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Lot # 623: 1921 Green Bay Packers Program - Second Ever & One of the Finest Known "Dope Sheets"

Category: Football

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 15 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Classic 2021",
which ran from 2/25/2021 2:00 PM to
4/2/2021 11:00 PM



One of two known specimens of the second Green Bay Packers program in their century-long history. Furthermore, this is one of the finest known condition copies of ANY "Dope Sheet," the earliest of Packers programs; only a handful of these monsters of football publication collecting exist. Constructed of the most delicate pulp paper, it is as fresh and supple as when it was first distributed on the fields of Hagemeister Field in 1921, the first season in the American Professional Football Association; the APFA became the National Football League the following season. Spectacular look into both the franchise and the league, the program is like new (not dried out), unlike other examples of "The Dope Sheet" which are chipped, marked up and torn. The inaugural issue previous to this one (also an incredible piece), brought over $14,000 at auction in condition that does not even come close. The only defects of this "Dope Sheet" are a a few of the tiniest edge tears averaging 1/8" in size. From the October 16, 1921, game, 8.5x11.5" program on orange paper is eight pages in length featuring a scorecard in the middle for this game versus the Beloit Fairies who, according to the cover, are "the only team that has defeated the Packers in the three years of their existence." Articles include a preview for a Packers vs. Minneapolis Marines game, total amount of points scored by the Packers in the team's existence, previews for the rest of the Packers schedule and more. In that game, the Pack blanked the Fairies 7-0, and the scoresheet is unscored with no writing anywhere. As good as it gets, one of the finest condition original Green Bay Packers programs extant and one of the finest pieces of early football ephemera known. We have been alerted to one other specimen of this program in a private collection. As for condition, whether this is the finest condition example of any Packers Dope Sheet is arguable, but this is certainly ONE of the finest. Interestingly, pictured prominently on the cover as the first coach is NOT Curly Lambeau but is in fact Joe Hoeffel, who was rightfully the first coach of the NFL team. The other known copy of this Dope Sheet was used in an effort some years back to get Hoeffel installed in the record books in his rightful place as first coach. Joe's grandson, a United States Congressman from Pennsylvania, and others went to the NFL with this clear evidence. Unfortunately, the NFL decided it wasn't worth the time and money to make this change and used the excuse that coaching from sidelines at the time was "illegal" and stuck with "on field coach" Lambeau, ignoring the truth that is made abundantly clear by reading this very program. (Many thanks to Packer historian Mark Schenider for his valuable assistance.)

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