We're getting there, John, we're getting there. Much more to come on all of these fronts but trying not to post everything on the planet and have this thread stop quickly. Let's keep it rolling every day!

Are you a Pottsville Maroons fan? If so, I have a LOT of Pottsville stuff as it's become an area of concentration for my collection.

jeff

Hey Jeff - thanks for asking about my interest in the Maroons - its been something I've been digging around about recently. The 1920s All-Decade team only lists a single FB - Ernie Nevers - not a bad player :). But, it's recently come to my attention that there was another pretty good fullback at that time. A 1987 Coffin Corner article documents Tony Latone's story - it's fascinating and several aspects are right up my alley - a forgotten star, a running back, possibly leading rusher of the 20s, the disputed 25 championship, the PA connection, etc.

+1

In my opinion, Tony Latone should be in the Hall of Fame. Period. End of story. More rushing yards in his career than Grange and many fewer carries. I believe he has not been given as much consideration for the Hall as others because he was a coal miner who played football on the side and never went to college.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...925maroons.jpg
Team photo from 1925

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...lldogs1929.jpg
1929 Boston Bulldogs. The Maroons moved to Boston after the 1928 season and played there as the Bulldogs for one year before folding. Tony Latone is second from the left in the top row.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...%20Reunion.JPG
Maroons at a '60s team reunion. Latone is top row, far right.

jeff

Awesome! Thanks Jeff. Very nice items. And thanks for providing some additional info on Latone.

Its so interesting the difference between remembered and forgotten sometimes. Could it also be because Nevers overshadowed Latone? Sometimes with all-decade or anniversary teams, etc., maybe the energy isn't spent to look at another fullback from 90 years ago. Not saying its right. I'm glad he's mentioned here. Its definitely an aspect of collecting I enjoy to remember some of these forgotten players and try to bring up their names when I can - he'd have my HOF vote.

Question - I'm always looking for a Chicle connection - is George Kenneally in the Bulldogs team photo?

Finally, didn't want to hijack the thread - I'd love to see more of the star player candy set.

I could go all day on Pottsville perhaps a separate thread on the Maroons (and other related teams from Pottsville!) would be good at some point.

Kenneally is holding the football in the Bulldogs picture. He is also second from the right kneeling down in the reunion picture.

I have a copy of the agreement Kenneally and other players signed with Doc Striegel to "own" the team for a year and then have the right to purchase it outright (if I remember correctly). I'll have to find it to see exactly what the terms were.

jeff

Thanks Jeff. Happy to learn Kenneally is in those photos although I believe he missed playing on the famous 25 team by one year. Definitely agree on getting a Maroons thread going at some point.

Carl or others are gonna have to show you the other Stars in the set. The rest of the ones I have are commons.

I can show some of the stars in the other set Carl showed in a pile: Packers Walkers Cleaners. Some of these players have no other cardboard images so they are pretty cool!

Packers Walkers Cleaners were premium photos of the Green Bay Packers to commemorate their three consecutive NFL Championships from 1929 - 1931. The marketing information says they were distributed by Walkers Cleaners in Green Bay Wisconsin and that if you collected the entire set of 27, they would give you an album to put them in. There are so few singles available as compared to complete sets that some believe the were only distributed as complete sets in the end.

Here is what the front cover of the album looks like:
http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...50205_0002.jpg

As distributed, these premiums had a white tab attached to the upper left corner that introduces the player and the set. They also have hole punches on the left side so they can be put in the album.
http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...40824_0002.jpg

Some collectors removed the white tabs so you could see the entire picture. Premiums without tabs are worth significantly less (50%-60% of full value).

I have most of the premiums but quite a few are trimmed down to the size of a picture and look like they were once taped up to a wall by a collector. Here are some of the stars:

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...50205_0024.jpg
Arnie Herber played for his hometown Green Bay Packers for 11 seasons, winning four NFL Championships and being selected first or second team All-Pro 3 times. He led the league in passing several times and, along with Don Hutson, rewrote the NFL passing record book before retiring. Besides being in the PWC set, Herber is depicted on a 1933 Diamond Matchbook cover. He is a member of the 1930s All-Decade Team and was elected to the Pro Football HOF in 1966.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...50205_0023.jpg
Cal Hubbard also has a 1933 Diamond Matchbook. He is best known as the only player inducted into both the Pro Football and Baseball Hall of Fame's. Hubbard is also in the College Football Hall of Fame, a member of the 1920s All-Decade Team, NFL's 50th Anniversary Team, NFL's 75th Anniversary Team.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...50205_0022.jpg
Johnny "Blood" McNally was quite a character. His off field antics are legendary while playing RB in the NFL from 1925 until 1938 before turning to coaching. He is also depicted on a 1934 Diamond Matchbook cover. Johnny Blood, as he often went by, is a member of the 1930s All-Decade Team and was elected to the Pro Football HOF in 1963. He is also know for scoring the last touchdown in franchise history for the Pottsville Maroons.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...50205_0020.jpg
Mike Michalske was an All-American Fullback at Penn State before playing in the AFL and then NFL for the New York Football Yankees and Green Bay Packers. He convinced Lambeau to move him to the line and became the first guard elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964. Michalske was a 6x All-Pro and won three consecutive NFL Championships with the Packers in 1929, 1930, 1931.

jeff

Jeff, those are great. I remember back in the early 70's as a kid, my brother and I used to read about the early days of the NFL and our 2 favorite players from the early years were Bronko Nagurski and Johnny "Blood" Mcnally. Thanks for posting.

Mike

Jesus Carl, this is a drop the microphone kind of picture! Simply incredible, one of my favorite, hardest to find sets

Some more Packers stuff.....
 

1930 Stiller and 1936 Wheaties - both with several HOFers!

Angyale