Albersheim's 2014 Winter Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/20/2014
Gust Zarnas (d. 2000) was a former college football All-American and professional football player. Born in Greece, Zarnas came to America with his parents. He played the guard position at the Ohio State University from 1935-1937 and received All-American recognition his last year as a Buckeye. At 5'10", 220 lbs., Zarnas played professionally in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers from 1938 to 1940 and enlisted into the United States Navy becoming a lieutenant during World War II. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American football team that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943, and in 1944 as the Brooklyn Tigers. The team played its home games at Ebbets Field. In 1945, because of financial difficulties, the team was merged with the Boston Yanks.The Dodgers made NFL history on October 22, 1939. That day, at Ebbets Field, the Dodgers played the Philadelphia Eagles in the first NFL game shown on television. The Dodgers won the game 23-14.
We offer the Gust Zarnas 1939 NFL contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers football club signed by Gust Zarnas, 2 witnesses, and Dennis J. Shea (Brooklyn s business manager). It comes with a draft of a letter that Gust wrote to the Dodgers stating he was happy the Dodgers had received his contract rights. He also signed this at the bottom of the letter. RARE historical early NFL pieces from a College Football HOF'er.
Letter of Authenticity from Richard Albersheim