This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2013
Vintage November 22, 1939 payroll check from the Philadelphia Eagles Pro Football Club signed by president de Benneville Bell and made out to David O'Brien. O'Brien was the 1938 Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award winner before playing quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played only 2 years with the Eagles, leading the NFL in several passing categories, before retiring to become an agent with the FBI. Bert Bell was a co-founder and co-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933. He also coached the team. As an executive he was the creator of the NFL draft. In 1940 he bought part of the Pittsburgh Steelers and was elected commissioner of the National Football League in 1946, a post he held until his death in 1959. Under his tenure Bell negotiated the merger of the NFL with the AAFC, unilaterally recognized the NFLPA, assisted in negotiating the first pension plan for the players, enacted an anti-gambling resolution into the NFL constitution, developed regular season schedules with the purpose of increasing the competitive balance within the league and persuaded the owners to act together to enhance the league's popularity and it's financial viability. For his many accomplishments as commissioner, Bell was posthumously inducted into the charter class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. Bell has signed on the front in strong 9-10/10 looking vintage blue ink with O'Brien endorsing the check on the back in 9/10 black ball point pen.
Slabbed Authentic by Beckett Grading Services (JSA)