His two NFL championships came before the Super Bowl era but for collectors and fans, Johnny Unitas is as big as ever. Johnny 
U’s 1964 MVP trophy, a pair of his cleats, a helmet and a jersey sold for over $183,000 combined at the Super Bowl 50 Auction in San Francisco over the weekend.
The items were part of a huge collection of historic football memorabilia owned by long-time collector Duke Hott.
The auction, spread out over two days with internet only items up for grabs through Monday, was held at the Moscone Center ahead of Sunday’s clash between the Broncos and Panthers in Santa Clara.
The 15 1/2″ high MVP award sold for $69,000. Unitas led Baltimore to a 12-2 record and a berth in the 1964 NFL Championship Game. The 1960s era Unitas helmet carried a decades-old autograph and sold for $57,500 while a pair of cleats the late Hall of Fame quarterback gave Hott sold for $31,625 and the late 1960s jersey went for $25,875. Final prices include a 15% buyer’s premium added to all winning bids.
Hott’s collection included numerous vintage Colts pieces including a 1960s Jim Parker jersey, which brought $20,700, a Raymond Berry shirt that soared to $19,550 and a Lenny Moore jersey which realized $13,800.
Items from the career collections of Gale Sayers and Tony Dorsett were up for grabs with Sayers’ NFL 75th Anniversary Team trophy bringing $12,650.
Hunt Auctions’ partnership with NFL Auctions generated some popular pieces directly from the playing field during the current season. A jersey worn by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sold for $21,850, a J.J. Watt Texans’ jersey from an October contest realized $20,125, an October ‘bumble bee’ throwback donned by Steelers star Antonio Brown was acquired for $16,100 and a jersey worn October 4 in what could be Peyton Manning’s final season sold for $10,350.
Another jersey worn in Joe Montana’s 1994 season with the Kansas City Chiefs sold for $9,200.
Over 200 online only items are currently being offered through Monday at HuntAuctions.com.
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