Otto Graham-signed Night Game Football, ca. 1950
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GUEST:
My grandfather gave it to me back in, like, around 1955, 1956. I think the cool thing about it is, is it's, it's white and it was used in the NFL for night games back in the early '50s for about six years, I think.
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
But the other thing is, it's autographed by Otto Graham.
APPRAISER:
Let's look at that panel right there.
GUEST:
Yeah. It's a little faded. My grand, grandfather's name was True. "To True, best wishes to a swell guy, Otto Graham."
APPRAISER:
Nice, so how did they know one another?
GUEST:
I'm not sure. I was only, I was only, like, nine or ten years old. My grandfather was a very charismatic guy and he was a huge sports fan. And I knew even back then there was some connection with the Browns, I'm... I'm still not sure what it was, but he referred to Paul Brown and Otto Graham as Paul and Otto. My impression was that he did know them on a first-name basis, and, and that would be typical for him.
APPRAISER:
And a lot of people don't know really how Otto Graham got started. He is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
And in an era where passing was not as prevalent...
GUEST:
Yeah. Yeah.
APPRAISER:
...as it is in today's NFL. He came to Paul Brown's attention. Paul Brown, one of the legendary coaches...
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
...and the Cleveland Browns were named after him.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
And Paul recruited him for the All-American Football Conference and paid him $7,500-- which at the time, in 1946, is the equivalent of, like, $100,000 today...
GUEST:
Yeah. Yeah.
APPRAISER:
...to be his quarterback. And of course, O, Graham did not disappoint. Four championships.
GUEST:
Yup.
APPRAISER:
And then they were able to get into the NFL in 1950...
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
...and three more championships.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
Now, interestingly enough, you know, we're talking about two things: we're talking about Otto Graham, but we're also talking about this football and what makes it special.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
It's white! White footballs were first produced for night games in the NFL.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
The first night game was November 6, 1929. It was the Chicago Cardinals, before they made it to St. Louis and now Arizona, and it was the Providence Steamroller, and that's when they used the white ball for the first time.
GUEST:
Oh, interesting.
APPRAISER:
Now, do you know what Otto Graham thought of the white football?
GUEST:
No, I don't.
APPRAISER:
He hated it! (both laughing) He said they were slippery in his hands.
GUEST:
Oh...
APPRAISER:
He couldn't get as good a grip to throw them. Graham retired after the 1955 season.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
He actually wanted to retire after '54. He wanted to go out in that first blaze of glory with the la, his last NFL championship.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
But Paul Brown lured Otto back for another year...
GUEST:
Ah.
APPRAISER:
...for the equivalent of over $200,000. Wow. He was the highest-paid player in the NFL, and deservedly so.
GUEST:
Yeah. Yeah.
APPRAISER:
And lead them to the final championship in 1955.
GUEST:
Yeah, yep.
APPRAISER:
Have you had it appraised?
GUEST:
No.
APPRAISER:
What do you think it's worth?
GUEST:
I know it's somewhat rare. I mean, I would think somewhere between $500, $1,000.
APPRAISER:
$500,000? (laughing)
GUEST:
No, no, $500 and $1,000. (laughing)
APPRAISER:
And up to $1,000.
GUEST:
Yeah, yeah.
APPRAISER:
This is a rare football.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
I, I'm, I don't know if, if one, another one actually exists that's, that's signed by Otto Graham. The other thing about this football is, we don't know the exact provenance.
GUEST:
No.
APPRAISER:
We're assuming that it was probably used or issued for a game, at the very least. And that's what I'm going to value it...
GUEST:
My grandfather kind of implied that it was, but no proof.
APPRAISER:
Now, it's not a great signature.
GUEST:
Sure.
APPRAISER:
Definitely has, has aged.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
And Otto Graham signatures are not rare, because he passed away in 2003.
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
But he signed this contemporaneous with his career...
GUEST:
Yeah.
APPRAISER:
...which makes this, again, rare and desirable, even though it's not in great condition. If I were putting an auction estimate on it...
GUEST:
Uh-huh.
APPRAISER:
...I'd put $2,500 to $3,000.
GUEST:
Okay. Okay. That's great.
APPRAISER:
To insure it, I'd insure it for at least $5,000.
GUEST:
Okay. That's good. That's great.
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