1980 Green Bay Packers Auto Ball
ajw
Posts: 2,281 ✭✭✭
I have a pristine 1980 GB Packer auto ball. I'll take some pictures if anyone's interested.
I'm open to cash offers.
Some of the players include:
Bart Starr (coach)
Lynn Dickey
Paul Coffman
John Anderson
harlan huckelby
gerry ellis
david whitehurst
brian cabral
vickey ray anderson
tom birney
bill larson
mike mccoy
jim gueno
jan stenerud
ron cassidy
james lofton
david beverly
johnnie gray
mike jolly
ken brown
terdell middleton
kit lathrop
I'm still identifying other signatures, but the ball has a ton of signatures, so I suspect it's a full team, which would include James Lofton.
Please send me a PM if you're interested. I'll try to post some pictures here.
I'll also add that my Dad won this at a raffle in 1980. He was given the ball directly by HOF great Ray Nitschke. Nitschke's business card is also included. Although I have not had the ball authenticated, I have no doubts whatsoever about it.
Drew
I'm open to cash offers.
Some of the players include:
Bart Starr (coach)
Lynn Dickey
Paul Coffman
John Anderson
harlan huckelby
gerry ellis
david whitehurst
brian cabral
vickey ray anderson
tom birney
bill larson
mike mccoy
jim gueno
jan stenerud
ron cassidy
james lofton
david beverly
johnnie gray
mike jolly
ken brown
terdell middleton
kit lathrop
I'm still identifying other signatures, but the ball has a ton of signatures, so I suspect it's a full team, which would include James Lofton.
Please send me a PM if you're interested. I'll try to post some pictures here.
I'll also add that my Dad won this at a raffle in 1980. He was given the ball directly by HOF great Ray Nitschke. Nitschke's business card is also included. Although I have not had the ball authenticated, I have no doubts whatsoever about it.
Drew
0
Comments
Thanks!
Drew
Lew Carpenter (WR / TE coach) is between Pete Rozelle and the word Commissioner.
Aundra Thompson is on the back of the ball between Wilson and National Football League.
Zeke Bratkowski (QB / RB coach) is just above Wilson on that same panel.
Jim Champion (defensive line coach) is at the bottom of that panel.
Is that Bob Harlan to the left of Aundra Thompson's signature, signed sideways with Bob above Harlan?
An interesting name on the ball is Buddy Aydelette...he was drafted by the Packers in 1980 and I'm not sure if he was ever on the roster.
<< <i>Great football, Drew!
An interesting name on the ball is Buddy Aydelette...he was drafted by the Packers in 1980 and I'm not sure if he was ever on the roster. >>
I am 99% sure Aydelette made the roster that year. Funny story about the guy is he sat on the DL for the Packers for two or three years. I remember reading the front page of the Green Bay Press Gazette stating Aydelette is retiring. I asked my Dad who the heck is this guy. He said some dude that couldn't suck it up in the NFL. Two years later the guy is the in the All - Star game for the USFL and gets to join the NFL after if goes belly up for one more season with the Steelers. Now I did not know the Steeler part but I knew he went to star in the USFL after he was washed up as a Packer.
As for value of your ball I am sorry to say there is very little here. Even though Lofton and Bart Starr are on the ball these balls do not carry a huge value. They are very plentiful as there are hundreds of these around in the Wisconsin area. I have three different ones 1979, 1981 and 1982. The 1979 was done in ball point pen. The 1981 was a mix of sharpie and ball point and the 1982 I think was a laser inscribed or copy of some sort.
According to what I have heard each day during the first few weeks of the season there would be a ball in each players locker. They would sign it and pass it to the player next to them. This is why you see all of the players on the sweet spots. I have yet to see Lofton or Lynn Dickey on the sweet spots. Also, since it was a manual thing or a player would hit the training room many balls are a few players short or have the same guy signed twice. These are cool for the Packer fan but the general football fan, not so much so that is why the value of the balls from the 1970's and 1980's are $40-$100 depending on the shape of the ball.
BTW, keep this ball inflated because the leather is crap and will crack if it hit the sun deflated. Personally, put it in the man cave. I cracked two of mine and am too cheap to buy another.
Troy
<< <i>I would estimate its a 150-200 ball. Neat item! >>
Only way I see a ball reaching that price is if John Anderson, Lofton, Dickey, McCarren or Stenerud are on the sweet spots. I am viewing this through my phone and I don't see any of these guys on the sweet spots. Mind you Bart Starr is always on the point of the ball. He signed the balls first and would put them in the lockers of the players.
Even though this ball is in great shape I don't see it flying past $100. Only way it goes past that is at a Packer charity auction.
Personally I say the OP keeps the ball for sentimental value and plus it has a great story behind it.
<< <i>I would estimate its a 150-200 ball. Neat item! >>
too high IMO; agree on Neat part tho
IMF