The First Cover of the 2013 Season

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on one of Sports Illustrated's regional covers, his first cover appearance of the season.

How nice for Bellin Health that they're getting just a little payoff from their sponsorship agreement.

This is SI's fantasy preview, and they list Rodgers as their top-rated fantasy quarterback.

He's also well-covered inside the magazine, in an article entitled "Aaron Rodgers: The Voice of Wisconsin". Money quote:

Rodgers grew up in California and wasn't initially happy when he was chosen by Green Bay with the 24th pick in the 2005 draft since he expected to be drafted higher and Brett Favre was still the starter (and a legend) in Green Bay. And yet Rodgers now says, "I’m a Wisconsin guy. I’m here nine months out of the year. This is home for me." He adds, "People enjoy being able to see you at the Piggly Wiggly and say hello."

Outstanding.

Auction Gold - Curly Lambeau's Cleats

This one's a doozy.

MEARS is offering a once-in-a-lifetime find in their current auction; a pair of football cleats worn by Curly Lambeau.

The catalog description is extensive, so I'm going to reprint it here in full for its historical value.

Lot #360: 1929-43 Earl "Curly" Lambeau Green Bay Packers Game Worn Riddell Yellow Back Kangaroo Leather Football Cleats (MEARS/Consignor LOA)


The Heart and Sole of Green Bay

Curly Lambeau was the heart and soul of the Green Bay Packers. Without him, there would be no team in Green Bay today. Other early small town franchises such as Akron and Rock Island lasted only a very short time before fading into football obscurity. Lambeau, through relentless determination saved Green Bay from a similar fate.

Offered for the MEARS Online Auctions current sale is a rare game worn item of great historical importance associated with Green Bay Packers' legend, Curly Lambeau. In a recent interview with Tom Murphy, Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Archivist, he stated he was unaware of any personally worn item belonging to Curly Lambeau in the archives of the Packers Hall of Fame.

The staff of MEARS Auctions also combed auction catalogs, past sales records, and internet archives and was not able to find one single Curly Lambeau game worn item to come to public market. This means that to my knowledge and the very best of my research abilities, this is the first and only Curly Lambeau game worn item to survive which can be linked to his possible playing days and coaching career. Research also dates this item exclusively to Lambeau's tenure with the Green Bay Packers, 1929-43 circa.

World class collections must contain an anchor piece, an item that represents the genesis of a player or franchise. Each main sports category has a nucleus, an item that is the origin of the sport and represents a greater meaning than the artifact itself.

Our hobby has seen several items that fit this classification. Examples that come to mind are the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings trade card which is the foundation of a great baseball card collection or the 1891 James Naismith Basketball Rules which outlined the birth of professional basketball.

For this lot, we are offering Curly Lambeau's 1929-43 circa Green Bay Packers personally worn football cleats, originally given as a gift to close personal friend Mary Jane Duyse. As Lambeau proudly carried the Packers franchise on his back, he was wearing these shoes on his feet. These shoes epitomize the importance of Curly Lambeau to the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. This is one of the most icon relics of Green Bay Packers history ever to be offered publicly.

Mary Jane Duyse

Mary Jane Duyse was with Curly Lambeau during his final moments. According to the book, "Lambeau: The Man Behind the Mystique" by David Zimmerman, copyright 2003, the author chronicled Curly Lambeau's final hours while preparing for a date with the much younger Mary Jane. He wrote,

"He drove slowly through Egg Harbor, another little Door County town. He thought of Mary Jane and how much he enjoyed being with her. Even though she was half his age, it didn't seem to matter to the two of them.

Mary Jane, still living at home, waited as her father Francis mowed the grass of the front yard with an old push mower. "Hey Francis, let me take a turn at that. I need some exercise," said Curly. Up and down the lawn he went. It felt good. He felt good. "Look at the new dance I've learned in California," and began to do the twist. Francis yelled, "Don't do this!"

With sweat rolling down his face and his shirt now damp with perspiration, he stopped, reached for his handkerchief in his back pocket and began wiping his face. Suddenly, he felt dizzy, disoriented and sick to his stomach. "I feel kind of sick," he mumbled, and then fell backwards into Francis' arms."

