Ernie Davis was the first African American player to receive the Heisman Trophy. The running back was recruited to Syracuse University by Syracuse All-American back, and Cleveland Browns star, Jim Brown. Wearing the same number 44 as Brown, Davis led Syracuse to an 11-0 regular season record, a victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl and the nation's Number 1 ranking in 1959. Davis was an All-American in both 1960 and '61. Presented is a 1960 Ernie Davis Consensus All-America team-signed Wilson football that has also been signed on the panels by nine other members of the 1960 All American squad. Each of the ten valid signatures on the ball also has the applicable player's college, inscribed by the player himself. Imprinted on the football is "1960/ All-America Team." Davis was drafted by the Washington Redskins as the Number 1 pick in the 1962 NFL Draft held on Dec. 3, 1961. The owner of the Redskins, George Preston Marshall, had never had an African American player play for the Redskins, and Marshall traded Davis to the Cleveland Browns where Davis was on track to play in the same backfield with Browns' fullback Jim Brown. But before Davis could play in an official game for the Browns, he was diagnosed with leukemia, and he passed away from the illness on May 18, 1963. In addition to Davis, other consensus All-Americans signing the ball: Ends Mike Ditka (Pro Football HOF) of Pittsburgh, and Don LaRose of Minnesota; tackles Bob Lilly (Pro Football HOF) of TCU, and Ken Rice of Auburn; Guards Joe Romig of Colorado, and Tom Brown of Miami; Center E.J. Holub of Texas Tech; Quarterback Jake Gibbs of Mississippi; Fullback Bob Ferguson of Ohio State. Halfback Joe Bellino of Navy is the only 1960 consensus All-American not to have signed the ball. The name of Joe Bellino is signed on the ball, but the signature has not been successfully authenticated. The ball does not take air, but it is about 75% full of air. The signatures are all in black ink from a ballpoint pen. The signed ball comes with a Letter of Authentication from JSA Authentication, and that LOA authenticates all of the signatures on the ball except that of Joe Bellino. The JSA/LOA also states the signatures on the ball (not including Bellino's) are real, but that each of the signatures has been enhanced.