Pre-WW2 Football autographs

[cfhofer]

Thanks guys. Pat Page was also the Indiana football coach in 1926. Some consider Schommer the first great basketball player. Those who collect football coaching legends will also find Clarence Spears (Minnesota) and Jim Phelan (Purdue).

I have looked for a newspaper article or reference to this event for years without success. Would be fun to see all who attended.

[cfhofer]

On the subject of pre-WW2 Chicago immortals - here’s another who finally received his long overdue selection into the Pro Hall of Fame. Iowa (1918-21) and Chicago Cardinals (1926-31) legendary tackle Duke Slater.

This is a signed ‘Thorpe of Carlisle’ luncheon book from 1955. These were football luncheons put on by Hinckley & Schmitt, a Chicago water bottling company. Fellow collector Rev Moran wrote up a fantastic article on these annual football luncheons several years ago. They are a great source for early football autographs.

Along with Duke Slater this book was also signed by Joe Guyon and Gus Welch.

[cfhofer]

The 1896 Princeton football team, captained by Garrett Cochran, went 10-0-1 with a tie against Lafayette. They outscored their opponents 266-5 and were retroactively named as National Champions.

This is a signed banquet program by that entire team. The event was held at the Princeton Inn on December 4, 1896. Below is an original cabinet photo of the team, a ticket (sold to students) and a different invitation (to All-American William Church) for the same event, and the signed program.

Key players were All-Americans Addison Kelly, William Church, Robert Gailey, John Baird, Garrett Cochran and Arthur Hillebrand.

[prewarsports]

Pete Calac is rare too, that is a great item.

[Duluth Eskimo]

That sheet with Slater, Calac, and Guyon is really cool. The Heisman is pretty sweet too.

[cfhofer]

Thanks guys. Here is an inside picture of the banquet program, listing Heisman as the guest speaker that night.

[cfhofer]

There are some really neat letters to autograph collectors by various athletes, especially during the pre-WW2 era. This one is pretty cool. Lynn Bomar was an All-American End for Vanderbilt from 1921-24 and played professionally for the New York Giants from 1925-26. He was the first Vanderbilt player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Interestingly, he later had a career in law enforcement and was warden of Tennessee State Prison from 1955 until his death in 1964.

[Maddog]

SLATER!!

Wow just Wow11