Jerry Kramer sells SB I ring, jersey and other items

[Patler]

Jerry Kramer ts auctioning an estimated $350K worth of items to set up educational trust funds for his grandchildren. SB I ring sold for $125,475 and jersey from the game for $45,410.

Article from GBPG:
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2016/02/21/kramers-super-bowl-ring-sells-125475/80703156/

[Fritz]

Man, that is sad. I don't think the youngins understand how different that era was. Players were meat; an asset controlled exclusively by the team that owned him. So they didn't get paid much for the work they did. Heck, I think even in the late 60's and early 70's some of the players still had off-season jobs.

[mraynrand]

Jerry Kramer has auctioned an estimated $350K worth of items to set up an educational trust fund for a grandchild. SB I ring sold for $125,475 and jersey from the game for $45,410.


I fixed it for him.

[Patler]

Man, that is sad. I don't think the youngins understand how different that era was. Players were meat; an asset controlled exclusively by the team that owned him. So they didn't get paid much for the work they did. Heck, I think even in the late 60's and early 70's some of the players still had off-season jobs.

My initial feeling was sadness, too; but apparently this came about not so much from need, but from Kramer wanting to take care of things himself. After just turning 80, he accepted that he wouldn't be here forever. He decided to sell 50 items of memorabilia so others wouldn't have to when he died, and he could do things for his family that would please him while he is still alive. He was selective in what he sold, and did not sell his SB II ring, for example.

[Fritz]

My initial feeling was sadness, too; but apparently this came about not so much from need, but from Kramer wanting to take care of things himself. After just turning 80, he accepted that he wouldn't be here forever. He decided to sell 50 items of memorabilia so others wouldn't have to when he died, and he could do things for his family that would please him while he is still alive. He was selective in what he sold, and did not sell his SB II ring, for example.


That's good, but I was thinking that if those guys made even close to what the guys today make, relative to the times and inflation, then Kramer wouldn't have to sell any of it.

But it looks like he's accepted the situation for what it is.

[Deputy Nutz]

My initial feeling was sadness, too; but apparently this came about not so much from need, but from Kramer wanting to take care of things himself. After just turning 80, he accepted that he wouldn't be here forever. He decided to sell 50 items of memorabilia so others wouldn't have to when he died, and he could do things for his family that would please him while he is still alive. He was selective in what he sold, and did not sell his SB II ring, for example.

This is like when my Wife's grandmother met with her estates attorney, and she said to him, "If I die..."
He had to break the news to her that she was eventually going to die.

[Patler]

That's good, but I was thinking that if those guys made even close to what the guys today make, relative to the times and inflation, then Kramer wouldn't have to sell any of it.

But it looks like he's accepted the situation for what it is.

I have known families of professional athletes who struggled with the disposition of their father's memorabilia. They felt a responsibility to keep it, because "it was Dad's". When you think of the Packers from the '60s, the families might even feel a certain responsibility to the fans. Some of those guys have a lot of stuff. The emotion of getting rid of that for their kids can feel like selling or giving their father or his memory away; yet, other than a few special things that they remember, or that have special meaning or memory attached to it, they don't want to fill their houses with everything their parents did. It can be a very difficult thing for sons and daughters, and not just the children of famous people.

Bart Starr gave a number of his rings to the Packer HOF, and his wife gave some of the jewelry the wives received.

[Patler]

This all reminds me, I have a complete set of Packer Yearbooks, and my kids aren't interested in them.
Should I conduct a Packerrats auction??

[George Cumby]

He's 80 years old and selling it to educate his Grandkids not because he's destitute living in a cardboard box. Not sad, admirable, IMO. His grandkids will have their educations paid for and then earn their way in the world. good stuff.

[mraynrand]

He's 80 years old and selling it to educate his Grandkids not because he's destitute living in a cardboard box. Not sad, admirable, IMO. His grandkids will have their educations paid for and then earn their way in the world. good stuff.

Probably he is just blocking his kid(s) from buying a Cadillac CTS V Sport.

[mraynrand]

I have known families of professional athletes who struggled with the disposition of their father's memorabilia. They felt a responsibility to keep it, because "it was Dad's". When you think of the Packers from the '60s, the families might even feel a certain responsibility to the fans. Some of those guys have a lot of stuff. The emotion of getting rid of that for their kids can feel like selling or giving their father or his memory away; yet, other than a few special things that they remember, or that have special meaning or memory attached to it, they don't want to fill their houses with everything their parents did. It can be a very difficult thing for sons and daughters, and not just the children of famous people.

Bart Starr gave a number of his rings to the Packer HOF, and his wife gave some of the jewelry the wives received.

This is a good observation.

[Patler]

Just looking at the auction site. He auctioned his player contracts.

In 1959 he was paid $8,300.
In 1968 he was paid $26,000.

Some interesting things. Letters from Lombardi, Emlen Tunnel and Jackie Robinson; his handwritten notes on the game plan for Super Bowl-I; lots of game-worn jerseys, some shoes and a beat-up helmet; quite a few signed game balls, his Packer HOF ring and plaque, various sweaters, including the one for the College All Star game.

[woodbuck27]

Just looking at the auction site. He auctioned his player contracts.

In 1959 he was paid $8,300.
In 1968 he was paid $26,000.

Some interesting things. Letters from Lombardi, Emlen Tunnel and Jackie Robinson; his handwritten notes on the game plan for Super Bowl-I; lots of game-worn jerseys, some shoes and a beat-up helmet; quite a few signed game balls, his Packer HOF ring and plaque, various sweaters, including the one for the College All Star game.

" his Packer HOF ring and plaque" Patler

That one jumped opuit at me. That is somehow sad for me. No it's heart wrenching news he let those things go. I remember his playing days of course. That wonderful 1960's Green Bay Packer Team he was a key part of. I don't think about the famous Lombardi Sweep without recalling Jerry Kramers name. Here you will see NO. 64 Jerry Kramer pull inside to set up the Lombardi Sweep:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v3Qgt0Fb8I

and more....look for NO. 64....The POWER SWEEP::

a) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmtVeqMt6dc

B) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBPhz_en4aM

c) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92kkc0Mnjsk

Vince Lombardi: Wasn't he something else. He spoiled you as a Head Coach. :-)

Back to that man Jerry Kramer:

It's sad too for me that Jerry Kramer hasn't made the NFL HOF.....yet. I hope that possibly this news might help to get him that extreme honour before he passes away.


GO PACK GO !