1961 College All-America Team Signed Football Including Ernie Davis

Sold For:

$2,666

Year:

1961

Auction:

2012 Spring

Lot #:

1311

Category:

Boxing/Golf/Other Cards or Memorabilia

This Voit presentation football, lettered "Look 1961 All America" has been signed in a variety of inks by twenty-six individuals, most of whom were members of the 1961 College Football All-America Team, including Ernie Davis, the 1961 Heisman Trophy winner. The signature of Ernie Davis, who was the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, is one of the rarest and most sought after signatures in football. Following a spectacular career at Syracuse, where he broke all of Jim Brown's rushing records, Davis was selected as the number one pick by the Washington Redskins in the 1962 NFL Draft (he was also selected by the Buffalo Bills of the AFC). Almost immediately after the draft, Washington traded Davis' rights to the Cleveland Browns, which had visions of him joining Jim Brown to form the most devastating one-two rushing combo in NFL history. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Shortly after signing with Cleveland, Davis was diagnosed with leukemia, which ended his pro career before it even started. Davis passed away just two years later at the age of twenty-four. Because of his tragic and swift demise, Davis' signature is exceedingly rare today and is the scarcest of all Heisman Trophy winners with the exception of Nile Kinnick. This is only the second Davis signature we have seen on a football and it represents an exceptionally fine example. The blue-ink signature appears in the center of its respective panel and grades "9." Additional signatures on the ball include those of Lance Alworth, Merlin Olsen, Roman Gabriel, Bob Ferguson, Bill Miller, Greg Mather, Jimmy Saxton, Sandy Stephens, Bobby Bell, Ed Blaine, Dave Behrman, Roy Winston, Alex Kroll, Billy Neighbors, and Gary Collins. Signatures range from "6" to "9," averaging "7/8." The Voit "Official XF9" rubber football displays light soiling and is in Excellent condition overall. LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $300. Estimate $500/$1,000. SOLD FOR $2,666