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Lot # 1176: 1946 NFL Championship Full Ticket - Giants vs. Bears PSA VG 3 (Pop 1 - One Higher)

Category: Football

Starting Bid: $200.00

Bids: 5 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed

Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Classic 2022",
which ran from 5/20/2022 7:00 PM to
6/11/2022 10:00 PM



In the minutes before the Sunday, Dec. 15, 1947, NFL Championship Game at New York's Polo Grounds between the New York Football Giants and the Chicago Bears, both teams were incensed. It had become public knowledge that day that two members of Giants had allegedly been approached by a gambler to fix the game. Presented is an extremely rare proof full ticket to that infamous game. On Saturday, the day before the game, the Giants' owner, Tim Mara, had been called to a meeting at City Hall with the New York City Mayor Frank O'Dwyer, NFL Commissioner Bert Bell, and the Police Commissioner. The Giants' quarterback, Frank Filchock and the team's fullback, Merle Hapes, were also separately called to the meeting. A gambler said that both of these players had several times been offered bribes to throw the game and lose by more than the 10 points that favored the Bears. The gambler, Alvin Paris, stated that both men had repeatedly turned his offer down. Filchock, who denied any knowledge of the scheme, was given the benefit of the doubt and allowed to play the next day, and Hapes, who admitted knowing of the scheme, was suspended. In the game, played before an NFL play-off game record crowd of 58,346, many thought that Filchock gave his best efforts to win, yet he did throw six interceptions, and the Giants lost by 24-14, exactly the 10-point margin that made them underdogs, so that bets made at that point spread were considered a "push", a tie, and bettors' money was refunded. Weeks later, under oath, Filchock admitted that he did accept a bribe, but he insisted that he had given his best efforts in the game. Both Filchock and Hapes were suspended for some time. Neither ever played again in the NFL, but Filchock did becomes the inaugural head coach for the Denver Bronchos at the formation of the American Football league. The ticket is a proof, and it measures approximately 1.6" x 5.6". The ticket reads, "National Football league Championship Play-Off". No specific date for the game is listed on the ticket and the Giants' opponent, not yet determined at the printing of the proof ticket, is listed as "Western Champions". The full proof ticket has been encapsulated and graded PSA "Full VG 3". After this incident, Commissioner Bert Bell was given a new contract and a raise, and the NFL tightened security against potential gambling bribes. The ticket is a important testament to a still mysterious, and precedent setting incident, in professional football history. The ticket is PSA Pop 1, only one higher.

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