This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/21/2017
In recognition of his spectacular clutch kicking and quarterbacking at the end of the 1970 season, George Blanda was named the recipient of the 1970 Bert Bell Award. Given by the Maxwell Club, the award recognizes the NFL’s Player of the Year, a just reward for Blanda’s last-minute heroics which got his team into the Championship that year. The portrait was commissioned from All-American and 12-year NFL player Tommy McDonald’s company. After his playing days McDonald and his studio of artists specialized in painting the portraits of sports figures, and this portrait of George Blanda is one of their best. Depicted in all his Raiders glory, this smiling Blanda portrait was commissioned and presented as part of the 1970 Bert Bell Award. The 16” x 20” painting has been professionally matted and framed to 23” x 27”. An engraved brass plaque reading “BERT BELL AWARD 1970 MAXWELL CLUB GEORGE BLANDA OAKLAND RAIDERS” is mounted to the frame. LOA from the Blanda Family.