Addendum: Heading updated slightly from catalog.
If you're a true football fan who appreciates history, this is a must-have ball. It commemorates the original owners of the American Football League who, after unsuccessful attempts to bring a new team into NFL, created their own league in 1959 that would change the landscape of American Football forever. The AFL would garner a large following in the 60's and eventually forced a merger with the NFL in 1970, thanks in large part to the bullying tactics of Al Davis.
The Spading Official AFL (Foss) leather football holds 14 signatures, including the AFL's inaugural Commissioner Joe Foss. We have identified six other autographs of the so-called "Foolish Club" of original AFL owners: Bud Adams (Houston Oilers), Lamar Hunt (Dallas Texans), Barron Hilton (Los Angeles Chargers), Billy Sullivan (Boston Patriots), F. Wayne Valley (Oakland Raiders), and Harry Wismer (New York Titans). We were only able to identify one (Sid Gillman, Chargers head coach 1960-71) of the other seven autographs on this ball, which was displayed for decades at the San Diego Hall of Champions. The signatures come in various shades of black ballpoint ranging 3-7/10, with Foss clearly the boldest. The ball can hold some air but does not fully inflate. Nice museum-worthy ball that just came from one.
Includes Letter of Provenance from San Diego Hall of Champions. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.