As most Orange fans will know, Jim Brown is famous for wearing the #44 jersey while at Syracuse. Though he was not the first football player at Syracuse to wear the number, Brown’s on-field performance made it legendary. He set the bar high and paved the way for the likes of Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Joe Morris and so many others to follow in his footsteps at Syracuse. It was because of Brown that Syracuse became the premiere school for some of the best running backs in the nation during the 1960 and 1970s. And it all started with Jim Brown.
Sourcing direct from former Syracuse equipment manager Al Zak, offered here is Spalding vintage 15-V collegiate leather game model football that was used in Jim Brown's final game with the Orange. After the game, the ball was collected by Zak and memoralized with a hand painted dedication to Brown, with his name, career touchdowns and career rushing yards all hand painted on a free panel in 'Cuse orange and navy blue ensemble. As expected, the ball shows extensive usage including numerous scuff markings and some soiling. Held by Zak for decades, the ball is accompanied by a copy of a Letter of Provenance from Al Zak which details his ownership of the ball. A terrific relic from the final game of the greatest player in College Football history!