My VIP Visit to the 49ers Levi Stadium Museum

I just posted on my Facebook page some photos and descriptions of my recent trip to San Francisco to the private VIP party for the Grand Opening of the 49ers Levi Stadium Museum.  I supplied the museum with my 1940's-50's pennants and they're now up on their own wall in the museum.  

Julie and I standing by my pennants on display.

I was also able to meet some of the former 49er greats that were at the VIP opening.

Facebook Link to the 49ers Museum VIP Event Post

View the pics and comments on my Facebook page.

I had a blast meeting former 49ers players.

So excited that I was able to meet my Football Hero, John Brodie.  COOL ! ! !

John Brodie and Me looking over his display

Not every day you can up against SBXVI & XIX linebacker Dan Bunz...He suggested it.

(Sorry about the video camera angle, my wife was handling the camera, she was trying on such a last minute notice, but you can see what's going on)

Some of the players I met.

Hall Of Famer - Fred Dean 

Bob St. Clair 

Dan Bunz

Trying on Dan Bunz SBXVI & SBXIX Rings - SWEET!

Tony Parrish

Keena Turner

Guy McIntyre

Ricky Watters

Legendary 49ers Announcer - Joe Starkey 

Hall Of Famer - Y.A. Tittle

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

San Francisco Here We Come

The new 49ers Levi Stadium is going to have a museum, and I've you're familiar with my blog you've  probably have seen the TV interview I did with ABC7 here in Los Angeles, during the visit with Jerry Walker the 49ers Team Archivist.  I don't have any of the Game Worn players jerseys and equipment from the past and that is what the main displays in the museum as they open this June.

But, they decided that they would like over a dozen of the oldest pennants, an old 1950's Yell-a-phone and a picture of the 1971 team photo (tray).  They want to make a copy of the photo since they don't have a copy of the 1971 team (odd, but hey glad to help). 

I'm so honored to be apart of my team and have part of my collection hanging in their museum.                                            

                            

I can't wait to go to the new stadium          

and catch a few games this year.

   
      GO NINERS ! ! !

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 !

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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 ! ! !