CIRCA 1933-34

Cream colored cotton durene jersey has full length cuffed sleeves, each decorated with a trio of accent stripes, and there are sewn in elbow pads. The number "77" appears on both front and back in applied felt lettering. The non-serif font is consistent with a style utilized by the Bears in the period and represents one of at least two different varieties employed. MEARS relays, in the included documentation, their findings that the numbers are all original, and the material out of which the jersey is constructed is consistent with that of the small population of others known. The crotch strap has been near fully removed along with any manufacturer's tagging. This was done by the team at the time of issue and is a Grange specific characteristic. He can be seen in an image taken upon his retirement following the 1934 season holding up his home jersey with this same modification. Appropriately sized for a man of Grange's size measuring out to approx. (40-42) based on the chest measurement. Strong use and some light general age related wear including several small holes and there is minor staining to the lower front. Grange was a star among stars in the 1920s "Golden Era" of college football leading the University of Illinois Fighting Illini to a National Championship in 1923. The following year he became the first unanimous All-American selection in history and was named the Big Ten Most Valuable Player. Shortly after his final game with the school in 1925 he joined the Chicago Bears of the fledgling National Football League. He drew enormous crowds in his first season and then embarked on a barnstorming tour across the country which helped to engage even more of the public with the then growing NFL. After a failed attempt to drum up interest in a new League (the AFL) in 1926 he spent 1927 with the New York Yankees (whom had shifted from the AFL to NFL) and was sidelined by injury for all of 1928. He rejoined the Bears in 1929 and would help shepherd the team through some of their most notable seasons including Championship campaigns in 1932 and 1933. He remains among professional footballs' most noted and revered early figures. The offered example represents the only Grange jersey with substantive attribution which has come to public auction in as far back as a search of records allows. Includes LOA from MEARS (graded "A8"): EX