The TRUTH be told... The 1961 Sears All-Star Football Catalog

49er's Sears 1961 All star Catalog

Ok, this is pretty cool.  I don't own this (I saw this too late on Ebay, but wouldn't have bought it for the price it sold for) but, it's content is what the "Cool" part is.  I love finding out about the history of a 49er item (memorabilia) that I've bought.  Some of the important things I like to figure out about each item is;

1. The Date.
2. The Manufacture.
3. Was it sold as part of a set? 
4. What did it first sell for?
5. And, any additional detail.

So, when I saw this little catalog, I felt I uncovered the Holy Grail of information about a few of the collector pieces I have in my collection.  

The football Uniform

Inside the 49ers 1961 Sears All Star Catalog - Pages 1-4

As a kid growing up, as soon as I was hooked watching the 49ers every Sunday morning, I wanted to be like my football heroes; John Brodie, Gene Washington, Dave Wilcox, etc..., and I wanted a full uniform like they had.  Every Christmas a 49ers Uniform was on my Christmas list.  I wanted the entire set, the Helmet with the SF logo, the shoulder pads, pants and shoes and of course a Jersey with the number 12.  

I never received a uniform because my mom was the sole provider for 7 kids, but as an adult I now have a full uniform set just like in the ads above, I'll share that in future posts.  But, it's so great to see the uniforms and other clothing from that era.  

I LOVE the sweatshirt shown on the 2nd page in the center section. I especially love the classic "Shootin' 49er" logo they used on those sweatshirts.  I want one of those.

I would also go for the jacket on page 3.  That kid looks like a lineman from the 60's too. 

The 49er Bobber & The Roko Doll

49er's Sears 1961 All star Catalog - Bobbleheads & Roko Doll

I have several Bobblehead figures, but I love how the bobble on the left side sold for what looks to be $1.99, oh bring back those days. 

In seeing this catalog I was shocked to see a few items that they sold at Sears, like the doll on the right side, known as a Roko Doll by Columbia Toy Products. 

1961 Roko (Gund) Doll from Columbia Toy Products

Close Up of the 1961 Roko (Gund) Doll 49ers emblem

First I was shocked by the $3.95 price..."OH I WISH", these dolls in the pristine shape of my guy go into the hundreds.  I have 3 of these, but only this one is in the great shape and with the 49ers "Shootin' 49er" logo like the rest of the 1961 catalog items.  Also, the back of his neck has the date stamp so I knew he was a product from 1961 before I looked at the catalog.

The Fred Kail Statues

49er's Sears 1961 All star Catalog - Fred Kail Statues

One of those items I was shocked to see in the catalog was the Fred Kail statues.  If you're a sports collector you know the story and cost of these statues.  Look at the price these originally sold for...WOW!  Plus, I didn't know they had cutesy names like "Big Joe Jolter" and "Big Bruce Bruiser" for the 10" high figures and "Little" in the name for the 5" high figures.  Pretty cool.  Boy, if I knew back then what I know now, I would have bought Kail Statues as an investment.

I would love to find the original Thermos picnic kit on the left side and the binocular set.  How cool that would be, but I haven't seen anything like it before.

The Weico & Hedy Glassware

49er's Sears 1961 All star Catalog - Weico & Hedy Glassware

The part I was most intrigued with was this page from the catalog.  I have both of these items in my collection.  The Weico 49ers ceramic stadium ashtray is a standard collector piece (I think I have two) and again I love the original price, $3.98

But the true kicker was to see the "Ashtray" and a "Martini Set" for sale in a boys catalog, REALLY!... Classic!  

New Info: I didn't realize that this Hedy set from Daycor, Inc. was a Martini set.  I have a collection started and I'm missing pieces to it.  And from the ad in the catalog, now I realize I'm missing another piece, a metal football shaped swizzle stick/stirrer.

1960's Hedy Glassware collection

1960's Hedy shot glass collection sizes

So the collection of the Daycor, Inc. distributed,  Martini Set designed by Hedy should now consist of;

9 3/4" Carafe
9" Flask with plastic/metal handle Metal football shaped swizzle stick/stirrer

5" Round Glass Ice Bucket
Large Whiskey Glass - 4"
Medium Whiskey Glass - 3.5"
Small Shot Glass - 3"
Mini Shot Glass - 2 3/8"
5.5" Drinking Glass - Tumbler
4"x4"Ashtray w/ dual football shaped metal cigarette holder
6"x6" Candy dish - Single
6"x12" Candy tray - Double
8"x8" Snack plate - Single
8"x16" Double Snack tray - Double
10 3/4" Large plate - Single
10 3/4"x21 1/4" Double Large tray - Double

Man, I hope this is it.  I'm feeling like a hamster in a spinning wheel, the closer I think I'm getting in completing this collection, the more I find I'm missing more pieces...uggghhhh!  This is a true challenge.

