Jim Thorpe Related Relics

Our friend Jeff Payne, a collector of vintage gridiron memorabilia, joins us once again to share some incredible football history, and artifacts centered on some Jim Thorpe related pieces.

Our friend Jeff Payne of the Vintage Football Community (VFC) never ceases to amaze us with his outstanding gridiron memorabilia and equalling fascinating stories and history behind the artifacts. In this edition Jeff shares some of his most prized pieces that relate to the legendary Jim Thorpe.

Before we get started here is more back ground on Mr. Thorpe...

Jim Thorpe

Born May 28, 1887, near Prague, Indian Territory

(what is now Oklahoma), was College and Pro Football Hall of Fame player Jim Thorpe. Thorpe was an early NFL player and a Gold Medalist Olympian. What made all of these accomplishments even more impressive was that Thorpe was also breaking race barriers to do so as he was a Native American. Born on a reservation, he ended up playing football for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, under legendary Coach Pop Warner. Thorpe not only won the pentathlon and the decathlon in the 1912 Olympic games for the US and played football, but he was also successful at playing baseball and basketball. As a pro football player, Jim played for the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents, and the New York Giants. One season with the Rock Island Independents wore Number 1. He started playing in the NFL at 33 till he was 41. NFL Jersey 2. NFL Jersey 21. NFL Jersey 3. NFL Jersey 1.

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Canton, Ohio is considered by many, including the National Football League as being hallowed ground of the professional gridiron. The city most famously was the meeting place of orgainzing pro football into the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1920, as one of the original founding franchises of the League, the Canton Bulldogs called the town their home. Thorpe was a prominent member of the late teens and early 1920's Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs in 1919 called Legion Field in town as their homefield, and Jeff has some interesting remains of this legendary venue with a fascinationg story that you can hear ont he podcast above. Here is a photo on the pebbles from the 1919 Legion Field.

Real Photo Postcards (RPPCs) are a delightful way to look back in tome at an event, venue, or person. The images are often stunning on these items of interest printed on postcard stock. It is quite remarkable when the stand the test of time a survive damage and deterioration over the last century plus. Jeff has acquired some remarkable RPPCs over the years he tells us but none may be more intresting than the Carlisle Indistrial School vs. Springfield Football ones he obtained. It is a great story that he shares on the podcast episode above.

Here are a few of the images from that remarkable Payne RPPC purchase with the iconic image of James Thorpe.

Jim Thorpe autographs are a prize of any collection, but when it is on an old piece with the man's very image on upon it, that is indeed very special. Jeff has a wild tale of obtaining this Thorpe related treasure and we are happy he share a photo of the piece and the story of how he purchased it.

Here is some more on our guest in this episode, Jeff Payne. An intersting fact is that we did not know each other until recently but we grew up living less than ten miles away from each other.

If you are interested in joining the fun at the Vintage Football Community (VFC), please let us know at pigskindispatch@gmail.com, and we will pass your info on to Jeff Payne.

Gridiron Collector ‣ Jeff Payne

Jeff Payne is a collector of football memorabilia, and he loves the history behind the items he gathers. A software executive with 30 years of experience by day, Jeff has the bug for vintage football items. An avid collector he even takes the time to write articles for Gridiron Greats Magazine and chat pigskin history with associates.

A few years back, Jeff founded the Vintage Football Community (VFC) which is a community of football card and memorabilia collectors who enjoy each others company and want to talk about the hobby in a relaxed, stress free environment. To learn more about the VFC contact Jeff at jefferyepayne@gmail.com if interested.

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Vintage Football Community ‣ Jeff Payne

Vintage Football Community - New Board - Net54baseball.com Forums

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Do you want more on some of the topics covered in today's episode? We have you covered with these related stories...

Carlisle at Army 1912 Part 1

The almost-forgotten game of 1912 between Army and Carlisle may have truly shaped the game and the world!

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Canton Bulldogs Part 4 presented by Pigskin Dispatch ‣ APFA Chapter 04

The results of the 1919 and 1920 Bulldog campaigns

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Carlisle versus Army 1912 Part 2

The conclusion to the legendary meeting of powerhouses Army and Carlisle in 1912

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We thank our guest Jeff payne not only for his time, knowledge and expertise, but also for his great stories and the images shared of the pieces in his collection.