Auction Item Details
Lot 136
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Lot Number: 136
Description: Highly Important 1941 Bruce Smith Heisman Memorial Trophy. Few honors in the history of sport command the highest degree of regard based on a single name title other than "Heisman". The award was born of the legacy of football pioneer John Heisman whose contributions to the game of football may well be the most significant in the history of the game. Heisman began as a player in college the late 19th century but gained notoriety as a coach inclusive of a remarkable run with Georgia Tech compiling 33 consecutive victories between 1914-1919. Heisman was also instrumental in numerous rule changes within the game not the least of which is being largely credited with the legalization of the forward pass in 1906. Following his prestigious coaching career John Heisman took to writing about the sport which had become synonymous with his life. In 1930, Heisman became the first Athletic Director of the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City. Shortly after Heisman accepting the position the members of the DAC became interested in presenting an award to "the most valuable college football player east of the Mississippi" and proposed to name the award after John Heisman himself. Although the demure Heisman initially resisted the first Heisman Trophy was presented to Jay Berwanger of Chicago University in 1935. John Heisman passed away in October of 1936 and the award was permanently re-named "The Heisman Memorial Trophy" honoring the most valuable college football player in the country for each season. Bruce Smith was born in Fairbault, MN and became a hometown star leading the Minnesota Golden Gophers to two consecutive national championships in 1940 and 1941. As captain of the 1941 championship team, Bruce Smith was awarded with The Heisman Memorial Trophy just two days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry into World War II. The trophy itself was originally designed by noted New York sculptor Frank Eliscu and modeled after a young New York University player by the name of Ed Smith. Interestingly, Smith never knew that the session he had modeled for was used for the iconic award until 1982. Standing an impressive 18" tall and weighing 25 pounds the offered trophy features the classic cast bronze player figural positioned atop a painted wooden plinth base. Back area of the bronze is signed by Eliscu with 1935 copyright date and was cast by the legendary New York foundry of Diegs & Clust. Affixed bronze placard on the wooden base displays an embossed insignia of the Downtown Athletic Club and is engraved, "The Heisman Memorial Trophy Presented by The Downtown Athletic Club of New York City to Bruce Smith University of Minnesota as the Outstanding College Football Player in the United States for 1941". Overall condition is exemplary presenting in its original state with unaltered surface patination and original base paint to the wooden plinth. The pinky finger of the right hand is missing and could be easily restored if so desired. The bronze surface and wooden base each have some exceptionally minor white paint flecks mentioned for accuracy only and a few edges of the black painted base show minor surface wear. This particular offering represents a generational opportunity to acquire one of the most significant and iconic American sports related artifacts of the most notable rarity. To date, scant few original Heisman Memorial Trophy Awards have been offered for public sale with this exemplar being the earliest by date: EXEstimated Price Range: ($250,000-$500,000)
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