The 1941 Green Bay Packers were one of the finest teams in the history of the franchise with a 10-1 regular season record. In their final contest, Green Bay lost to the 10-1 Chicago Bears on December 14, 1941 in what would be the very first playoff game between these two teams. The Chicago Bears only loss had been at home in Soldier Field to the Green Bay Packers on November 2, 1941. The Bears went on to win the NFL Championship in 1941 by demolishing the New York Giants 37-9. The Green Bay Packers team featured in this program was extremely talented and if not for having to play a road playoff game only a week after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, this outstanding gridiron squad might have been considered one of the best NFL teams of all-time. The program is signed by 32 members of the Packers including NFL Hall of Famers Don Hutson, Clarke Hinkle and Tony Canadeo (rookie season). The autographs were all applied in blue fountain pen and grade from 8 to 10 in quality. Several of these players’ signatures are likely the finest known period examples. Additionally, quarterback and College Hall of Fame member, Cecil Isbell, set the NFL passing yards record in 1941 was in the midst of a 23-game touchdown streaka Green Bay Packer record which would not be broken until 1993 by Brett Favre. There were many additional Packer Hall of Famers, college, and NFL greats. Each player is listed below. Charles Charley Brock (Deceased 1987): Played for Nebraska and was on the 1940s NFL All-Decade Team. Lou Brock (Deceased 1989): Played quarterback for Purdue. Larry Buhler (Deceased 1990): Played for the University of Minnesota and retired after 1941. Tony Canadeo (Deceased 2003): Played for Gonzaga and was the third NFL player (first Packer) to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame. Larry Craig (Deceased 1992): In 1941, Larry Craig became one of the first two NFL players to be fined for fighting. Ed Frutig (Deceased 2011): A popular All-American at the University of Michigan. Charles Buckets Goldenberg (Deceased 1986): Credited with creating the draw play after matriculating at the University of Wisconsin. He was born in Odessa, Russia and was on the 1930s NFL All-Decade Team. Tom Greenfield (Deceased 2004): Played for Arizona, was an All-Pro, and retired after 1941. Clarke Hinkle (Deceased 1988): Played for Bucknell and is a member of the both the College and NFL Hall of Fame. He retired as the all-time leading rusher in NFL history, surpassing Beattie Feathers. Don Hutson (Deceased 1997): An NFL Hall of Fame member who was the finest wide receiver of the pre- World War II era. Cecil Isbell (Deceased 1985): Played for Purdue and was arguably the finest NFL Quarterback from 1940 to 1942, twice setting the record for passing yards in a season. He retired at the peak of his career to coach at Purdue. He is arguably the finest pre-WWII Green Bay Packer to not be in the NFL Hall of Fame. Harry Jacunski (Deceased 2003): Played with Vince Lombardi at Fordham University and was one of the famed 7 Blocks of Granite. He later coached at Notre Dame, Harvard and Yale. Eddie Jankowski (Deceased 1996): Played for Wisconsin, retired in 1941 and was inducted into the Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame. Howard “Smiley” Johnson (Deceased 1945): War Hero. Was killed in 1945 in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Bill Kuusisto (Deceased 1973): Played for the University of Wisconsin and was a professional wrestler. Joseph Joe Laws (Deceased 1979): Played for Iowa and set the NFL record of 3 interceptions in a playoff game (1944). William Bill Lee (Deceased 1998): Played for Alabama was on the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team. Russ Letlow (Deceased 1987): Played at San Francisco and was on the 1930s NFL All-Decade Team. Lee McLaughlin (Deceased 1968): Played for the University of Virginia and retired in 1941 to fight in World War II. He was also a successful coach at Washington and Jefferson. Carl Mulleneaux (Deceased 1995): Played for Utah State, was a successful coach and was inducted into the Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame. Ernie Pannell (Deceased 1998): Played at Texas A&M. 1941 was his rookie season. George Paskvan (Deceased 2005): Played for the University of Wisconsin. Buford Baby Ray (Deceased 1986): Played for Vanderbilt and was one of the largest players in the NFL. Ray Riddick (Deceased 1976): One of the 7 Blocks of Granite along with Vince Lombardi while playing for the Fordham University Rams. Fought in World War II and then retired after the 1946 season to become a successful high school football coach at Lowell High. He coached the Red Raiders to 10 undefeated seasons, including three trips to the high school national championship playoffs. Herman Rohrig (Deceased 2002): Played for Nebraska and was an NFL official in Super Bowl I. Charles Schultz (Deceased 1989): Played for the University of Minnesota and retired after 1941. George Svendsen (Deceased 1995): Played for Minnesota and Oregon States. He also played professional basketball (NBL) for the Oshkosh All-Stars. Pete Tinsley (Deceased 1995): Played for the University of Georgia and is a member of the Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame. Andy Uram (Deceased 1984): Played for Minnesota and fought in World War II. Alex Urban (Deceased 2007): Played for the University of South Carolina and fought in WWII. Hal Harold Van Every (Deceased 2007): Played for Minnesota and retired after 1941. Front cover of program. Inside profile – Curly Lambeau. Autographs – Riddick, Johnson, Hutson. Autographs – Schultz, Ray, Greenfield. Autographs – Jacunski, Isbell. Autographs – Paskvan, Rohrig, Brock. Autographs – Letlow, Lee, Frutig. Autographs – Goldenberg, Canadeo. Autographs – Pete Tinsley. Autographs – Hinkle, Mulleneaux, Jankowski. Centerfold with starting lineups. Back cover of program. The item “1941 Green Bay Packers’ Autographed Program Hutson Canadeo Hinkle 32 Signatures” is in sale since Thursday, September 4, 2014. This item is in the category “Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop\Autographs-Original\Football-NFL\Programs”. The seller is “bmw_cards2″ and is located in Madison, Wisconsin. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada.
- Year: 1941
- Item: Autographed NFL Program
- Description: Includes 32 players’ signatures
- Team: Green Bay Packers