Albersheim's 2015 January Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/24/2015
Taking advantage of eligibility policies during World War II, Barney Poole played a total of seven seasons for three different teams at the collegiate level. He earned All-American distinction at Army in 1944 and later at Ole Miss in 1947 and 1948.
Throughout his tenure in the college ranks, Poole developed into one of the game’s greatest pass catchers. He hauled in 52 receptions in 1947 alone, a remarkable number for that time period. He still shares the Ole Miss single-game record with 13 receptions in a 1947 game against Chattanooga. Opponents felt Poole’s impact on the other side of the ball as well. He twice made game-saving tackles late in the fourth quarter of the 1946 Army-Navy game, helping to preserve a 21-18 victory for the Cadets. These feats amongst many other fantastic performances on the college gridiron, earned Poole induction into the College Football HOF in 1974.
Poole was drafted in 1945 by the Giants but returned to school and then was taken in the ninth round of the 1948 draft by the New York Yankees of the AAFC. He played seven professional seasons with the Yankees, Dallas Texans, Baltimore Colts and the Giants. Along the way, he had a one year stop in Baltimore during that city's inaugural season in the National Football League.
We are proud to offer the first and only FIRST year NFL 1953 Baltimore Colts jersey to ever come up for public auction. This was worn by Poole in 1953 as the former All American Football Conference club was welcomed to the established NFL. The blue dureen pullover garment features three-quarter sleeves and a white, tri-striped pattern on each arm. In white tackle twill, the two-way end's number "83" is sewn to the back and front and, situated on the vented left front tail, a "MacGregor" size "48" manufacturer's label is accompanied by a washing instructions tag. Phenomenal Sunday wear is evident, with team repairs about the numbers and their surrounding areas, as well as on both sleeves. There is a small hole on the right shoulder, some fraying about the laundering tag, and a degree of separation on the upper portion of the "3" on the front.
In addition to the jersey, we have included an original Associated Press wire photo from November 15, 1953 where the Colts played the Eagles on the road. Although Poole is not shown in this photo (it was an extremely daunting task finding any sort of verifiable game photos from the 1953 season showing the Colts in action); Baltimore Colts players, Carl Taseff and Bert Rechichar are clearly depicted wearing this same style jersey. The Colts would employ these jerseys again for the pre-season in 1954, but changed styles for their jerseys during their second season in Baltimore.
This may be your only shot to own a 1st year NFL Baltimore Colts game worn jersey and one worn by a College Football HOF legend at that!
Letter of Authenticity from Richard Albersheim.
This lot has a Reserve Price that has not been met.