Description:

Stagg Amos 1862 - 1965 Amos Alonzo Stagg TLS, great football content!
Single page TLS, 7.25" x 10.5", on personal letterhead. Signed by Amos Alonzo Stagg as "A.A. Stagg", and dated "January 16, 1958". Accompanied by the stamped postmarked envelope, with neat top slit. Expected folds. Both in fine condition.



A letter with fantastic football content by A.A. Bragg, who is considered one of the great innovators in the development of college football. Amos Alonzo Stagg served as head football coach at the University of Chicago from 1892 to 1932. During his tenure, Stagg compiled a record of 242-112-27 and led the Maroons to seven Big Ten Conference championships (1899, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1913, 1922, 1924). Under Stagg's guidance, UChicago emerged as one of the nation's most formidable football powers during the first quarter of the 20th century.


Among the innovations credited to Stagg are the tackling dummy, the huddle, the reverse and man in motion plays, the lateral pass, uniform numbers, and awarding varsity letters.


The letter written to Nicholas Gonis reminisces about how intrepidious they felt about their sons playing football and as such because they were not strong and rugged they "wanted them to have a fair break for making the team", thus requiring them to "play with boys of their age", and therefore "delayed their admission for a year so that they would be more mature physically and they would have a better chance to compete for a position". Stagg also believed "There is so much character value that comes to the boy through playing football …"


Perhaps most fascinating was his comment while in his "position of influence", that he "fought against the trend of professionalism in the intercollegiate game …" and that "in many institutions the game has gone overboard professionally, there have been favorable trends the last three of four years through the larger power and control that has come through the National Collegiate Athletic Association which has penalized several colleges and universities by disbarring them from competition in all intercollegiate sports for one, two of three years …"


A fantastic letter with great content by one of most significant innovators in the development of college football discussing what are still ongoing concerns for the sport as is stands today.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000