Curly Lambeau died on the front lawn at 522 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI, on June 1st, 1965. He was 67 years old.

Along with several letters, photographs, and other items of memorabilia, Curly Lambeau presented Mary Jane Duyse's family these game worn shoes. They proudly remained in her collection for many years before being gifted to her Sturgeon Bay neighbor.

Research conducted by MEARS Authentication services dates these shoes to the 1929-43 era, all exclusive to his tenure with the Green Bay Packers. This was determined by photographic analysis, review of trade ads, and a review of the physical shoe construction.

The shoes themselves were manufactured by Riddell Sporting Goods are an early version.

According to his online biography, John Tate Riddell was born in Georgetown, Michigan in October, 1885. From 1913 through 1927 he taught Mathematics and was Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois. It was at this time Mr. Riddell invented and developed the removable cleat.

He did it to solve a problem for his Evanston High School team. In those years football shoes were equipped with leather cleats. At the time, football cleats were made of leather and nailed to the sole of the shoe. Changing cleats due to inclement weather required the services of a cobbler to have longer "mud cleats" installed. Because Northwestern University used the same cobbler as Evanston Township High School, Evanston's football shoes were often not finished by game time.

Riddell knew his idea would solve this problem for everyone, once and for all. Lacking the capital necessary to start his own business, Riddell had his shoes manufactured by the J.P. Smith Shoe Company, and he and his wife installed the posts and cleats in the evenings. He continued to teach, coach and produce his shoes until 1927, when, with the popularity of shoes growing, he left education to devote his entire effort to producing shoes. John T. Riddell, Inc. was formed in February, 1929.

It makes great sense that Curly Lambeau would have quickly adopted the use of a new innovation such as a detachable cleat. Everything written about him supports his promotion of strategic innovation and it is only logical that translated to improvements in available equipment.

Dating 1929-43 circa

Since Riddell officially formed as a company in 1929, we base the starting date as a possible year of issuance to 1929. This was due to the fact "RIDDELL" is stamped in a series of punch holes on both tongues. It is possible based on the design these shoes were available to Lambeau to wear during his final season as a player/coach with the 1929 Packers team.

According to May, 1932 John T. Riddell, Inc. print ad (copy included), the cleats were described as, "Riddell Football shoes were first used in 1922, Northwestern University has used them continuously since 1923. University of Chicago since 1924, Illinois and Nebraska and many others since 1925. Riddell cleats have won for themselves the unique distinction of being the original and only screw cleat that will stand under hard usage."

Examination reveals this is the correct 7 screw cleat shoe offered by Riddell during the period.

Further review determines these cleats are the hand turned yellow back Kangaroo hide, consisted with catalog model, "Style G" which originally sold for $14.00 and was the top of the line model. The literature goes on to note that the several colleges including the University of Wisconsin wore this model shoe.

Examination of the cleats when compared to the Riddell official sales literature helps MEARS determine this is a No. 1 style cleat. The catalog describes it as, "No. 1, Best for practice and wear. Being softer is easier on the feet."

The catalog does list cleat No. 4 as a "game cleat". Since No. 1 was listed as "best for practice", this may indicate this was Lambeau's preferred pair of coaching shoes.

With the rudimentary application of the tongue "RIDDELL" stamping, his may have been personally done by John T. Riddell and his wife as they built the early cleats together during the evenings. This would pre-date our estimated 1929 dating and would have made these shoes available for Lambeau to wear while a player for the Green Bay Packers. This fact cannot be substantiated, but the strong possibility does exist. A 1927 image of Lambeau playing for the Packers feature him wearing a similar pair of high top football cleats, but the exact maker is unidentified.

Imagery Analysis of Lambeau Cleat Style

Available images verify Lambeau as wearing this style at various points of his career with the Green Bay Packers. The following images support high top cleats being worn by Lambeau early in his career, 1927-43, and low tops later:

1927 Lambeau throwing as player (Riddell attribution is not positive)

1932 Lambeau with high tops

1945 Lambeau with low tops during training camp

1948 Lambeau with low tops during practice

1950 Lambeau with low tops

1951 Lambeau with low tops

Available images suggest that Lambeau switched to a low top style around 1944, and continued with that preference until his retirement from Pro Football in 1952.

