Nobody owned the football world during the 1960's quite like Green
Bay Packers Head Coach Vince Lombardi. After arriving in Wisconsin in
1959, Lombardi quickly transformed the Packers into perennial contenders
and repeat champions. Using Lombardi's regimented game plan, the
Packers won the NFL championship in both 1961 and ’62, defeating New
York Giants--where he served as offensive coordinator just a few years
earlier--in both title games. The back-to-back victories marked the
first two of what would be five titles in a seven-year span for
Lombardi. During his 9-year tenure, he led the team to a 98-30-4 record,
three straight NFL titles from 1965 to '67, and the first two Super
Bowl crowns in '66 and '67.
Presented here is an exquisite Patek Philippe wristwatch issued to Vince Lombardi on September 28, 1968 for George Halas Night event held by the Chicago Athletic Association. The man who played, coached and owned the Chicago Bears, Halas is a legend in his own right. His former player, Ditka, summed up their storied rivalry best. "Believe me, Coach Halas loved to beat the Packers...Every year, we had to play them twice, and those were the most important games of the year to him. [He] had tremendous respect for Vince Lombardi. There may not have been any love lost with Curly Lambeau, but he had great respect for Lombardi and the Packers organization."
In 1968, the two bitter rivals split the two games, with Green Bay winning the first, 13-10, and Chicago taking the second on the final game of the season, 28-27. Neither team advanced to the postseason. Halas had relinquished his head coaching duties a year earlier and was simply the owner in '68. The glass-covered face (3.5 cm diameter) of this elegant watch with numbered hands reads "PATEK PHILIPPE GENEVE" to denote the premium Swiss brand. The rim and back are made of a fine metal believed to be gold-plated, although no indicator of composition is present. The inscription on the back reads: "To Vince Lombardi In Appreciation Chicago Athletic Association George Halas Night 9-25-68." The
watch is self-winding and is not currently running (just
needs a battery). The brown alligator skin band is intact and essentially
problem-free aside from minor rusting on the metallic buckle and evident wear from use. Overall, the watch presents in NM overall condition with a very clean, scratch-less glass face. Watches by Patek alone are collector's items, let alone one worn by one of the greatest names in the sport of football.
Comes directly from the Lombardi family with a letter signed by his son, Vince Lombardi Jr.