Talk about being in the right place at the right time. That was frequently the case for super-fortunate d-back Johnny Sample. A seventh-round draft pivk out of the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Sample made his debut with the Baltimore Colts in 1958 and finished his pro football career 11 years later with the New York Jets in 1968. Along the way, he won back-to-back NFL Championships with the Colts in 1958-1959, and both the AFL Championship and Super Bowl III title with the 1968 Jets. This heap of success makes him the only player to ever win an NFL championship, an AFL championship, and a Super Bowl.



For his participation with the ’58 Colts in “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” Sample was awarded this Baltimore Colts 1958 World Champions jacket. This blue wool varsity-style, snap button garment features cream-colored leather sleeves and pocket accents. The left breast is proudly adorned with a football shaped twill plate lettered in blue with “WORLD CHAMPIONS 1958,” surrounding the famous Colts horse with football and helmet logo. Sewn on the interior of the left-side button path is a label with “John Sample” embroidered in white cursive lettering. A cluster of tags is seen on the interior right side with size “44, Dry Clean,” “The Jacket for Champions Tailored by Butwin, The Champion of Jackets," and “Bacharach Rasin Co. Athletic Equipment, 14 N. Howard St. Baltimore.” Ribbed cotton, stretch fabric rings the collar, waistband, and sleeve ends, and the seven metal snap buttons all function as intended.



Obviously, Sample wore this jacket with great pride, on a regular basis. Abundant wear is noted including a 2” hole on the back of the collar, a moth hole high up on the right breast, cracking on the leather sections, fading on the stretch accents, moderate soiling/staining, and general age-appropriate wear. A fantastic relic of a productive career and the long-ago 1958 NFL Championship Game, this ancient jacket is an exciting piece of football history.   Opening Bid $900.