This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/3/2020
Born in 1896, George Preston Marshall ran a successful laundry chain in Washington, D.C. that eventually allowed him to pursue his dream: owning a sports team. He started in basketball by running D.C.’s “Palace Five Laundrymen” until they folded in 1928. Four years later, he and three partners were awarded an NFL franchise in Boston, making Marshall one of the original founding fathers of the NFL along with George Halas of the Chicago Bears, Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Wellington Mara of the New York Giants. Marshall’s squad initially adopted the “Braves” as their nickname since they shared the same field as the National League’s Boston Braves. As soon as he gained complete control of the franchise in 1933, he moved to the Red Sox’s Fenway Park and changed his team name to the Redskins, perhaps influenced by having four Native American players and a head coach "Lone Star" William Henry Dietz who was supposedly part Sioux. Marshall helped grow the game and broaden its fan base by creating rules that encouraged forward movement and more scoring. He remained the Skins’ hands-on owner right up until his death in 1969.
A charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s original class in 1963, George Marshall received this 10-karat gold ring for the high honor. "PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME” in raised relief surrounds a lovely blue stone with a white caricature of a football player on the face. One shank features a depiction of the Hall of Fame building in Canton, OH, the HOF emblem and "FOUNDER" at the top in recognition of Marshall. The other shank has "GEORGE MARSHALL” on top, with three football players at center, and “ELECTED 1963” down below. "Balfour 10K" is properly hallmarked on the interior band. The size 10.75 ring weighs 32 grams and exhibits light to moderate wear. It comes with its original blue Balfour case. We are proud to feature such an important piece of football history at auction, representing one of the key figures and so-called “Founding Fathers” who helped make the game the captivating spectacle it is today.
This lot has a Reserve Price that has not been met.