Huggins and Scott Auctions takes great pleasure in presenting treasures from the estate of Arthur J. “Dutch” Bergman. A halfback for Notre Dame from 1915-1916, and 1919, Bergman went on to a lengthy career as a college football coach, along with shorter stints in basketball and baseball. Held by the Bergman family for more than one hundred years, these ancient relics make their way to the market for the first time in our current auction.



Back home from military service during WWI, Arthur "Dutch" Bergman rejoined the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team in 1919, playing alongside George "The Gipper" Gipp, and many other gridiron greats, under second year head coach Knute Rockne. As a valued member of the team, Bergman came into possession of the offered 1919 Notre Dame national champions team photo. The astonishing roster of pictured players and coaches is made up with Notre Dame legends, future NFL and NCAA coaches, College Hall of Famers, All-Americans, NFL players with Pro Football Hall of Famer George Trafton, and of course the greatly beloved Rockne. This incredibly talented squad ran up an unbeaten 9-0 record, which was good for Rockne's first national championship as a head coach, though the University does not claim this title.



Captioned "Western Champions" at bottom center, this oversized Type I photo has dimensions of 13-1/2 x 9-7/8". While there's a bit of surface loss at the top right corner, this condition does not affect any of the pictured subjects. Noted on the reverse are traces of paper/adhesive residue, and minor surface loss, with no impact on the obverse. Otherwise, this ancient relic is crisp and fairly clean, presenting Vg+ details. LOA from Bergman's estate.



The complete roster of players and coaches appearing in this photo is:



Front row: Grover Malone (NFL player), "Clipper" Smith (NFL and college coach), Walt Miller (college coach), Leonard Bahan (1919 ND captain, NFL player), Joe Brandy (1919 ND QB, college coach), Norm Barry (NFL player and coach. won 1925 NFL championship as coach of the Chicago Cardinals), Dave Hayes (NFL player);



Middle row: Knute Rockne (1919 ND head coach, CHOF), Roger Kiley (NFL player, college coach), George Trafton (NFL player and coach, HOF), "Slip" Madigan (college coach, CHOF), Frank Coughlin (NFL player and coach), Jim Dooley, "Fritz" Slackford (NFL player), Gus Dorais (1919 ND assistant coach, NFL and college coach, pre-NFL pro player, CHOF);



Back row: "Dutch" Bergman (NFL and college coach, led Washington Redskins to 1943 NFL championship game), "Hunk" Anderson (NFL player and coach, college coach, CHOF), George Gipp (CHOF), "Buck" Shaw (NFL and college coach, CHOF, won 1960 NFL championship as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles), Bernard Kirk, Eddie Anderson (NFL player, college coach, CHOF).

Opening Bid $1,000.