Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

My grandfather gave it to me back in, like, around 1955, 1956. I think the cool thing about it is, is it's, it's white and it was used in the NFL for night games back in the early '50s for about six years, I think.

APPRAISER

Mm-hmm.

GUEST

But the other thing is, it's autographed by Otto Graham.

APPRAISER

Let's look at that panel right there.

GUEST

Yeah. It's a little faded. My grand, grandfather's name was True. "To True, best wishes to a swell guy, Otto Graham."

APPRAISER

Nice, so how did they know one another?

GUEST

I'm not sure. I was only, I was only, like, nine or ten years old. My grandfather was a very charismatic guy and he was a huge sports fan. And I knew even back then there was some connection with the Browns, I'm... I'm still not sure what it was, but he referred to Paul Brown and Otto Graham as Paul and Otto. My impression was that he did know them on a first-name basis, and, and that would be typical for him.

APPRAISER

And a lot of people don't know really how Otto Graham got started. He is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

And in an era where passing was not as prevalent...

GUEST

Yeah. Yeah.

APPRAISER

...as it is in today's NFL. He came to Paul Brown's attention. Paul Brown, one of the legendary coaches...

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

...and the Cleveland Browns were named after him.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

And Paul recruited him for the All-American Football Conference and paid him $7,500-- which at the time, in 1946, is the equivalent of, like, $100,000 today...

GUEST

Yeah. Yeah.

APPRAISER

...to be his quarterback. And of course, O, Graham did not disappoint. Four championships.

GUEST

Yup.

APPRAISER

And then they were able to get into the NFL in 1950...

Yeah. APPRAISER

...and three more championships.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

Now, interestingly enough, you know,

we're talking about two things

we're talking about Otto Graham, but we're also talking about this football and what makes it special.

Yeah. APPRAISER

It's white! White footballs were first produced for night games in the NFL.

Yeah. APPRAISER

The first night game was November 6, 1929. It was the Chicago Cardinals, before they made it to St. Louis and now Arizona, and it was the Providence Steamroller, and that's when they used the white ball for the first time.

GUEST

Oh, interesting.

APPRAISER

Now, do you know what Otto Graham thought of the white football?

GUEST

No, I don't.

APPRAISER

He hated it! (both laughing) He said they were slippery in his hands.

GUEST

Oh...

APPRAISER

He couldn't get as good a grip to throw them. Graham retired after the 1955 season.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

He actually wanted to retire after '54. He wanted to go out in that first blaze of glory with the la, his last NFL championship.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

But Paul Brown lured Otto back for another year...

Ah. APPRAISER

...for the equivalent of over $200,000. Wow. He was the highest-paid player in the NFL, and deservedly so.

GUEST

Yeah. Yeah.

APPRAISER

And lead them to the final championship in 1955.

GUEST

Yeah, yep.

APPRAISER

Have you had it appraised?

No. APPRAISER

What do you think it's worth?

GUEST

I know it's somewhat rare. I mean, I would think somewhere between $500, $1,000.

APPRAISER

$500,000? (laughing)

GUEST

No, no, $500 and $1,000. (laughing)

APPRAISER

And up to $1,000.

GUEST

Yeah, yeah.

APPRAISER

This is a rare football.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

I, I'm, I don't know if, if one, another one actually exists that's, that's signed by Otto Graham. The other thing about this football is, we don't know the exact provenance.

GUEST

No.

APPRAISER

We're assuming that it was probably used or issued for a game, at the very least.

And that's what I'm going to value it... GUEST

My grandfather kind of implied that it was, but no proof.

APPRAISER

Now, it's not a great signature.

Sure. APPRAISER

Definitely has, has aged.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

And Otto Graham signatures are not rare, because he passed away in 2003.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

But he signed this contemporaneous with his career...

Yeah. APPRAISER

...which makes this, again, rare and desirable, even though it's not in great condition. If I were putting an auction

estimate on it... GUEST

Uh-huh.

APPRAISER

...I'd put $2,500 to $3,000.

GUEST

Okay. Okay. That's great.

APPRAISER

To insure it, I'd insure it for at least $5,000.

GUEST

Okay. That's good. That's great.