Description:

Walter Camp
New Haven, CT, December 19, 1894
Walter Camp "Father of Football" Letter, Refers to First Intersectional Game, PSA/DNA
AL

A partial autograph letter (unsigned) with fine content, New Haven, December 19, 1894. Camp writes as the Stanford University football team coach to the team captain, Paul M. Downing. Near fine condition. 1p. 8.5" x 5.5". With PSA/DNA LOA. The last Walter Camp letter we sold achieved $4,250.

In part:

"…I have just received your letter about your Xmas game. I was sorry to learn from that letter - I had no telegram - that your freshmen were defeated by Berkeley. I felt a little guilty because I didn't insist upon their playing more against our varsity but I had my hands pretty full to make sure of the Thanksgiving match and the freshmen never seemed to turn out a full team when I was there. As to your game with Chicago…"

In this letter, Camp was serving as coach for Stanford and refers to the first intersectional on December 25, 1894 football game against rival Chicago, in which Stanford would suffer a humiliating 24-4 defeat. However, Stanford would redeem itself in the following game on December 29, winning the rematch, 12-0! Three days later, Stanford would go on to defeat Los Angeles in another shutout - 28-0.

The intersectional game grew out of the popular Thanksgiving Game and which was meant to be the highlight of the season. In an intersectional game, a previously unbeaten team would organize a showdown against its arch rival or another county team in the state -- or different state's team altogether -- with the goal of becoming the sectional champion. These games were planned only a few days in advance of the date of play and, in the days before the sectional or regional playoffs that we now have, the winner might claim not only the sectional championship of its area but perhaps a state or even regional victory.

Paul M. Downing (1873-1944) was a football player at Stanford University and head coach for Oregon Agricultural College (now Ohio State).

Walter Camp (1859-1925) is credited with having revolutionized the game of American football during his years as athletic director and head advisory football coach at Yale in the late 1880s. He created the "fourth down rule," the "gridiron" pattern of the field, and lifted the prohibition against tackling below the waist. Camp served as the head football coach at Yale from 1888 to 1892 before moving on to Stanford University, where he coached in December 1892 and in 1894 and 1895. He enjoyed a career head coaching record of 79–5–3.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Provenance: PSA/DNA #AO07744
  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 5.5"
  • Medium: AL

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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