Brian Piccolo

This is what the new Bears Coaching staff and team did today, June 16, 2022.  On this day 52 years ago we lost Brian Piccolo. Today, all 90 players are wearing 41 to honor him

Brian Piccolo - Topps Rookie Card  (error - misspelled first name)

"Louis" Brian Piccolo was born in 1943 in Pittsfield, MA, but spent most of his years growing up in
the Fort Lauderdale, FL area. After lettering in several sports in High School, he attended college at Wake Forest University. During his senior season in 1964, Piccolo led the nation in rushing.
Despite his fabulous final year in college, "Pic" was not drafted, despite it lasting 20 rounds with 14 teams. Two hundred and eighty picks, and the leading rusher in the nation seemed not to be wanted by the NFL. Bears owner and coach George Halas stepped in and signed Piccolo as a free agent. Halas actually called a press conference to announce the signing, which was unprecedented for a free agent that did not get drafted. Deemed too small and too slow for the NFL, Brian spent 1965 on the Bears practice squad, while that year's number four pick Sayers became the NFL's rookie of the year." http://www.bearshistory.com/lore/brianpiccolo.aspx

when I was researching Piccolo rookie cards, I came across 2 cards from 1966, The years he actually joined the Bears, joining as an undrafted free agent and two years prior to his official Topps Rookie card.  I noticed the card #'s on the back and compared them to the checklist of cards available in 1966 Philadelphia #199 and Topps #220.  The official checklists ended at 198 and 219.  At this point  I realized they were "home grown" if you will and designed in the same format as the other cards in those series.  So, yes now I two counterfeit rookie cards that were never produced.  I love that!

1969 Topps 4 in 1 sticker card.  They were placed in a special and small booklet of stars of the day.

I have a couple of Etopps Piccolo items (don't even get me started - it was one of those great investment idea to buy and trade cards, yet not usually take physical possession.  I have a couple/few dozen of Chicago Bears cards socked away in a vault somewhere.  I believe they will deliver them to you at $15.00 a card!)

I have the Classic Piccolo and a large poster sized Canvas version from the Trade Convention in Chicago.

The Brian Piccolo/Gale Sayers relationship has been well documented in books and on the big and small screens.  There are a few Brian Piccolo collectibles out there but not an enormous amount of them.

 I found a 1996 SAM’S Bobblehead which is more ceramic than the resin figures that are mad today.  There is a matching Gale Sayers, of which I also own.  They both have the same serial number on the bottom.  I would have to look and see what the SP was to verify it.

The original Brian's Song starring Billy Dee Williams and James Cahn, was produced as a made for TV movie in 1971.

As you should recall the story was based on true facts and covered many facets, including discrimination.  The story goes from their hatefulness of each other to their friendship toward each other and ends with the very sad foregone conclusion.  Great Movie.  Short movie, about 40 minutes.  Won a TV EMMY.

I have purchased the from VHS to DVD.

Here is a press photo I bought of Billy Dee and the Kansas Comet going over some things at a Bears practice.

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Gale Sayers Chicago Bears
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Buy FAR, the greatest collectible I have found is a copy of that 1971 script.  It is in superb condition.  It just looks like it has to be original.  The seller could not confirm or deny either.  It is a nice yellowed color, punched with only 2 holes and 2 expandable clippy doodles, whatever they are called.  Check it out.  Enlarge if you can and do some reading!

Of couse I have the sheet music, by Michael Legrand for the movie

50 Year Anniversary by NFL FILMS (imbedded from internet)

There was a remake done in 2001 starring Sean Maher and Mekhi Phifer.  I puchsed a DVD that was sent out as a promotional request by the studio's for Emmy Consideration

THESE ARE 3 ORIGINAL STUDIO 8X10 PHOTOS FROM BRIANS SONG---STARRING JAMES CAAN, BILLY DEE WILLIAMS,SHELLEY FABRE, JUDY PACE....copyright 1971 Columbia Pictures

Found another picture that the movie studio sent out to the media for promotion of the movie.

The guy that wrote the music for Brian's Song. I bought the album.

Brian Piccolo - (October 31, 1943 – June 16, 1970)

Below are some nice trading cards that depict the actors in Brian's Song.

Above is an ACEO Art Card of James Caan

Here's another Brian's Song press photo that I bought.  George Halas is pictured with Jack Warden.  Warden played Halas in the 1971 movie.