1969 Superbowl game used football signed by Namath

magikbilly

Hi All,

Some of you may know me from the coin groups, others as a Golden Hollywood autograph dealer, others as an ocean liner memorabilia researcher/authenticator/author, others as 1939 NYWF author/editor and vintage Kodachrome restorer.

In any event - the one thing I don't do is SPORTS!

However, how would you fine gents estimate the value of a game used 1969 Superbowl football signed by Joe Namath with a letter from the Jets physician/trainer and photos of it being signed? The ball is is deflated. Signature is recent in silver paint pen. It has good documentation. Condition is "fine" as so many auction houses say...

Any estimates/opinions welcome.

Thank you for your time.

Eric

Edit to add: Please feel free to PM.

vols1

$2,500? It would have to be authenticated to be proven your letter went with that specific football you have.

magikbilly

Hello vols1

Thanks you - yes, letter and ball are indeed connected - letter was specific to this ball and is of some vintage. This was obtained as a lot - signature/further documentation was obtained later with the silver signature being the most recent addition.

Thank you again for your consideration and time! Looking forward to other appreciated opinions. The long-time owner (a good friend) was the personal physician of the trainer/physician of Namath/the Jets back then (the right name - just escapes me at the moment). I have to check - Namath may have identified the ball as well in writing. Namath's signed Jersey and helmet from said game were sold long ago - but the ball remains. Suggestions for auction houses welcome if/when the time comes. Offers happily entertained. Pics will follow. This just out of my league.

Fittings from Lusitania yes - this stuff - nope. I'll take it slow - right now just looking for numbers/interest levels. Some have suggested it is a "grail item" from this '69 game - I am told this Superbowl was very special indeed. I can imagine a few others around, with or without such provenance. I'd really not know. Provenance and all I am very familiar with considering the types of items I do handle, having sold and leased to museums around the world. Sports? I am hopeless!

Best wishes,
Eric

eagles33

To realize the highest return I would contact psa directly to see what your options are. If they can authenticate the ball then I think you have yourself a potential huge score. Given the potential of the item you might want to contact mr Orlando directly and proceed from there. If its up to the buyer to piece together your supporting documents then you are left with a much smaller audience of potential buyers. Good luck and great piece

Ironmanfan

PSA would not be able to authenticate an item such as this...To maximize your return, I would get it authenticated by MEARS out of the Milwaukee, area..

Value is hard to detremine that this point, since there isn't much to compare it to (prior sales, etc).

If it is indeed authentic and if you are interested in selling, Hunt Auctions has a big Super Bowl Auction every year (that's where I would sell it).

Good Luck!

IMF

GR

If it was game used in the second most important game ever played to make the league what it is today (behind the 58 championship) id say easily 7,500+ with a potential to hit 5 figures

vols1

little info:

"In the Village of Ada, Ohio—home to approximately 3,500 residents and located about 180 miles northeast of Indianapolis—stands the Wilson Football Factory. It is the only factory in the United States that is dedicated solely to producing footballs.

Immediately after the NFL conference championships, 130 employees work around the clock to produce 108 footballs—54 for practice and 54 for the game—for each team within 24 hours. Super Bowl XLVI itself will use approximately 120 footballs, including 12 "K" balls that are especially for kicking.

The folks in Ada are good at what they do. Wilson has been providing the official game balls for the NFL since George Halas and Tim Mara brought the two entities together in 1941 after being attracted to Wilson's high-quality product. At 71 years and going strong, it's believed to be one of the longest-enduring business relationships in the sporting world. Every single point in the history of the NFL has been scored with a Wilson football.

The Wilson Football Factory in Ada began operation in 1955, and it produces approximately 700,000 footballs per year—over 3,000 footballs per day. In addition to the official game balls for Super Bowl XLVI, the Wilson employees also produce footballs for the NCAA, for high schools, and for youth leagues. They also make about 15,000 Super Bowl footballs for retail sale.

"Every Super Bowl is an exciting time for us," Dan Riegle, the Wilson Factory manager, said in a press release. "Wilson has such a rich history with the NFL, and our employees have been making every Super Bowl football since the very beginning. This is more than just a game to us, it's our heart and soul."

magikbilly

I would like to thank everyone for being so helpful. :-)

It is very appreciated.

Eric