SCP Auctions is thrilled to present the George Blanda Collection in its 2017 Winter Premier Auction (Jan. 4th to Jan. 21st). Three incredible AFL Championship rings, dozens of prestigious awards and several milestone game balls going back to his college football days at the University of Kentucky lead the charge. A quarterback and a kicker, Blanda played 26 seasons of professional football—the most ever—and scored more points (2,002) than anyone by the time he retired in 1976 at age 48.

Selected by the Chicago Bears in the 1949 NFL Draft, Blanda emerged as the Bears’ top signal-caller in 1953 but an injury the following season effectively ended his first-string status. For the next four years, he was used mostly as a kicker. Before the ‘59 season, tired of only kicking, Blanda retired. A year later, the American Football League was born and Blanda found a new opportunity as the starting QB and kicker for the Houston Oilers, promptly leading them to the league’s first two championships. He was named AFL Player of the Year in ’61 when he threw for an unprecedented 3,330 yards and 36 TD passes including a record 7 in one game! He played seven seasons in Houston before joining the Oakland Raiders in 1967 (just in time for the AFL-NFL merger) where his legacy continued well into his 40’s as the most dependable kicker in the league. From 1967 to ’69, he converted a record 201 straight extra points using his patented straight-ahead style. He was named the AP’s Athlete of the Year in 1970 when he replaced an injured Daryle Lamonica at quarterback late in the season and led the Raiders to the AFC Title game at the age of 43, thus becoming the oldest QB ever to do so.

For his career, Blanda threw for more than 26,000 yards and 236 touchdowns, and kicked 335 field goals and 943 extra points. He Blanda was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981 in his first year of eligibility. He passed away on Sept. 17, 2010, at the age of 83.

Online bidding begins on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, and concludes on Saturday, January 21. Make sure you are registered to participate in this exciting auction by calling SCP Auctions at 949-831-3700.  With a rejuvenated Raider Nation now getting behind this year’s Oakland Raiders team,  this auction should prove to a barn-burner!                                                              – Terry Melia