1922 Jim Thorpe's Oorang Indians First Ever Game Contract vs. Dayton Triangles, Signed by Walter Lingo and Carl Storck....

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1922 Jim Thorpe's Oorang Indians First Ever Game Contract vs. Dayton Triangles, Signed by Walter Lingo and Carl Storck. Led by all-world sports legend Jim Thorpe, the Oorang Indians of the National Football League were put together by Walter Lingo to market his Oorang dog kennels in 1922. With a population of well under 1,000 people, the town of LaRue, Ohio remains the smallest city in NFL history.

One of the most significant early-NFL documents ever handled by Heritage Auctions, this original game contract represents the Indians' first game every played in their brief history as a franchise. The 1922 season opener was played on October 1st against the Dayton Triangles (Dayton won 36-0).

Signed by NFL co-founder and Dayton's then coach Carl Storck and Oorang's owner Walter Lingo, who is credited with creating halftime shows. The document measures at 8x11", while it exhibits medium wear and mail folds throughout. With the exception of the very rare signatures, the most intriguing portion of the contract is a special typed provision that reads: "James Thorpe to be with team and give punting exhibition before the game if physically able." Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.