This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 2/7/2014.
This leather football was given to “Little” Johnny Sylvester by Hall of Famer “Red” Grange sometime in late 1926. The football measures 10-½” x 5-½” x 5-½” and weighs 1.8 lbs. No manufacturer’s logos are present on the football. Nearly all of the laces are present and the 87-year old football is in good condition. There is a one-inch hole near the laces and a 2” x 2” portion of the leather on one tip has since fallen off. The football is accompanied by a typed, signed letter from “Red” Grange to the youngster. The 8-½” x 11” letter is dated October 8, 1926 and appears on letterhead of the “Film Booking Offices of America, Inc.” In the letter, Grange references his friend Babe Ruth, as well as his historic home runs in Game 4 of the World Series two days prior. Grange writes, “The papers also say that you are a football player as well as a baseball player, and of course that makes a big hit with me, so I’m sending you a football with my autograph on it, and I hope in a few weeks you’ll be kicking it all over Essex Falls.” Little Johnny must have listened to the Hall of Famer as the signature is no longer visible on the ball. In the third paragraph, Grange made a promise of his own to Sylvester: “Now, I can’t be too far behind my big friend Babe in doing something for you, Johnny… I promise to make a touchdown just for you in the first game I play in at the Yankee Stadium in New York - and it would be fine if you and your Dad would be there to see it, so I could shake hands with you.” Grange closed the letter, “Your sincere friend, “Red” Grange”, and signed it in black fountain ink with the the beautiful signature rating a near 10. The letter is in EX condition with three creases where it was folded. Accompanied by a Full JSA LOA as well as a letter from “Little” Johnny’s son, John Sylvester, Jr.