Jerseys Worn By Steelers' Legends Going Up For Auction
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Though the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise spans more than eight decades, the "goliaths of the gridiron" who started a legacy of Super Bowl stardom did their work in the '70s.
Jerseys worn by legends past were displayed in the Great Hall of Heinz Field.
"This is basically the holy grail of football memorabilia you're looking at right now," Lelands Auction Chairman Josh Evans says of game-worn Steeler jerseys that will be sold, online, to the highest bidder.
"The bidding will go until March 17. You have to get initial bids in, though, I believe, by 9 o'clock," he said.
Online bidding at www.lelands.com has already gone to five figures and climbing.
Game-worn jerseys range from Terry Bradshaw to Franco Harris, the combination who completed the "Immaculate Reception," which won a playoff game more than 40 years ago.
"The Steel Curtain years, there's nothing like it," the Lelands chairman said. "And these are things that just don't exist. Everybody held on to the stuff."
Thanks to photographs, he says they're sometimes able to tell the exact game in which a jersey was worn.
"The numbering, or lettering, relates to the plate and other lines, such as this repair mark," he demonstrates. "They show up in the right photographs, taken that day in that game."
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A portion of the proceeds go to the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research. Finally, we had to ask the expert what that stolen Tom Brady jersey would be worth.
"I valued it at a million, because of the intrigue," he said.
That should cover the bail of whoever stole it.
Leland's president Mike Heffner tells the "KDKA Morning News" the Steelers collection is unique
"I don't know any other team that has an archive like the Steelers...They had the foresight to keep the jerseys, or at least some of them from the 60s and 70s and it's just amazing because no other team in the league has kept their jerseys like this," Heffner said.
Heffner says they are excited to be a part of the auction with the Steelers.
"If I had the choice of any team in the league to sell memorabilia from, it would be the Steelers," Heffner said.
