Displayed is a 1979 Rocky Bleier signed Pittsburgh Steelers ceramic statue of the immensely popular running back. Bleier helped Notre Dame to win the National Championship and in '68 was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for the team that season. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army and volunteered for duty in Vietnam. As a Specialist 4, he was a grenadier who operated a grenade launcher. While on patrol in Vietnam, he was shot by a bullet in his left leg, and his right leg and foot were injured in the same action by a grenade. He was awarded a Silver Star and a Purple Heart, but doctors told Bleier that he would never play football again. But the Steelers' owner, Art Rooney Sr., never gave up on Rocky, and Rooney sent Bleier a postcard that read, "Rock - the team's not doing well. We need you. Art Rooney." Bleier was discharged from the Army in July of 1970, and he was placed on injured reserve that year. Fans from all over the country rooted for Bleier to come back. He played on special teams in 1971, and by 1972 he was seeing playing time as a running back. He became a starter in the backfield with Franco Harris. Bleier helped the Steelers in the team's greatest years, and Rocky was a part of four Super Bowl Championships Steelers teams, and he played through the 1980 season. Rocky finished his career with 3,865 yards rushing, 136 pass receptions for 1,294 yards, and 25 total touchdowns. The offered ceramic statue stands 10.5" tall and is 4.5" at its widest (at the feet). The offering weighs 28.6 ounces. Rocky's number "20" appears in five places on the statue, and the face of the offering includes a thick and wide Rocky Bleier style, and '70s style, handlebar mustache. The item is handmade and hand-painted; the artist's initials are on bottom, along with "79" for year. There are a few barely noticeable places, of about a quarter inch or less, where the paint has chipped, but overall, the statue is in EXCELLENT condition - this item once belonged to Rocky, and it came from his collection. Bleier signed in gold on the helmet and just below his signature, also writing in gold, Rocky inscribed "#20."