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Early 1970s Franco Harris Steelers Game Worn Jersey
Be prepared, the fleeting sound of church bells and the voices of a choir will accompany this heaven-sent early '70s Steeler #32 jersey worn during the rise of the team to its reign as 4-time Super Bowl champs. We won't say this was the jersey worn by Franco on December 23, 1972 when he caught the pass (or did he?) forever beatified as "The Immaculate Reception", but it was thought to be when it was obtained directly from him after the '72 season, and certainly was worn in games within that time frame. The issue has not been determined with finality one way or another, which is somehow fitting given the uncertainty of the actual play itself. To this day, no one really knows for sure if Franco actually made a legal catch. All that's known is that with 22 seconds left and the Steelers trailing the Oakland Raiders 7-6 in the AFC semi-final playoff game, Terry Bradshaw's desperation heave ricocheted from a collision between Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum and intended receiver Frenchy Fuqua, and was scooped up at his shoetops at the 35 by a trailing Harris who took it in for the winning 35-yard TD. The controversy about whether Fuqua had touched it before Franco, which would have made it an illegal catch, will go on through eternity. Obviously, the "Immaculate Jersey" is a primo collectible, and this jersey was thought to be just that when it was won as a door prize at a post-season banquet in Pittsburgh. The winner, ironically, was Jerry Nuzum, a former Steeler running back from 1948-51, who owned a car dealership in Pittsburgh that provided autos for Chuck Noll's coaching staff. Nuzum then gave the prized jersey to a friend and former college roommate at New Mexico State, Fred Johnston, to hang in Johnston's bar in Clovis, N.M. Fred took it but when he realized most of his customers were Cowboy fans, he gave it to his son-in-law, who kept it in his closet from 1973 on. All involved believed it was in fact THE jersey. However, our research has shown that it may not be, as photos we combed through of Franco during the game do not exactly match the jersey. At the very least, it is a great example of a game-worn Steelers home black-white-gold jersey of the era. The "32" on the front, back and sleeves in white are 100% original. "Harris" in gold on the nameplate on back is original to the early '70s but was recycled by the Steelers, a common practice when they took a nameplate off of a preexisting jersey and re-lettered it for a new player -- in this case for Harris as a rookie in '72. Sleeves are custom shortened as Franco wore them in this fashion. "Sand Knit-Honus Wagner Sporting Goods" label and "Sand-Knit [size] "44" tag on the lower front tail. Two large team repairs on the right shoulder. Nice use throughout. Jersey comes with 2 original Steeler team-photo holiday cards (approx. 7 x 10")personally signed by Franco. '73 Christmas card reads, "..., take care of my jersey." '74 New Year's card reads, "To my good friend..." Both inscriptions in blue pen with NRMT Franco signatures. We'd call the jersey immaculate, regardless of whether it came from the game.
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