This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/21/2006.
A three-year starter at fullback for Syracuse University, Nance won the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship in 1963 and 1965. The powerful, 6-foot-1 Nance played at 235 pounds in college, but he weighed nearly 260 pounds when he joined the Boston Patriots of the American Football League in 1965 and he never really got into shape that season. The next season he cut his weight to 240 pounds and led the AFL in rushing with 1,458 yards on 299 carries, both all-time league records, and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. He was named the AFL's player of the year. The following season, he again led the league with 1,216 yards in 269 attempts. The Patriots traded Nance to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972 but he refused to play and temporarily retired. He returned to football with the New York Jets in 1973. During his 8 seasons in the AFL and NFL, he gained 5,461 yards in 1,341 attempts and scored 45 rushing touchdowns. On the back of the shirt is a white name plate with the "NANCE" in green tackle twill. The player number "35" appears on the front, back and on each sleeve of the jersey. The numbers on the front and back are made of green tackle twill and the numbers on the sleeve are made of white tackle twill. A portion of the crotch piece has been cut off, likely where any tagging would have appeared. There is a team repair on the left shoulder.The jersey shows good game-use and besides the crotch piece being cut and team repair, appears to have no alterations of any kind.