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Lot # 1579: Historically Important 1894 Walter Camp Handwritten Letter w/ First Bowl Game Ever Content

Category: Football

Starting Bid: $500.00

Bids: 3 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2024 Fall Classic",
which ran from 9/27/2024 7:00 PM to
10/19/2024 10:00 PM



A December 19th, 1894, letter written by Walter Camp who is often referred to as the "Father of American Football." Camp, then the coach of the Stanford Cardinal football team, wrote the letter to Paul Downing, one of the captains on the team. The letter goes into detail about the upcoming Christmas game between Stanford and Amos Alonzo Stagg's University of Chicago Maroons. Chicago would win the matchup, considered to be the first Bowl game, by a score of 24-4. The letter is written on New Haven Clock Co. letterhead where Camp is noted as the Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. The item comes from the personal collection of Paul Downing. The letter is in amazing condition, especially considering that it is nearly 130 years old, and would grade out at a 9/10. Camp would continue to coach Stanford until the 1895 season and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. The Walter Camp Award is named in his honor and is awarded to the top all-around collegiate football player each year.

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