Other than Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb there were few athletes known to more people than The Galloping Ghost in 1925. Red Grange was so good as a college football player that TIME Magazine, which rarely featured sports figures, opted to put him on the cover that fall. He was literally a 
threat to score every time he touched the pigskin—and often did. No one had seen anyone quite like him.
In cooperation with RMY Auctions, this well-known image dating from that season is our Photo of the Day. Snapped by Atlantic and Pacific during Grange’s senior season at the University of Illinois and shortly before he would turn pro. The 6 ½ x 8 ½” photo is boldly stamped on the back with a file date (stamped later) of 1928.
Grange broke into national consciousness during a legendary performance in his junior season against a vaunted Michigan team in which he scored on four long touchdown runs in the first 12 minutes of the game.
Grange would rush for 3,362 yards during his college career, caught 14 passes for 253 more and even tossed a few himself. He was a three-time All-American who was voted the greatest college football player of all-time in an ESPN poll. After his final college season, Grange was signed to a contract by George Halas and the Bears where he became a huge gate attraction, playing into the mid-1930s. His role included defense.
The Grange photo is one of more than 1,200 up for bid in RMY’s Fall Premier Auction, which closes Saturday night.
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