This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/3/2012
NOTE: Although the facemask is period, it is not the one in the photo style match. It is original to the helmet when it was given to the original owner, and placed there by the team.
Offered in this lot is, in our opinion, one of the most historically significant game worn AFL helmets ever offered for public sale. A unique characteristic is this helmet saw action with Hall of Fame owner Lamar Hunt's AFL team from its second year of 1961 all the way through Super Bowl I, as well as the following season in 1967. The Dallas Texans, a charter team of the American Football League, formed in 1960 but moved to Kansas City after the 1962 season, as Dallas could not support both the AFL's Texans and the NFL's Cowboys.
Riddell, supplying the Dallas Texans, originally issued this helmet to Danny House (HOUSE written inside helmet) before the 1961 season. House was a high round draft pick who did not make the regular season roster, but nonetheless provides the proof of this helmet being used by the short-lived Dallas Texans club.
The helmet was sent back to the Riddell factory for reconditioning. Still in serviceable condition, the helmet, with same shell base color, was then apparently used during the early days of the Kansas City Chiefs (possibly their inaugural season in 1963).
Period markings inside the helmet provide positive attribution to three early Kansas Chief players, in addition to House as mentioned above. It was manufactured as a Riddell RK 1-rivet, XL Husky shell
with the 1.5 inch-wide center strip (as opposed to the "normal" 1 inch-wide strip found on typical non-Huskies). The helmet features drill-holes that are consistent with a cowcatcher facemask (more on this later with Dennis Biodrowski), which was later replaced by the style currently featured on the lid. Note: Although this is the correct style of mask, it was added by the team shortly before being given to the original recipient. The helmet was apparently taken out of service shortly after the Nov. 5, 1967 game against the N.Y. Jets due to a small fracture located between the facemask and right ear hole.
Four player identifiers are written inside the helmet -- three names and one number -- all of which were documented in photos while still in the possession of the original owner. We believe we've identified all four with a reasonable timeline:
"HOUSE" -- Danny House was the 26th round draft pick for the Dallas Texans in 1961. He did not make
the regular season roster. House's light use probably did not contribute much wear and tear to this gem, making it a candidate for reconditioning and future use along with the club's other serviceable helmets.
"BUCK" -- Buck Buchanan was the 1st round draft pick for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963. It is the opinion that "Buck" written into the inside of a Chiefs' helmet from that era would certainly refer to Buchanan, but finding a pre-1966 photo of him sporting that type of lid in a game would be needed to support the notion that it was also his gamer. Otherwise the best assumption that could be made is that Buck used it in camp and/or practice. Buck Buchanan used quite a few different helmet models throughout his career with the Chiefs, including lids manufactured by Rawlings, Gladiator and Riddell.
This helmet is possibly the first helmet Buchanan used for his first training camp. It would make sense that he tried this XL shell before settling on a smaller one, as opposed to starting with a smaller size, going to the Husky XL, then back to a smaller size again.
"61" -- Dennis Biodrowski wore this number with the Chiefs from 1963 to 1967. Photos and video show
Biodrowski sporting a Husky XL during the 1966 AFL Championship game versus the Bills and Super Bowl
I versus the Packers. In addition, he is sporting the early 1960s cowcatcher facemask that is consistent with the two drill holes seen at the top of the facemask region. While a photo match is not possible because the helmet was re-used the following season, it is the opinion of a noted helmet expert that the helmet offered here is more than likely the lid worn by Biodrowski during Super Bowl I.
"LADD" -- Legendary lineman and WWF wrestling Hall of Famer Ernie Ladd was the last player to wear
this helmet, and has been photo matched wearing this helmet on November 5, 1967 versus the N.Y.
Jets.
Per the letter of provenance accompanying the helmet,
“Here’s a brief history of the K.C. Chiefs football helmet. In the spring of 1970, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Ed Lothamer (DE) for the Chiefs. This was the year they won Super Bowl IV vs. the Minnesota Vikings. It was the 1969 season but the Super Bowl was played in Jan. 1970.
My dad knew Ed Lothamer and had arranged for me to meet him for lunch. It was a great day for an 11
year old boy to meet a pro player.
After the lunch, he gave me the helmet and some advice. The advice was, “If I wanted to get by and
play football, I needed to eat what they served on the training table -- brown bread and butter! I took his advice, and it worked. Now I would like to lose some of those pounds I was so eager to gain 40 years ago. Anyway, the helmet is authentic to the period, whether or not it was worn in either Super Bowl, I can’t say for sure, but chances are good that it was. The names on the inside “Buck” and “Ladd” most likely were put there by a team manager and referred to Buck Buchanan and Ernie Ladd, but nothing is for certain and I can’t verify. The only thing I can tell you is they were in the helmet when I got it. My guess is it was used as a practice helmet later on, and was probably worn by these two. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years. Signed xxxxxxxxx” (original owner of helmet)
With awesome historical significance to a short lived defunct team (Dallas Texans), a new league (AFL) and attribution to the very first Super Bowl (Packers vs. Chiefs), this provenance-laden game worn helmet will be a cornerstone to any advance football helmet collection.
LOA Troy R. Kinunen / MEARS
S0699