football has multiple signatures that are all
flexible rubber was later used in footballs As I write this (June 2023), a Green Bay in the same color of ink that could be a
after being patented by Mr. Goodyear in Packers ball from 1966 is up for sale at a price stamped ball. Players apply pressure to balls
the 1830s. of nearly $10,000 by Steiner Sports differently when they sign them and often
Memorabilia. It has 48 signatures, including have varying degrees of signature clarity from
one of the favorites I mentioned above, one another. If the signatures on a ball all
Vince Lombardi. look too similar in crispness or clarity, it could
be stamped.
Types of Footballs With Signatures If the signatures all seem to start with small
When it comes to collecting signed dots or end the same, that can indicate abrupt
footballs, it’s important to understand the
motions of mechanized signing. Or, if the ball
1960 Cowboys Inaugural Season Signed Ball difference between a game ball, a replica, or a appears old but the signatures appear new,
souvenir ball. Game balls have a higher degree
The Popularity and of rarity. Those used in championship games that’s a possible red flag.
In short, footballs and other football
Rarity of Early Signed Footballs or other historically significant games also memorabilia are great to collect. However,
According to Antiques Roadshow’s Simeon tend to have higher resale values. when collecting for investment and resale
Lipman, both signed footballs and baseballs Souvenir balls are easy to purchase and to value you need to use caution. Make sure you
started popping up and being collected by have players sign. They look great on book- truly understand what you are buying and
fans in the 1920s. The difference – there were shelves and tend to have clearer signatures. what its significance is. That way you can
a lot more baseballs to go around. Footballs However, they are not usually monetarily worth make the most of your investment.
were much rarer because, at the time, only one nearly as much. Their values are (usually) more
per game was typically used. The football in terms of sentiment and display ability.
season was also shorter. At that time, college Another important signed football differ-
football teams were the most popular. The ence is the difference between stamping and
signatures of some of those players were actual signing. Stamping started with base-
highly sought-after. balls after World War II. Demand was so high
Early signatures from certain Notre Dame that two former baseball players started the
players were and still are popular. For Autograph Ball Company. It was so successful
example, the Four Horsemen are known to that stamped baseballs made by the company
this day as one of the most famous backfield could be purchased right through until 2016.
1966-1967 Packers Championship Signed Ball

Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance researcher and writer since 2001. She developed a passion for 1980s pre-1980s TV and films as a kid, and she has never grown out of it. Recently, she turned that
passion into a retro TV and film blog. Follow along with her at https://medium.com/@jkos_writing, as she dives deep into the characters, actors, quirks, and trivia that brought us some of the greatest
films and shows in TV history and also discusses some of the more obscure films and shows most of us may have forgotten.

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