Physical Wear Description

Examination reveals both Riddell shoes have heavy game wear. The entire leather exteriors of the shoe shows scuffing and wear to the yellow Kangaroo hide. The canvas interior also shows signs of heavy game wear. Certainly a full season's worth of use, possible more. Both "RIDDELL & 11 (size)" are punched into the leather of the tongue. Both cleats have a complete set of (7) No. 1 style cleats that remain tightly attached. The left shoe has replacement black leather lacing, the right shoe has a vintage brown leather lace, and I am not sure if it is vintage to the shoe. Small clumps of ancient dried mud and grass are found embedded into various crevices of the sole's of the shoes, possibly picked up at City Stadium or Milwaukee State Fair Park.

Lambeau Identication and Attribution

In addition to the direct chain or provenance, each shoe is marked with an unique identifier exclusive to Curly Lambeau. On the left shoe, "C.L". I is neatly written in faded, worn black marker.

On the right shoe, "Curly" is neatly written in faded, worn black marker. The use of the name "Curly" is proper for the era as he was first listed as "Curly" Lambeau in a 1918 newspaper article covering his Notre Dame career. The name stuck and we was referred to as Curly almost ever since.

Examination reveals the black marker to be faded and worn, both signs of authentic patination. The remnants of the ink have set deeply in with the leather of the soles. It is in my expert opinion that the writing was placed on the shoes around 80+ years ago.

Provenance

These shoes have remained in Sturgeon Bay since the day Curly Lambeau personally hand delivered them to Mary Jane Duyse. The cleats were proudly displayed in her home for many years. At some point after the death of Mr. Lambeau, the next door neighbor of Mary Jane Duyse obtained the shoes from the Duyse family. He cherished them for many years before gifting them to our consignor (also a Sturgeon Bay resident) shortly before his death. I personally drove to Sturgeon Bay to take possession of the shoes for our current auction, which was only miles from the home of Mary Jane Duyse and the spot where Curly Lambeau died. The existences of the shoes have been known within the Packers collecting community for many years. Our consignors' letter will chronicle the names of all owners in the custody chain.

Historical Feats Accomplished During the Era these shoes would have been worn

During 1929 Lambeau became the team's coach and playing captain. Lambeau was the first pass-minded coach in the NFL and his teams were like their leader, impatient and explosive. An excellent passer in his own right, Curly flew in the face of common practice.

Despite rules that made it difficult to use the forward pass, Lambeau's Packers were a team whose main offensive weapon was the pass – at any time, on any down, from anywhere on the field. With his vaunted passing attack, he led the Packers to championships in 1929, 1930, and 1931. After signing future Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson in 1935, they won three more titles – 1936, 1939, & 1944."

It is highly probably these shoes were worn during one or more early Championship season. A more historic item of Green Bay Packers history does not exist. It is our opinion that these cleats are the only known personally worn item that survived the career of Curly Lambeau. This lot represents a very rare opportunity to own the only known game worn artifact directly linked to football icon Curly Lambeau.

A LOA from the consignor detailing the provenance directly back to Mary Jane Duyse will accompanying this lot. LOA Troy R. Kinunen / MEARS Auctions, LOA consignor. LOA Troy Kinunen / MEARS

I'm usually very skeptical about an item like this, but this seems solid. I first heard about these cleats several years ago, but don't recall that provenance. Very exciting.

Shame that these cleats will likely disappear into a private collection; they really belong in the Packers Hall of Fame.

---

UPDATE 3/3/2013:   The final hammer price, including Buyers Premium, was $25,958. If this is to be the centerpiece of a private collection, I'd like to see the rest of that collection.

1962 Training Camp Gallery - Pads

In a previous post, we saw this photograph of a player wearing a unique set of pads at training camp in 1962.

Green Bay Packers rookie receiver Oscar Donahue (89) goes through a drilll as training camp begins on the team's practice field across the street from new City Stadium in mid-July 1962. Coach Vince Lombardi watches at right. Press-Gazette archives

From the front, the pads look like aprons.