The Sears 1961 All Star Catalog - OPPS!

I am stunned that Sears didn't put one of it's own NFL products into the catalog though.

1961 Sears-Roebuck San Francisco Team NFL Helmet Display

Sears sold these helmet displays (in back of the bobbles, plates & balls) for each NFL team and this is dated and noted to be a Sears-Roebuck product in the back.  I'm sure they caught the problem for the 1962 catalog.   

Still it so fun looking into the past Niner collectables.  
 

Go Niners ! ! !

* * * * The Niners Den Is Closed ! ! ! * * * *

The 1000 Sq. Ft. Bar/Den dedicated to the 49ers
located in Los Angeles county

It's official, the 1000 Sq. Ft. Bar/Den fully dedicated to the 49ers and their history is now completely closed and packed up into 36 or so large plastic bins and placed into storage.  (Has been since August, but couldn't come to grips with it until today).  

So, All the 150+ hanging pennants...

 ...and the non-hanging pennants...

PACKED AWAY ! 

All of the Museum framed pieces...

or other hanging things...

 PACKED AWAY !

All the shelves with figures, balls, helmets, and odd ball stuff...

 

 PACKED AWAY !

All the Hedy Collection Glassware and glasses from behind the bar...

 PACKED AWAY !

All the various pin and button collections...

 PACKED AWAY !

All the old and hard to get hanging posters...

 

...to the posters that were plentiful

PACKED AWAY !

 All of the glass display cases that held chachkas and other odd ball things...

        

  ...1000's of things...

ALL PACKED AWAY !

It's sad, yet I was able to add some of my collection into the 49ers Levi Stadium Museum, for all to see.

Me & Julie at the 49ers Levi Stadium Museum alongside our pennant display.

Regardless if it's all packed away in bins, or up in San Jose on display, I will always have the memories of what each item has meant and will mean in the future.  

And, as always...

Go Niners ! ! !

My Oldest Pennants Hanging at the new 49ers Levi's Stadium/Sony Museum

Sometimes you just have to BOAST about something so cool or that you're apart off.  Well, I'm BOASTING about the fact that I have a display of my pennants at the new 49ers Levi Stadium/Museum.  My pennant display is upstairs and in the new 49ers Sony Museum.  Jerry Walker of the 49ers has sent me this picture that I can now publish and share with everyone.  I'm so proud to be apart of my team and even though I don't live in Northern California, I have a little part of me with my team.  So, sorry about the boasting and the pride, but hey if you've been a fan of the 49ers since you were a little kid and now you get to be apart of the "team", I think you would boast too.

GO NINERS ! ! !

My 1940's & 1950's Niner Pennant Collection perched on it's own display panel in the new 49ers Levi Stadium/Sony Museum

1950'S Gibbs-Conner Porcelain 49ers Bank

1950's Gibbs-Conner 49ers Porcelain Bank

It doesn't get any more classic than to have one of these 1950'S Gibbs-Conner Bank 49ers 8" Porcelain Banks in your collection. This is the first GC Bank I have in my collection and hope to add more types down the road.  The money people pay for these old banks is incredible.  Luckily, I didn't pay much and know a bargain when I see it.  As a collector I realize the rarity of these banks and in my earlier years probably passed a few up just to get to the nice new shiny object that came out on the market that year.

The style of these banks are so classic and l love the hand crafted nature of each teams mascot.  For the 49ers, our beloved Niner even has the '49' belt buckle.  I believe there are other styles and colors of uniforms and will be on the look out as I go into antique shops and the like.  If you know of any other types of 49er Gibbs-Conner banks, please send me a note, I'd love to see it.  

Wow...My 'Signing Day' with the 49ers !

Signing my San Francisco 49ers Contract

It's not everyday that you get a packet in the mail and it's from the San Francisco 49ers, from Niners great, ol' #58, Keena Turner, who's now the VP of Football Affairs.  The packet was a contract/loan agreement for the items I'm sending up to San Francisco for the new Levi's Stadium Museum (See previous post of items going).

