PDA

View Full Version : Early 70's Rozelle Football



RaiderNationPDX
04-03-2011, 04:06 PM
Fairly new to the hobby (focusing chiefly on NFL footballs); just picked this early 70's Pete Rozelle football restored by Hammer Sports Relics. As has been discussed in a previous thread, great work and a nice guy. Steve didn't know much about the ball except that it came from New Jersey, and I'm hoping someone here can help.

The ball is striped; I know from perusing Getty that the NFL did stripe balls for night games during that era. In addition - drawing off what jdr3 posted in a previous thread from Nov. 2009 - the production code is GG, indicating (?) a ball produced as an NFL game ball (same letter on either side versus a year/month code). Since I believe "G" indicates a year ending in "4," would this logically be a 1974 game ball? Even if this is the case, I'm sure it'd be next to impossible to narrow it down to a specific team or game, but I'm curious if there're any suggestions as to how I might do this.

I'd appreciate any help in confirming/debunking/reorienting my line of reasoning here.

http://www.alex-d-burson.com/Football_71-75Front.jpg
http://www.alex-d-burson.com/Football_71-75Back.jpg

jdr3
04-04-2011, 01:18 PM
It is a gamer from the 1974 season. There would have been no identifiers for what city or game it was used by Wilson.

NEFAN
04-04-2011, 02:10 PM
I have a couple old balls I'd like to get worked on. Will it affect the value at all?

RaiderNationPDX
04-04-2011, 05:53 PM
That was certainly what I was hoping, thanks!

It is a gamer from the 1974 season. There would have been no identifiers for what city or game it was used by Wilson.

NEFAN
04-04-2011, 08:36 PM
I have the same ball but with a D D code. Any ideas as to it's year?

cohibasmoker
04-04-2011, 09:34 PM
I have the same ball but with a D D code. Any ideas as to it's year?

I believe that would be 1971.

slats7
04-05-2011, 02:00 PM
I believe that would be 1971.

IIRC, there were no stripes on the ball in 1971.

cohibasmoker
04-05-2011, 02:53 PM
IIRC, there were no stripes on the ball in 1971.

Humn,

-Here's one "dated" scan

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/84261168/Getty-Images-Sport

-If the 1st scan isn't conclusive, Lance Alworth played just two (2) seasons for the Cowboys, 1971 and 1972.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/78184609/Getty-Images-Sport

Jim

jdr3
04-05-2011, 07:50 PM
The double letter C represented 1970, so the codes would progress as such:

DD= 1971
EE= 1972
FF= 1973
GG= 1974
HH= 1975
II= 1976
JJ= 1977

slats7
04-05-2011, 10:30 PM
Humn,

-Here's one "dated" scan

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/84261168/Getty-Images-Sport

-If the 1st scan isn't conclusive, Lance Alworth played just two (2) seasons for the Cowboys, 1971 and 1972.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/78184609/Getty-Images-Sport

Jim

The second pic is from the 1972 NFC Championship Game at RFK, and the ball had stripes that year.

RaiderNationPDX
04-06-2011, 12:51 AM
The double letter C represented 1970, so the codes would progress as such:

DD= 1971
EE= 1972
FF= 1973
GG= 1974
HH= 1975
II= 1976
JJ= 1977

Anyone know which season Wilson and the NFL transitioned to the year/month coding for game balls too? I have a Rozelle ball w/ large NFL logo that dates to 1984 (GV); allegedly a practice-used ball. Bought it strictly because it was a nice ball, but would interested to see if the coding makes the "practice ball" story unlikely. My understanding is that teams generally convert old game balls to practice use.

miracleonice80
06-14-2011, 02:45 AM
Hi...I have 2 1970's Wilson football for the NFL.....white striped with the smaller NFL shield with H-H and E-E codes on them......so, 1975 and 1972? Thanks for the posts.....learned a lot about the footballs I have.....never knew of the codes.

miracleonice80
06-14-2011, 03:07 AM
When was the last year the NFL used striped footballs in games? I just saw a larger NFL font(1976 and after), and it had stripes on it. Ever game used? Thanks....Tony

miracleonice80
06-14-2011, 12:00 PM
Also, with the larger NFL font(1976-present) and stripes, it has an "A" and an "R" on the ball too.....anyone have any input on what year? And if it was used in a game.....thanks! Tony