Green Bay Packers halfback Tom Moore (25) is pursued by linebacker Dan Currie (58) and defensive end Bill Quinlan (83) during the team's first full scrimmage on the team's practice field across the street from new City Stadium on July 21, 1962.Press-Gazette archives

They appear to have been very common at Training Camp in '62.

Green Bay Packers center-linebacker Ken Iman (53) reaches out to tackle running back Paul Dudley (21) during a drill as training camp begins on the practice field across from new City Stadium in mid-July 1962. Press-Gazette archives

We've seen other unique pads; these screencaps from other years show players wrapped in what appears to be multiple baseball catcher's chest protectors.

Safety first, gentlemen.

1987 Training Camp Oddities

This photo from Training Camp in 1987 comes to us from Jeff Ash via Uni Watch.

It shows defensive end Carl Sullivan wearing a helmet with an upside-down "G" logo!

It also shows us how cost-conscious teams would re-use old gear in practice. From 1984 through 1988, the Packers wore a gold stripe down the middle of the Braisher stripes on their pants. That means that the pants Sullivan is wearing are at least four years old.

I don't know what's up with the missing white helmet stripe on #73's shell. I don't know that I've ever seen one missing stripe.

T.G.I... Saturday!

Looks like some of Jeff Saturday's new teammates are having some fun welcoming the center to the Packers:



Those are guards Evan Dietrich-Smith (playing Dragnet on the left) and Josh Sitton.

(h/t: Uni Watch)

In Case You Doubted That It's Still "EQUIPMENT"

As the first images start trickling out of the rookie training camps, eagle-eye uni spotters have noticed that the rooks' jerseys still bear the "NFL EQUIPMENT" patch, worn on all gamers since 2002 but mercifully retired as part of the transition to Nike as the exclusive league-wide uniform supplier.

Jim Biever, Packers.com

I presumed that meant they were wearing old Reebok jerseys in camp. It's a fairly common custom to recycle old practice gear It's not unheard of to keep game uniforms around after a supplier switch; for years after the Packers moved from Starter to Nike in 1997, Brett Favre continued to wear his old Starter cold-weather jersey with the manufacturer's logo covered up.

Paul Lukas asked Nike about these patches, and received the following response from publicist Brian Strong:

"The NFL shield is reserved for anything worn on gameday (including uniform, sideline, etc). The NFL Equipment logo is placed on anything worn outside of gameday (training, practice, workouts, lifting, etc). So what you’re seeing in training camp is definitely not old inventory."

Sure, he can say that, and maybe that's generally the case around the league, but not in Green Bay. Check out this photo of outside linebacker Dezman Moses with coach Kevin Greene:

Jim Biever, Packers.com

Moses is clearly wearing a reconditioned jersey, with the Reebok vector logo covered up:

Although I'd rather that the "NFL EQUIPMENT" logo had just been retired, it's good to know the NFL's official rules for its display.

Pitchers and Catchers Report?

This training camp screenshot comes from the collection of Robert Harvell, auction director at GUU Auctions.

"That's from the Packers' training camp, circa early '60s. Apparently typical football pads weren't enough for the hard-hitting packers — they had to resort to catcher’s gear as well! I'm not sure if those are special leg pads or simply two more chest protectors wrapped around each leg."

Anybody seen anything like that before?

I always love seeing Lombardi in that interlocking "GB" cap.

UPDATED: "Mr. Lambeau" at the incredible PACKERVILLE, U.S.A blog took this screencap from HBO's new Lombardi documentary, giving us a look at the pads in color:


(h/t: Robert Harvell, UniWatch, PACKERVILLE, U.S.A.)

Camel's Nose, Meet Tent (Part Two)

Packers guard Daryn Colledge models the new practice jersey patch during training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010.

A little over a year after announcing that they would seek a jersey sponsor for practice uniforms, the Packers have announced that a deal has been reached with Green Bay-based health care provider Bellin Health.

As reported yesterday in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Packers to wear advertising patch
Team follows trend of other NFL organizations

By Don Walker
Posted: July 28, 2010

Beginning with the first practice at 2 p.m. Saturday, members of the Green Bay Packers will wear an advertising patch on their practice jerseys.

