Q3702

Early Football Heroes

Ernie Nevers

Collins Cover Announcement 

EARLY FOOTBALL HEROES

Ernie Nevers

My hand painted cachet on this one catches a refreshing moment in the evolution of professional football as it pictures Ernie in a jersey of the Duluth Eskimos. Note the igloo on the front. Nevers signed with that club in 1926 right after graduating from Stanford.

Ole Haugsrud, owner of the Duluth team, which he had bought for one dollar, immediately began calling his club "Ernie Nevers' Traveling Eskimos," and they certainly did travel. Of the 29 games they played in 1926, 28 were on the road. The "Iron Men of the North" as they were dubbed by Grantland Rice, traveled about 17,000 miles in three months from their home field in Minnesota.

Nevers played 1711 minutes out of a possible 1740 during his first season. He ran, passed, kicked, and tackled as well as anyone including Jim Thorpe, Pop Warner, who coached both in college, is on the record as saying, "Nevers was better than Thorpe. He had more ability, desire, and determination."

Ernie had his best years with the Chicago Cardinals On Thanksgiving Day in 1929, he scored every point in a 40-6 victory against the crosstown rival Bears. That 40-point performance is the oldest surviving record in the NFL record book.

I'm pleased to present this hand painted First Day Cover, which honors a great athlete. In addition to football, he was a track star at Stanford. He was a pitcher for three years with the St. Louis Browns and got his first Major League hit off the legendary Walter Johnson. What I liked best, however, was his role as leader of the "Iron Men of the North" when he played for the Duluth Eskimos. Ernie Nevers. Collins #Q3702 - $12.25.