One of the most historic pieces in Packers history is going up for auction

GREEN BAY – From a historical standpoint, it could be the most valuable piece of Green Bay Packers memorabilia ever sold.

That’s what Packers historian and former Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter Cliff Christl wrote after a 2017 auction in which the franchise certificate issued to the Packers by the NFL when they became a community-owned team in the early 1920s was purchased for $19,550.

It comes from the archives of Joe Carr, who was serving as NFL president when the certificate was presented. It is also signed by him, presenting a rare example of his signature.

Packers fans and NFL collectors now have a second chance to own the certificate, which will be auctioned by Heritage Auctions at its Summer Platinum Night Auction taking place August 23-25.

The winner will pay much more for it than the first time it was auctioned, for two big reasons.

Bidding, including buyer’s premium, has already surpassed $27,000.

But the most important thing is that now everyone understands what the article is and what it represents.

When the certificate went up for auction at the Super Bowl LI auction in Houston in February 2017, it became clear to some savvy bidders that the auction house organizing the event didn’t realize how historic the document was, in part because it wasn’t dated. The certificate came directly from Carr’s family.

Heritage Consignment Director Tony Giese, a Wisconsin native who graduated from Coleman High School in 1995 and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2000, was present at the auction and was one of the people who understood the significance of the item and what it represented.

Although he is a lifelong Packers fan and collector, he did not bid because his interest is in the uniforms and photographs.

“I knew what it was,” Giese said. “It wasn’t a surprise or anything like that. One of the big draws is that Joe Carr kept it in his collection and kept it with him. He died in 1939 and the fact that he kept it makes it even better. Joe Carr really is the guy who helped make the NFL what it is. If he thought about it enough to keep it, there’s a reason he did.”

Although there is no date on the certificate, Heritage said it likely dates to 1923, the year the team changed its name.

The Green Bay Football Cooperation was the beginning of the franchise’s history, and considering the team remains the only community-owned team in the NFL, the certificate represents its beginnings in a way that no other piece of memorabilia does.

“It is hard to imagine another document or artifact that better symbolizes what this historic franchise represents,” Christl wrote.

The certificate has an estimated value of at least $50,000, but for a historic item where there is only one, it’s a rough estimate of how high it could go.

“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it’s the most important piece of Packers memorabilia I’ve ever seen,” Giese said. “There are Don Hutson uniforms. There are Bart Starr uniforms. There are pieces that (Vince) Lombardi has worn.

“But this is the piece that really cemented them as a community-owned franchise, which is so big and has always been talked about over the decades. The only community-owned franchise, the only small-market franchise that really survived. This is the document that brought them back into the NFL. … They were kind of in limbo for a while. This piece brings the whole organization together and adds a lot of charm.”

One might wonder if the Packers would be interested in purchasing the item to preserve their own history. A replica of the certificate is on display at the Packers Hall of Fame.

But as a community-owned team, it might be a little more difficult to do so. While a team owner like Jim Irsay of the Indianapolis Colts is a well-known collector, who exactly is footing the Packers’ bill? Who decides how much to pay?

The Packers did not respond Monday or Tuesday to a question about whether they would be interested in the article.

There’s always the chance the Packers get the best of both worlds, one where they don’t have to buy it but the auction winner donates or loans it to the team to display.

Several notable Packers Hall of Fame items belong to private collectors who have loaned their prized possessions to the museum.

“There are a lot of Packers buyers, not just in Wisconsin but around the world,” Giese said. “There aren’t a lot of really interesting artifacts from the early Packers. You can find stuff from the 40s, 50s and of course 60s, but if you go back to that era, there aren’t a lot of high-end pieces.”

“It will be interesting to see if the Packers get their hands on this piece. They have a reproduction of it, but, gosh, that’s where it should be at some point. Hopefully, whoever wins this will donate it to the Packers. It would be great to see it there.”

The certificate is one of 32 Packers items up for auction by Heritage, a list that includes Jerry Kramer’s 1975 Packers Hall of Fame ring, Dave Robinson’s 1982 Packers Hall of Fame ring and a 1921 Packers Dope Sheet graded an 8.5 on a 9.8 scale by Certified Guaranty Company and is the finest known example.

There’s also a notable item for baseball fans in the state who have an extra million dollars and some change lying around.

A 1954 Milwaukee Braves game-worn rookie jersey autographed by Hank Aaron, photos of which were matched by Resolution Photomatching, has an estimated value of at least $1.5 million. Bidding is already approaching $800,000.

Resolution located two images of Aaron wearing the jersey, first during a 1954 game at Wrigley Field and again at spring training in 1955.

Related Posts

Manitoba Weather: Showers and thunderstorms possible

National 4-Wheel Jamboree Kicks Off at State Fairgrounds

Foreign farm workers’ labor rights rule faces another lawsuit