That is a first for the franchise, and follows a trend of other National Football League teams that have signed deals with major sponsors that involve the addition of an advertising patch on practice jerseys.

The Packers' advertising partner is Bellin Health, a major health provider in northeast Wisconsin. The patch will be worn on the player's left side near the shoulder.

Bellin Health and the Packers have been partners for several years. The introduction of the patch on the practice jersey - allowed under NFL rules - is part of a multi-year agreement with Bellin Health.

The patches will not be worn in preseason games or the regular season.

...

Craig Benzel, the Packers' director of marketing and corporate sales, said the team wanted to select a sponsor that was community-minded.

"It was important for us to align with a partner we have worked closely with in the past," Benzel said. "It was important that they are so community minded."

The patch itself, he said, is tasteful. "We think the size is perfect," Benzel said.

A local sponsor makes sense, since the practice jerseys don't see much press outside of the immediate area.

UPDATE: Now we've seen it (above). Not sure I'd call it "tasteful" myself, but so long as it remains confined to Nitschke Field I'm okay with it.

It's In the Bag

I don't know much about the history of Packers training equipment, but this image from the collection of Robert Harvell, auction director at GUU Auctions, makes me want to learn more.

So much to love about this photo. And the shadows make it.

(h/t: Robert Harvell, UniWatch)

Get the Red Out

This morning, I received a promotional email from the Packers Pro Shop. Nothing too unusual in that, but this item caught my eye:

Looks like the Packers have redesigned their no-contact practice jerseys:

Product Description: Replica Quarterback practice jersey has ribbing at the neck with miter 'V' construction and NFL Equipment logo, G logo on sleeves, satin neck taping, double needle construction, dazzle fabric side panels and sleeves, extended drop tail and side vents. Jock tag and Reebok logos finish the piece.

Unless perhaps the replicas are being spun off from the authentics into fashion jersey territory?

Contrast the above picture with this one, from last month's minicamp:

Same neck and shoulder construction as the game jerseys, no sleeve logos. But I guess those didn't move as much product?


UPDATE 08/02: False alarm, it's just a fashion thing. These pictures from minicamp clearly show the quarterbacks wearing the standard-cut red no-contact jerseys. The NFL shop is selling the exact same fashion jersey for all teams:

Camel's Nose, Meet Tent

Greeted this morning by some disturbing news courtesy of the Associated Press:

Packers could sell ad space on practice jerseys

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—The Green Bay Packers are hoping to take advantage of a new NFL rule allowing teams to attach a small patch with a corporate logo to the jerseys players wear in practice.

Packers senior vice president of marketing and sales Laura Sankey called the possibility of selling advertising space on practice jerseys a “very meaningful” way for a sponsor to link itself with the team.

“It’s always exciting when the league opens new categories for sponsorship, particularly one that is so closely linked to our players and our jerseys,” Sankey said. “A practice jersey patch is a very unique and visible way for a sponsor to be involved with training camp, the team and our fans.”

The Houston Texans also have indicated an interest in taking advantage of the rule, which applies only to jerseys worn in practice.

Sponsor logos already are widespread during U.S. auto racing and golf events, and the Phoenix Mercury announced this week that they will become the first WNBA team to put a sponsor’s name, Lifelock, on their jerseys.

Such deals are considered commonplace in Europe, where soccer giant Manchester United announced Wednesday that it had reached a four-year sponsorship agreement with Chicago-based insurance broker Aon Corp.

The club did not announce financial terms but British newspapers reported that the deal, which begins in the 2010-11 season, was worth 80 million pounds ($131.2 million) over the four years.

What would this look like? We already have a pretty good idea - the Titans have been doing this for the past few seasons.

A little hard to make out in this photo, but the patch reads "Baptist Sports Medicine". Apparently, they are the "exclusive healthcare provider" of the Titans (click patch for link).

ProFootballTalk.com provides us with some background on the Titans' patches:

Titans Wore Practice Jersey Patches Without League Approval
Posted on June 3, 2009, 4:47 p.m. EDT

We’ve tracked down more information regarding the fact that the Titans have been, for at least a couple of years, wearing a “Baptist Sports Management” (sic) patch on their practice jerseys.

