This lot features a pair of game footballs presented to two different San Diego sports legends. The first football, which commemorates the San Diego Chargers’ 30-24 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 14, 1980, at the then-named San Diego Stadium, was presented to Jack Murphy, who was a longtime (1951 to ’80) sportswriter for the San Diego Union newspaper. Murphy, an influential writer, was instrumental in not only relocating the L.A. Charges to San Diego, but also in helping to secure the Padres baseball team as a National League expansion team in 1969. One panel of the game ball is specially painted and includes the following text: “GAME BALL PRESENTED TO JACK MURPHY Chargers 30 - Raiders 24, September 14, 1980 San Diego Stadium.” It also boasts a Charger football helmet logo. Fittingly, after Murphy passed away from lung cancer just 10 days later, the stadium was renamed “Jack Murphy Stadium” in his honor.
The second game ball went to then-Chargers cornerback Willie Buchanon following the team’s 23-10 victory over the Raiders on a Monday Night Football (Dec. 21, 1981) game. In a game that decided the AFC Western Division title, the Bolts prevailed. They would make it all the way to the AFC title game, before bowing to the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-7. One panel of the offered football is specially painted and includes the following text: “GAME BALL PRESENTED TO (28) WILLIE BUCHANON Chargers 23 - Raiders 10, Dec. 21, 1981 San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.” It also boasts a Charger football helmet logo. Note the stadium’s name change.
Includes Letter of Provenance from the San Diego Hall of Champions.