Bronco vs Rams Dec. 1982 game ball

AwlKindsOStuff · October 7, 2006 6:43AM

I caught this ball back in 1982 at The Rams stadium, it was Denver vs Rams, and Denver kicked the final winning field goal. It flew up over the net straight at me!. I took off my jacket to catch it and when it landed it knocked me straight out, literally. I woke up on the floor in the seats just below me, and the ball was just under the seat. A kid reached in and tried to grab it, but I got it back. Ah fumble! Anyways, Not a fan of any team, just for the heck of it I went to the guards and they sent me to the Bronco bus, where just about every member of the team was loading. I don't know exactly who’s on it but most Signed it, except one that I recall who said "you stole that ball!" whatever.. , the QB, the guy who kicked it, wrote "I kicked this ball" and every body else who loaded on the bus signed it. Directly after my friend saw it and said things 'like' "You got this guy and that guy, man you got all of the best team members."

Anyways, I'm wondering if anybody knows what it's worth today?

onlyanumber · October 7, 2006 7:19AM

pictures please

AwlKindsOStuff · October 7, 2006 8:02AM

Erg, you would ask, LOL It's kinda tough shooting the autographs but here yaw go. It got our fingers on them the first few days, then I wraped it and about five years ago my wife got me a cheap plastic case.

In this first photo to the far right, you can see where it says " I Kicked this, Richard, Last name starts with an R, ( I don't know exactly what the names says.)

In this one, somebody wrote "Jeff Love and luck" That woudl be me, Jeff. Just to the right of that where the light is flashing it says "OB" and his signature just below. John, 'somebody' I thought it was elway for years but learned it aint, ha, ha.

Here's the other side of the bottom half panel.

And here's the other side of the top half. most wrote in the two bottom panels and only four or five people wrote in the top panels.

Tough getting photos of each autograph, but I expect you's who know the names, ought to know who's there. .

A couple of extra phtos of the top panels.

I had the ticket stub somewhere but my wife cleaned up sometime ago and I aint seen it since. Might be around, would have to dig for days, ha, ha.

Onlypsahockey · October 7, 2006 8:18AM

Here's the 82 Broncos roster. See if you can match up some names.

I'm guessing Rich Karlis kicked the winning FG. It would be nice if Reeves is on it and the stub from the game will help. Ball should sell okay to the right Denver fan.

Best of luck & welcome aboard, Bob C.

1982 Denver Broncos

Head Coach: Dan Reeves

To be listed, a player must have played at least one game for the team during this season.

G/C Keith Bishop
DE Greg Boyd
C/G Bill Bryan
LB Steve Busick
NT/DT Rubin Carter
DE Barney Chavous
LB Darren Comeaux
QB Steve DeBerg
LB Rick Dennison
TE Ron Egloff
LB Larry Evans
DB Steve Foley
G Tom Glassic
LB Randy Gradishar
DB Mike Harden
QB Mark Herrmann
G Paul Howard
DB Roger Jackson
LB Tom Jackson
DE Rulon Jones
K Rich Karlis
DB Aaron Kyle
T Ken Lanier
NT Don Latimer
RB Rob Lytle
WR/DB Wade Manning
DE Brison Manor
WR Orlando McDaniel
LB Mark Merrill
T Claudie Minor
QB Craig Morton
TE Riley Odoms
RB Rick Parros
RB Nathan Poole
RB Dave Preston
P Luke Prestridge
LB Jim Ryan
S Dennis Smith
T/G/TE Dave Studdard
LB Bob Swenson
DB J. T. Thomas
DB Steve Trimble
T/G Keith Uecker
WR Rick Upchurch
WR Steve Watson
RB Gerald Willhite
DB/WR Steve Wilson
RB Sammy Winder
LB Ken Woodard
TE James Wright
DB Louis Wright

AwlKindsOStuff · October 7, 2006 10:57AM

Wasn't too easy but I went and marked the photos where each signature is, one I am not sure who it is. Got the team numbers off of the broncos site, after you posted the team names.

Bosox1976 · October 7, 2006 12:42PM

Neat piece and excellent story.

Axtell · October 7, 2006 12:56PM

"I kicked this" haha that rocks...neat football.

ToppsCo1lector · October 7, 2006 1:19PM

Don't know what that is worth, but I'm sure the memory is worth much much more.

AwlKindsOStuff · October 7, 2006 1:46PM

Thanks guys. Yeah it was pretty cool, It's the only pro-game I've ever gone to. And it was the only time my father ever took me to an event. I guess you could say it's one of those all-American deals, father and son.. I was 28 at the time.

Was one heck of a kick, I think it was 'like' a 42 yard-er. Just the same, I am pretty sure it won the game; Broncos 27, Rams 24. Some people don't believe it, but there you go, yes, probably extremely rare, but they can go over the net.

I am going to be down sizing in the next few years, so I'll probably sell it.. Can't keep everything forever..

Sheamaster · October 7, 2006 2:37PM

<< <i>It's the only pro-game I've ever gone to. And it was the only time my father ever took me to an event. I guess you could say it's one of those all-American deals, father and son.. I was 28 at the time >>

My advice...keep the ball.

grote15 · October 7, 2006 2:48PM

<< It's the only pro-game I've ever gone to. And it was the only time my father ever took me to an event. I guess you could say it's one of those all-American deals, father and son.. I was 28 at the time >>

My advice...keep the ball.

My advice too. The monetary value of that ball will never approach its memorial value. Keep it, you'll be glad you did.

Axtell · October 7, 2006 5:23PM

<< <i>
I am going to be down sizing in the next few years, so I'll probably sell it.. Can't keep everything forever.. >>

Can't keep everything, but it seems like a one of a kind item...I doubt there is anything else in your collection that even remotely comes close to the sentimental value of that ball.

FavreFan1971 · October 8, 2006 1:16AM

Keep it

Onlypsahockey · October 8, 2006 1:26AM

I agree. Keep the ball. Chances are you'll get $200.00 - $300.00 tops. A quick search on ebay of team signed footballs can give you a better idea of its monetary value.

Years down the road you'll wish you kept it.

One piece of advice...keep the ball covered, out of the light except to show it to someone. The sigs appear to be pretty faint as it is. Sunlight or flourescent lighting will only make them worse.

Imagine if you can get the video. Someone must have vid of this game winning kick. Maybe the station that televised the games in 82 or maybe the NFL archives.

The footage would be priceless especially if it shows you getting ko'd!

Like Drew Barrymore in Fever Pitch!

Best of luck, Bob C.

AwlKindsOStuff · October 8, 2006 1:48AM

2-300? Yeah I'll be keeping it. I don't see how it could size up to one of those 'autographed' balls though, no way. It's a real game ball, don't know much but I doubt there's but a few actual game balls.. The father and son thing is the positive side of the story, , wont go there but, bad blood, fortunately I got my mothers side, ha, ha.. He even had the audacity to try and make me give it to him, said, it belonged to his insurance company because they gave him the tickets, yeah right.. For a couple hundred bucks, I'll try and get my son
(Thrasher Magazine)

to keep it.. If he ever settles down..

Yeah I have always figured there's coverage of me getting it, but, where in the world would yaw begin finding that?

Thanks for the tips of protecting it. It really has not faded threw the years. Somebody gave me the pen that was used, and the only changes that's happened was in the first few days, our fingers touching it, smudged the signatures just a bit. Other wise, somebody told me to let the air out, and it still feels and smells like fresh leather, or pig skin.

Bronco vs Rams Dec. 1982 game ball

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