 

I wish it were the 'lucrative contract' that some of the players get...oh well at least when I go to the stadium and see my stuff hanging up in the museum instead of my house; I will have a massive sense of pride and connection with the team.

I was told yesterday that my name is up on the Levi's Stadium, museum website contributors page.  Sure enough, and to see my name with some names of former players, families of players and some of the folks that are fanatical like me, pretty cool!   I'm definitely going to be at the museum opening with the rest of the VIP's.  Can't wait.

GO NINERS ! ! !

My name (Michael May) among the 49ers Levi's Stadium museum contributors

Great 49ers Comic

My Son-in-law, Tom Chambers, did this comic for me.  Great Job Tom.

Posters, Posters and even more POSTERS !

I have a small display of 49ers posters in my home office, situated right next to the 49ers Den/Bar.  I wish I could display all the posters, but I don't have the space to do that.  I would need at least a dozen of those dual sided poster holders which holds 24 or so posters from the video store, even then I don't think that would be enough.  Most of the posters are in storage with tubes and rolls holding them for the ages.  Of the posters I could get to, I decided show what poster manufactures and other companies have done, using my beloved 49ers.

The Oldies but Goodies

Older 49ers posters seemed to use art more than pictures.

Classic 49ers Art Poster

Ah, simple artists rendering of all the folklore of the 49ers

The manufactures of these posters

 

   made playing cards of these posters as well.

 ----------------------------------------

Then they used actual pictures

 

My Hero's John Brodie, and Gene Washington...

 They used super thin poster paper so then the manufactures decided to laminate.

John Brodie doing his thing

 The problem is GLARE . . . but it was durable.

 ----------------------------------------

Then as time went on mass production of posters had more 

manufactures trying their hand at immortalizing these gods of the gridiron.

Gene Washington hey what's with the cast?

 They would put their names on...I guess so you wouldn't be confused.  Then for added fun they'd add an autograph.  The problem is, most all of the autographs didn't match the actual players signature.  Probably some worker was pulled aside to sign the printing plate.

 ----------------------------------------

Then advertising companies saw that people really wanted these posters, so if you could print something on the poster kids would be more willing to hang it on their wall, even if it were a public service announcement about, say . . . Drugs

49ers John Brodie DEA poster

49ers Jimmy Johnson DEA Poster

49ers Ted Kwalick DEA Poster

49ers Gene Washington DEA Poster

49ers Dave Wilcox DEA Poster

Now, manufactures could use even a lineman to help get a message across.

---------------------------------------- 

The Gold Rush

Then as the 49ers went on to Super Bowl victory 

49ers SB XVI Poster

49ers SB XIX Poster

49ers SB XXIII Poster

49ers SB XXIV Poster

49ers SB XXIX Poster

after Super Bowl Victory,

...advertising companies knew that 49er fans would be able to relate to their favorite athlete and would place many beloved 49ers into their folds and place them in various ads for poster prints or even on TV.

Randy Cross for McDonalds

Tom Rathman for the Dairy Council

Jerry Rice for ESPN-Monday Night Football

Steve Young for TV Guide

Ronnie Lot for PG&E

And there where some Niners who were going for the female audience...

Dwight Clark for Adidas

Roger Craig for Macy's

 But the advertisers loved JOE - 

Montana that is.

Coors

Diet Pepsi

Mizuno

L.A. Gear

Adidas

California Dental Assoc.

Samsung

Easton

                   
   And much more !

----------------------------------------

Notables and Namables

Nick names and catchy slogans have been added to certain players to lend more of a swagger to their posters.

Rice/Young-The Bay Bombers-2 Versions

Young - Golden Arm

Montana - The Golden Great

Lott - Designated Hitter

Sanders - The Golden Child

 Jerry got a few more than most.

Mr T (Touchdown)

Goldfingers

Speed Of Light

Rice Be Nimble, Rice Be Quick

NIKE even decided to take the Rice a-Roni marketing to the next level with two of the most notable Niners. By making a BOX poster, it actually folds out to a box...great marketing tool.

Jerry has even been portrayed as a Super Hero

 And then some posters of the 49ers don't even need fancy slogans or creative packaging...

Some 

49er
players 

will 

always 

be

      remembered ! ! !

(O.J. Simpson 49ers - Spot-Bilt Promo Poster - 1979 - Autographed)

whether the poster is Autographed or not...

All in all, I have many, many more and could come up with many more story lines, but I think you get the picture...49ers posters are ultimately supposed to make you eventually say one thing...

GO NINERS ! ! !