LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 May Signature Sports Collectibles #709  / 

19843

1948 AAFC Most Valuable Player Trophy

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop Start Price:2,220.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
1948 AAFC Most Valuable Player Trophy
<B>1948 AAFC Most Valuable Player Trophy Presented to Frank Albert & Otto Graham.</B></I> Long before the WFL, the USFL and the absolutely dreadful XFL, there was the All-America Football Conference, perhaps the most formidable, but still ultimately unsuccessful, challenger to the gridiron dominance of the National Football League. Though its life ended almost sixty years ago in 1949, the three-year experiment did give birth to both the San Francisco 49'ers and the Cleveland Browns, who battle on to this day and whose quarterbacks were the joint recipients of the elegant prize presented here. The honorees, San Francisco's Frank Albert and Cleveland's Otto Graham, shared a unique proclivity toward rushing, often putting up similar yardage totals with both their arms and their legs. While Graham's name is immortalized at Canton, Albert was a worthy partner for this top prize, leading the 49'ers to an outrageous 3,138 yards on the ground for the 1948 season.<BR><BR>This fine trophy stands just over twenty-six inches tall and bursts with figurals of a rushing ball carrier, perched eagles and a laurel-bearing victory. An engraved brass plaque upon the substantial wooden base speaks to the specifics, exclaiming, "All-America Football Conference, Most Valuable Player Trophy, Awarded in 1948 to Frank C. Albert, San Francisco Forty-Niners and Otto E. Graham, Cleveland Browns." While a degree of wear consistent with sixty years of life is to be noted, this is confined almost entirely to rubbing at the wood edges, with a clipped eagle wing the only issue that could rightfully be characterized as "damage." One will quickly realize that these faults have very little bearing upon the tremendous aesthetics of the artful offering, and certainly none upon its immeasurable historic appeal. The twin attributions both to this short-lived professional football league and to the brilliance of one of the most iconic figures in the sport make it a priceless treasure to the cultured collector.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Miscellaneous Collectibles, Smal (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot