Description:

Walter Camp
New Haven, CT, December 19, 1894
Walter Camp Partial Letter on Football Strategy: "smash in hard and make them play low"
Partial AL
A partial letter written by "Father of Football" Walter Camp on strategies for an upcoming game. 2pp, measuring 8.5" x 5.5", New Haven, [December 19, 1894]. This partial letter was taken from a scrapbook commemorating the Stanford football career of captain Paul M. Downing. In this message to Downing, Camp offers detailed advice on Stanford's upcoming game against Chicago. This partial letter was taken from a large archive sold at Swann Galleries for nearly $10,000 in 2019. Accompanied by two separate PSA LOAs for each handwritten page.

In full:

"They will work the ends occasionally on a quick pass or sprint also perhaps on a double. They will use close interferene and strike the line hard. You must get your guards and tackles lively and make them smash in hard and make them play low in the line. I have already written you that you must have a faster end than Cotton. Perhaps if Pauley isn't putting up a strong game you will have to put Frankenheimer up at end and play Dole half-back - especially when you kick. Your ends must get down under a kick or any eastern or middle west team will get interference found on you and run the ball back for a considerable distance. Code might play end at a pinch but he must run faster if he does. He tackles well. With a week or two to train him you could make an end of Harrelson and play Code quarter but this you haven't got so there's no use talking about it. Play your 'tackler over' more and vary it occasionally. A run by half or full outside…"

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.

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 LOA #AO07756 and AO07757, 09/26/2024
  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 5.5"
  • Medium: Partial AL

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