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1970-71 Fred Biletnikoff Game Worn & Signed Oakland Raiders Jersey--Photo Matched to 1971 AFC Championship Game!...
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Sold on Oct 18, 2018 for:
$11,400.00
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Description
1970-71 Fred Biletnikoff Game Worn & Signed Oakland Raiders Jersey--Photo Matched to 1971 AFC Championship Game! In much the same way that Babe Ruth ushered in the Live Ball Era of Major League Baseball, the original owner of this battle-scarred garment was essential in bringing his sport to the skies, shifting the balance of offensive power from a ground concentration to the dynamism of passing. Through his AFL and NFL career, Biletnikoff notched nearly 600 receptions and 9,000 yards, finding paydirt seventy-six times.The splendid game wear evident in this white durene garment tells the tale of a healthy portion of those stats, though its most exciting story is its definitive match to photographs of the Raiders' January 3, 1971 meeting with Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts to determine supremacy in the American Football Conference and a subsequent berth in Super Bowl V. The Raiders would ultimately fall to the eventual NFL Champs in that contest, but Biletnikoff was brilliant in defeat, making five catches for ninety-two yards and a game-tying touchdown in the third quarter.
We should take time now to address the very reasonable confusion upon viewing images from that Super Bowl qualifier, in that the jerseys worn by the Raiders featured two-tone numerals, rather than the solid black seen here. Close inspection of the black tackle twill will reveal the clear stitching pattern of that lost silver interior layer that was gorgeous to behold in person but highly problematic to television video resolution of the day, compelling Commissioner Pete Rozelle to ban the silver design feature going forward. So Biletnikoff would don the jersey again for the 1971 season, sans silver, that two-year term of service responsible for the glorious game wear, with contact marks, soiling, and even what appears to be blood stains.
The unique collar customization, cut to a v-neck and secured with white threads, is the key to Resolution Photomatching's AFC Championship game attribution, an unmistakable point of evidence. Number "25" appears in black tackle twill on chest, back and sleeves, bearing the aforementioned stitching patterns of the lost silver layer. "Biletnikoff" stands in diminutive 1.75" block lettering across rear nameplate, which the Hall of Fame receiver has signed in 9/10 black sharpie. Tagging has been lost to Biletnikoff's cut tail customization. Unquestionably one of the finest representations from this 1988 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee ever made available at auction. LOA from Heritage Auctions. LOA from Resolution Photomatching. Full LOA from PSA/DNA. Full LOA from SGC Authentic.
Auction Info
2018 October 18-19 Fall Sports Memorabilia Catalog Auction #50006 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
October, 2018
18th-19th
Thursday-Friday
Internet/Mail Bids: 14
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,607
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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