With the league adopting in March a rule allowing teams to rent space on the shirts they wear while practicing, we perceived the implication to be either the Titans were breaking the prior rule or the league had bent the rule for the Titans.

Actually, the Titans were simply winging it, since there previously was no league rule addressing the situation, one way or the other.

“There was no policy prohibiting what the Titans did with their practice jerseys,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us via e-mail. “Then the concept was discussed by our Business Ventures Committee, which decided that there should be a set of rules for this opportunity.”

So, basically, the rule passed in March validated the Titans’ approach, and formally extended the opportunity to every other team.

Ugh. Obviously, this raises the specter of ads on game uniforms, highlighted by the recent Phoenix Mercury deal. And as the AP notes, shirt sponsorship is common in world soccer.

Shirt sponsorship made its United States team sports debut via Major League Soccer in 2007. Currently eleven of the fifteen clubs have shirt sponsors, if not necessarily the big, prestigious electronics conglomerates or international airlines you find in European soccer:

So how should we react to this news? My fear is that it will be looked at as a new revenue stream, and of other teams tap that stream then the Packers might feel they have to adopt it as well, to stay current with the Joneses. Sort of an embroidered version of luxury boxes or personal seat licenses.

Personally, as much as I dislike the idea (I don't even like to see manufacturers' logos on uniforms, much less sponsor logos), so long as it remains restricted to practice gear I suppose I can live with it. Maybe.

I'm also a little distressed that the Packers were so quick to jump on this new NFL rule. This wasn't a Press-Gazette or Journal Sentinel piece on how the local teams are reacting to the rule, but a national story on wire services promiently featuring the Packers salivating over the prospect. I do wish that the team was more interested in protecting the integrity of its visual identity rather than "open(ing up) new categories for sponsorship, particularly one that is so closely linked to our players and our jerseys". But perhaps that's just me, I'm old-fashioned that way.

Besides, how much exposure would this really bring to a sponsor, especially given that the Titans have been doing this for a couple years without anybody outside Nashville noticing? Practice games aren't widely covered. The Packers don't merchandise practice jerseys. It's doubtful that these patches would be seen outside the team's local market.

Quick test - do you even know what the Packers' practice jerseys look like? No Googling, now.

Answer: just like the regular home and road jerseys, only without TV numbers and sleeve stripes.

If the "sponsorship opprtunitity" has a decidedly local cast, then, who might buy it? Thinking along the lines of the Titans' deal, the Packers have a whole slew of official healthcare providers from which to choose. Perhaps we could see a Touchpoint Health Plan or St. Vincent Hospital patch. Or perhaps they would select one of the Lambeau Field gate sponsors, already well-associated with the Packers in the minds of locals - Miller Brewing, the Oneida Tribe, Mills Fleet Farm or Verizon. I suppose the NFL wouldn't look favorably on an alcohol sponsorship, so Miller (potentially the deepest pockets) would be out. Other local companies (and sponsors) off the top of my head include Associated Bank, ShopKo, American Family Insurance, and maybe Kohler. Do you think the Packers would mind a plumbing company's logo on their practice jerseys?

The risk team runs is that the sponsor company's circumstances change, and the association turns out not to be exactly what they were hoping for when they originally signed the contract, as Manchester United recently discovered:

Whoops. Way to project an image of strength and stability there.

Then again, that sort of morning-after regret isn't exactly exclusive to shirt sponsorship:

Hope the Packers can avoid this pitfall, if it comes to it.


UPDATE 06/05: Sure enough, the Bears are publicly considering this as well. If one team starts taking this money, which teams will refuse it?

UPDATE 06/12: The Texans have been approached by a potential sponsor, an adult video company. As Paul Lukas said, lie down with fleas....

UPDATE 06/18: And the first team to actually sign a deal under this new rule... The New York Football Giants, who as part of a larger sponsorship deal will wear the Timex logo on their practice jerseys. Giants quarterback Eli Manning has a six-figure personal endoresement deal with Timex competitor Citizen, so he'll reportedly have to remove his jersey before giving any post-practice press conferences. Awkward.