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1957 Paul Hornung Game Worn Green Bay Packers Rookie Jersey -- Photo Matched to 11/3 vs. Giants! ...
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Sold on Feb 22, 2025 for:
$103,700.00
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Description
Monumental wear from first NFL season and practice as late as 1964!
1957 Paul Hornung Game Worn Green Bay Packers Rookie Jersey --
Photo Matched to 11/3 vs. Giants!UPDATE: Title changed.
The Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner entered the National Football League as the number one overall pick in the 1957 draft, joining a Green Bay Packers team he would help lead to four Championships including the first Super Bowl in 1967. As the "Thunder" to Jim Taylor's "Lightning," Hornung helped compose Lombardi's unstoppable ground game that tore apart opposing defenses throughout the glorious "Titletown" era.
Presented is a stunning survivor from that first professional season in Wisconsin, a garment demonstrating titanic wear that plays a key role in an array of ironclad photo matches viewable at our online lot listing. We'll blow some minds here by reporting that this jersey is crafted from black durene--that's not faded navy. Before this jersey surfaced in the hobby, almost no Packers collectors were aware that the team ever sported these colors more commonly associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Muted yellow tackle twill forms the uniquely fonted number "5" found and chest, biceps and verso, and the loss of most of that rear numeral provides the strongest evidence that the jersey was originally jet black, as that fabric revealed by the loss is not faded like the rest of the jersey is. Yellow striping matching the numeral shade appears at each bicep.
Linear fabric runs in the shoulder area speak to the violence of the halfback position and offer the most instantly identifiable matches to period photography. A couple team repairs on verso appear at the end of two vertical fabric runs, effectively stopping the separation from extending further. Lower left front tail bears the jersey's sole tagging, "Sand-Knit Size 46."
While the photo matches offer the most undeniable assurance of authenticity possible, we may as well point out that Hornung was the only player to wear number "5" for the Packers between Ray Riddick's departure in 1946 and Vince Ferragamo's arrival in 1986, so all wear can be definitively attributed to the Hall of Fame original owner. This jersey style was utilized in competition only between 1954 and 1957. The experts at Davious have found that the jersey remained with Hornung throughout his career, seen in a 1959 intrasquad game, multiple 1961 practice photos, and even more undated practice photos as late as 1964. They also note a probable match to Hornung's 1959 Topps trading card. Photo match LOA from Davious Sports. LOA from Heritage Auctions. Photo match LOA from Sports Investors Authentication.
Auction Info
2025 February 22 - 23 Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction #50075 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
February, 2025
22nd-23rd
Saturday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 33
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 4,457
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid per lot.
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