April 11, 2013: Sports & Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2013
"Blood" wasn't a nickname — it was actually an alias that allowed John McNally to test the waters of the fledgling NFL while he still had one year of college eligibility remaining. The name also belies the character. McNally wasn't the archetypal bruiser so stigmatizing early gridiron stars. Instead, he was a cerebral novelty (graduating from high school at age 14), and he matured into a multi-talented athlete with the gift of speed. His presence was the engine providing four championships for the Green Bay Packers of yore, and his enduring stardom guaranteed a charter niche in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though Blood McNally was an on-field performer, often testing accepted protocol, he was privately withdrawn, preferring anonymity. And it's because of this element in his being that his autograph doesn't easily yield to today's collectors. Here, though, is one such, placed in ballpoint pen on a 8x10 photo. He signed this photo in the top left against sky backgroud so it shows up perfectly and is very clear except for the last couple letters of his last name. The signature reads, "To W.C. Curtis, Hello! on my 68th Birthday, Johnny Blood McNally." The signature is authenticated by PSA/DNA and arrives with a full LOA. It's hard to beat this one if you are a big-time Packers collector.
Johnny "Blood" McNally Signed 8x10 Photo (PSA/DNA)
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