Heritage Sports Collectible Auction is excited to announce that catalogs for our highly anticipated November Sports Auction will mailing out today, October 16th, and should be arriving on doorsteps within days. There are two catalogs for the auction consisting of nearly 1,000 pages. If you would like to receive a catalog, please click here to order now.
John Kindler Collection Presents Best Super Bowl Era and Heisman Trophy Winner Game Worn Jerseys in Hobby History
It has been twenty years since John Kindler left his family one of the most significant personal collections of game worn football jerseys ever assembled, and it took that long for the Kindlers to come to terms with the notion of parting with it. Kindler’s son Ian is quick to report that the pursuit of the next gridiron garment was his father’s greatest passion, his collection the thing that most succinctly defined this important pioneer of the hobby. Ian’s fondest memories of his father involve their shared pursuit of the next addition to the collection. “He got into it first through UCLA equipment managers,” Ian explained. “UCLA was his first love. Then it grew through those relationships, cold calling, and the fact that he somehow knew the sport would explode and very few were doing what he did. He focused on game used jerseys. Somehow he knew that would matter. UCLA, NFL, Heisman winners, and certain UCLA-related NBA was his focus.”
By the time of the elder Kindler’s 1994 passing, his collection had swollen to more than 250 jerseys, representing two decades of single-minded determination. In his earliest days of the hunt, just after his graduation from college, John Kindler was among the first game used jersey collectors in the country, reaching out to team sources who were often confused at the young man’s request for a dirty, old shirt. But Kindler’s charm won most targets over. “He was very social, personable. He’d reach out to equipment managers first, then assistant coaches, management, and even head coaches,” his son reported.
Though his collection may have had little value in its earliest days when few collected game used gear, today the Kindler Collection is estimated at over a quarter million dollars. Highlights include collegiate jerseys from Heisman winners Barry Sanders, Tim Brown, Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker, and professional gamers from Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton and more. Heritage Auctions is proud to represent this important collection, and to honor this essential early pioneer of the sports collectibles hobby. The earliest offerings from The John Kindler Collection appeared in our July 2014 Platinum Night auction, and our November 2014 Signature auction will highlight dozens of important jerseys from this unique assembly. All will be accompanied by a letter of provenance from Ian Kindler.
Highlights from the John Kindler Collection include:
- 1967-71 Daryle Lamonica Game Worn Oakland Raiders Jersey, MEARS A9
- 1981 Howie Long Game Worn Oakland Raiders Rookie Jersey, MEARS A10 – With Bizarre Customization!
- Early 1970’s Earl Morrall Game Worn Baltimore Colts Jersey, MEARS A9
- 1988 Troy Aikman Game Worn UCLA Bruins Jersey, MEARS A10
- 1968-71 John Hadl Game Worn San Diego Chargers Jersey, MEARS A10
- 1978-80 Bob Griese Game Worn Miami Dolphins Jersey, MEARS A10
