Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction December 2022
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/13/2022
Despite considerable animosity between the rival leagues, the upstart AFL's best met the top club in the older and more established NFL in the AFL-NFL World Championship Game - later to be known as Super Bowl I. With sportswriters and fans alike believing the NFL's Green Bay Packers to be the superior team to the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs, the monumental and historic match that served as the genesis of one of sport's greatest spectacles took place at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, on the 15th of January, 1966. Led by the contest's eventual MVP Bart Starr, Green Bay took control by a small margin of just four points at the half, with the Chiefs actually outgaining the Pack in total yards. In the second half, Green Bay's Willie Wood would spark the catalyst, with the Packers adding 21 unanswered points for a tremendous and memorable 35-10 victory.
Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, recognized as the anchor of Green Bay's defense throughout the 1960s while leading the club to five NFL championships, would excel at run stopping and pass coverage for the Packers in the pivotal match. The University of Illinois alum would also contribute six tackles and a sack. We here at Classic Auctions are honoured to offer to the hobby what we consider one of the greatest awards in the entire discipline of trophy and ring collecting, with the 14K gold and diamond ring presented to Nitschke for the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl I championship.
Size 13 1/2 with an approx weight of 40 grams, a raised globe with encrusted diamond dominates the top of the tableau, encircled by "1966" at each side, and "World Champions" above and "Green Bay Packers" below in raised letters. The right shank features a centered Packers helmet with emblem, with a football below and "Nitschke" engraved in the banner above. The left shank sports a raised NFL logo centered with the score of Super Bowl I above, and "Harmony", "Courage" and "Valor" below. The inner band is stamped "Josten 14K", with the "J" mostly worn away. Regarding condition, the hugely important keepsake exhibits just light wear from use, including a few small and minor scratches, as well as a couple small dings along edges of the band and shanks.
Presented to one of the Green Bay Packers most prestigious Hall of Famers for the colossal victory at Super Bowl I, we feel confident in naming the offered ring one of the greatest Super Bowl prizes ever available to the collecting community.
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