Lot # 19: Jim Brown Game Used Football from Syracuse Game in 1956, where he Scored 43 Points. One of 2 Balls - Jim Brown Owns the other one. LOA from Owner, Al Zak

Category: Memorabilia

Starting Bid: $3,500.00

Bids: 7 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "20th Anniversary Auction",
which ran from 9/18/2020 4:30 PM to
10/10/2020 7:00 PM




(LOT 19)
Jim Brown Game Used Football from Syracuse Game where he Scored 43 Points. One of 2 Balls - Jim Brown Owns the other one. LOA from Original Owner, Al Zak

James Nathaniel Brown, born February 17th, 1936 was a fullback for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. Considered by many as the best NFL player of ALL-TIME, he quickly amassed a laundry list of accomplishments in which he was an NFL Champion, a 9X Pro Bowl Participant, a 3X NFL MVP, NFL Rookie of the Year in 1957, an 8X NFL Rushing Yards Leader, a 5X NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader, NFL 50TH, 75TH and 100TH Anniversary All-Time Team Member and the list goes on. But before that, came Jim Brown, the Unanimous All-American from Syracuse University. UNANIMOUS ALL-AMERICAN in 1956 at Syracuse University will resonate from this second on because what our company Memory Lane, Inc. has to offer here is a museum piece that could find its way into your Cleveland Brown's and/or Jim Brown man cave while proudly standing tall as the Holy Grail of that said collection.

Before we discuss the item at hand, it is significant to know that the immortal Jim Brown, College and NFL Hall Of Famer attended Syracuse University. This Orangemen was a sophomore at Syracuse University in 1954, where he was the second-leading rusher on the team. As a junior, he rushed for 666 yards (5.2 per carry), and in his 1956 senior year, Brown was a consensus first-team All-American. He finished 5th in the Heisman Trophy voting and set school records for highest season rush average (6.2) and most rushing touchdowns in a single game. He ran for 986 yards—third-most in the country despite Syracuse playing only eight games—and scored 14 touchdowns. Yet, for all his worldly achievements, his greatest collegiate performance was showcased in the regular-season finale, a 61–7 annihilation of Colgate when he rushed for 197 yards, scored 6 touchdowns, and kicked 7 extra points for a school-record 43 points. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, incredible as it may seem, Jim Brown scored 43 points all ON HIS OWN via his 6 Touchdowns and 7 KICKED EXTRA POINTS! Simply stated, that's how they did it back in the 1950's in college football. This was an NCAA record.

And now, the centerpiece of all centerpieces comes this Game Used Painted Football that was used in that epic game where the Syracuse Orangemen beat the Colgate Red Raiders, 61-7. The date was November 17th, 1956 and the game was played at Archibald Stadium to a sellout crowd of 39,701 people. Even the Governor Of New York, W. Averell Harriman was in attendance to witness Jim Brown's last home game. Brown, then a 20-year-old senior who would spend most of his time at Syracuse University impressing fans in football, lacrosse, basketball and track & field; and the fact that he rushed 22 times through the Colgate defense for 197 yards while scoring 43 points in his final home game truly justifies the notion that Brown was an unstoppable "Mack Truck."

Almost 64 years later, comes this painted football, used in that hallowed game. Its impeccable provenance comes from AL ZAK, equipment manager for the Syracuse Orangemen, who at that time wrote, "To Whom It May Concern, This Spalding J5V Football was one of the two balls actually used in a game between Colgate and Syracuse on November 17th, 1956. Jim Brown scored 43 points in the game, an NCAA record. I was head equipment manager for the team for many years including 1956. Jim Brown owns the other game ball. Jim scored 6 touchdowns and kicked 7 extra points. This game was also the last game Jim played at Archibald Stadium. I kept the ball after the game because of the fantastic performance by Brown. Syracuse won 61-7." Signed by AL ZAK in blue ball point pen, it stands as a stunning testament honoring the great Jim Brown, who many historians still regard as the best NFL football player to ever step foot on the gridiron.

On the Spalding Label side reads, "Defeated Colgate". Lower left reads, "Syracuse" followed by "University" on the lower right. In the middle above the J5-V reads, "61-7". Opposite panel, at the top reads, "GAME BALL" and under the inflating needle hole reads, "Jim Brown" and to the left, "6 Touchdowns" and to the right, "7 Extra Points". Below "Jim Brown" reads "Scored 43 Points, November 17th, 1956".

This pigskin represents a moment in time when a humble kid from St. Simons Island, Georgia moved to Manhasset Long Island at the age of 8 and later attended Manhasset Secondary School where he earned 13 letters playing football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and track; then moving on to crush records at Syracuse University and eventually becoming the 6th pick in the 1st round of the 1957 NFL Draft. To reiterate, Jim Brown ultimately became both a College and NFL Football Hall Of Famer, as well as a member of the National Lacrosse Hall Of Fame. Had he not retired after the 1965 campaign at the early age of 30 to pursue an acting career, he would have unquestionably set rushing records that would never be broken. This football relic accompanied by a bona-fide letter of provenance from AL ZAK (former SU Equipment manager), is one item in this auction you DON'T want to miss; truly sufficing as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a unique piece of FOOTBALL HISTORY. "Quite Possibly, the greatest college football game ball extant"..

MIN BID $3,500
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