CollectGU
06-14-2011, 09:53 PM
I am interested in date codes on the balls from the 80's, can anyone shed light into how they worked post 70's?

thanks in advance for any help.

dave

slats7
06-14-2011, 10:41 PM
When was the last year the NFL used striped footballs in games? I just saw a larger NFL font(1976 and after), and it had stripes on it. Ever game used? Thanks....Tony

1975, I believe.

miracleonice80
06-22-2011, 12:10 AM
Hey everyone.....I have a few 1950-70's NFL and AFL footballs to restore. If I replace the bladders, will a "modern-type" flat head valve ruin the value of the football? Also, I will have to re-lace the balls with new lace.......should the ball keep the original laces? Thanks in advance for advice! Tony

RaiderNationPDX
06-22-2011, 01:49 AM
Hey everyone.....I have a few 1950-70's NFL and AFL footballs to restore. If I replace the bladders, will a "modern-type" flat head valve ruin the value of the football? Also, I will have to re-lace the balls with new lace.......should the ball keep the original laces? Thanks in advance for advice! Tony

If the balls are still doing a decent job of holding air, or even if they display alright without air, I'd personally keep them as they are. Laces that have been on the ball that long likely won't survive bladder replacement, and having original laces is a big plus for balls like that. There are some restorers out there that will stitch in a new bladder (thus avoiding the flat head valve), but the resale value of the ball may be negatively affected in the process.

That said, if it's something you'd really want to do, and you're not worried about resale value, go for it.

tom1315
05-21-2012, 05:41 PM
I was at the Flea Market in Raleigh NC this weekend and at one of the booths I saw a NFL Wilson football with the two white stripes. I picked it up and it has "North Carolina" engraved on one panel so that suggests a college game ball.

It has the "NFL" logo and Pete Rozelle as the Commissioner.

On the Wilson engraved side it has under the 'Made in USA' the following letters
"F D" and then under the 'Inflate to 13 LBS' the number "8."

Can a Forum member translate the above for me?

Thank you, Tom

Go Pack! NC State 1981 graduate

BrianK
05-22-2012, 02:56 PM
I've seen several Rozelle-era NFL footballs with an engraved college name and college striping. Not sure if the balls were used in games, or only in practice, but colleges almost certainly used these balls. Hey, it's a well-made football, why not?

I'm puzzled by the 3-letter date code.

duane v
12-16-2012, 01:40 PM
The double letter C represented 1970, so the codes would progress as such:

DD= 1971
EE= 1972
FF= 1973
GG= 1974
HH= 1975
II= 1976
JJ= 1977

Sorry for bringing up an old post....

But I read somewhere there is no GG code, and that the HH code is for 1974.

I've been looking for GG code ball with white stripes, and I cant even find a non-striped Wilson football the a GG code:confused:

BrianK
12-16-2012, 06:58 PM
Here are a couple pics from an old ebay listing. I think I may have purchased this one for my office. Not sure. In any case, they do exist.

duane v
12-16-2012, 08:11 PM
NIIIIIICE!!!:cool:

Those early 70's striped NFL game issue footballs are my favorites....

miracleonice80
12-17-2012, 01:50 AM
Hi....two GG codes.....one is mint in its box and the striped one has some wear.....Tony

miracleonice80
12-17-2012, 01:58 AM
An I I code......Tony

BrianK
12-17-2012, 12:46 PM
Very nice Tony. Outstanding condition. Thanks for posting.
Can you shed light on the wide "Made in USA" spacing discussed in this thread?
http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=53086

miracleonice80
12-18-2012, 12:47 AM
Hi....I will try and read up on it.....very interesting...I have seen the wide spacing, but never realized that some balls have no Made in USA on them.....Tony

miracleonice80
12-20-2012, 02:07 AM
Hi.....I found another photo of a ball I used to have......seems like FF "BLEM" footballs have the wider spacing so far from what I have seen.......Tony

miracleonice80
12-20-2012, 02:16 AM
1970 Cc

miracleonice80
12-20-2012, 02:23 AM
1973 Ff

miracleonice80
12-20-2012, 02:23 AM
1970 Cc