This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
Among the spoils of stardom enjoyed by a college gridiron All-American back in the 1940s were
clothing items befitting his exalted status. One example was this magnificent blue and leather jacket that was given to the participants invited to play in the 1945 Blue-Gray Game. One of those BMOC's was Pitt's Ernie Borelli, who owned the jacket for over half a century. Although it has general markings of age and wear, with fraying on the shoulders and minor tears on the back, the the look of the tan-and-grey jacket can be summed up by two words: rough and ready. The crown jewel of this head-turning jacket is the carefully hand-stitched "Blue & Gray" patch in the shape of a football-on the left breast. The interior blue lining is bright and undamaged.