This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/21/2017
On New Year’s Eve, 1967, 53,000 fans packed into Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to watch the Raiders win their the AFL Championship. It was a 40-7 drubbing over the Houston Oilers, which had to feel especially good for Oakland's 40-year old placekicker and quarterback, George Blanda. Now used primarily as the team's kicker, Blanda backed up starting QB Daryle Lamonica during the '67 season but did see action behind center in seven regular season games. In the '67 AFL Title game, Blanda had two passing attempts at QB and made a huge impact on special teams by converting four field goals and four extra points in the victory. It was sweet revenge against his former Oilers' squad who wanted him to retire after the '66 campaign and released him. All Blanda had done for the Oilers was win them to two straight AFL titles in their first two years of existence.
To commemorate the AFL
title, the Raiders presented this massive championship ring to Blanda. A large round brilliant cut diamond is set atop a black onyx
stone on the face of the striking 14-karat gold ring. “OAKLAND RAIDERS AFL CHAMPIONS”
surrounds the perimeter in raised letters. The left shank has the game’s
final score “OAKLAND RAIDERS 40 HOUSTON OILERS 7” above the AFL and NFL
logos with the word “PRIDE” below in raised letters. The right shank has “G. BLANDA” and
“QUARTERBACK” flanked by "0" (?) and "16" (his jersey number) in raised letters above the Raiders logo.
“POISE” is engraved on a ribbon below. On the bottom of each side is a football engraved “19” on the left shank and "67" on the other to denote the year. Interior of the band is stamped by maker, "John Roberts 14K”.
The ring
is size 11.5 and weighs 30 grams. It shows very light wear and presents majestically. (Blanda was known to primarily wear his Hall of Fame ring--image attached.) It comes in its original black wood presentation box with an engraved plaque
reading “Presented to GEORGE BLANDA QB 16 For your contribution to the
1967 American Football League Champions OAKLAND RAIDERS”. The box has
some slight edge wear from storage. The tremendous ring from a first-ballot Hall of Famer represents Oakland's only AFL Championship and is one of the best examples ever offered.
LOA from the Blanda family.