LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Sig. Sports Collectibles II #708  / 

20001

Mid-1970's Len Dawson Game Worn Helmet

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Game Used Memorabilia Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Mid-1970's Len Dawson Game Worn Helmet
<B>Mid-1970's Len Dawson Game Worn Helmet.</B></I> One of the greatest passers in the history of the NFL, this legendary Hall of Famer is best remembered for his MVP performance in Super Bowl IV, leading the Chiefs to a twenty-three to seven upset of the Minnesota Vikings. Here we find a late-career representation of his coveted helmet, a "Gladiator" style used by the Chiefs in addition to the traditional Riddell offerings. The outer shell is painted in the proper Chiefs' color hue of fire engine red and sports the mid '70's version of the arrowhead logos with the clear edging. The Chief's had no other outer markings on their shell and through today carry on the same tradition, save for the bumpers, warning sticker and NFL shield. The mask is the BD-9, two-bar version favored by Dawson through most of his career. The side stamping on the mask suggests a 1968-70 time period, but the masks had a useful lifespan of ten years, particularly for a quarterback. Dawson also wore a single bar mask on occasion earlier in his career and a hook after suffering a broken nose in the mid 1960's. The shell's interior is painted battleship gray, as was apropos for "Riddell" and Gladiator masks. The eight-point suspension is the "Gladiator" version and it differs slightly from the "Riddell" version of the era. The crown donut is missing and the front snubber has been trimmed, probably in deference to Dawson being exposed to a wildcat snubber, circa 1974. As was a long time custom with the Chief's, Dawson's name was markered into the shell just above the right ear hole. The font style matches to exemplars. It appears to be over an earlier faded numeric identifier which looks like a "16." There is coding under each ear hole, probably factory paint codes and reconditioning codes. The interior also sports Gladiator's "medalist" reconditioning sticker with black print on an old gold base, as was used in the early to mid 1970's. Solid quarterback wear is clearly evident. A piece ready for a new home in the finest of game used football equipment collections. <I>LOA from Lou Lampson. </B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Miscellaneous Collectibles, Larg (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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