This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2011
1945-52 New York Giants 1 3/4" celluloid pinback button with figurine. Celluloid button is in very good condition with slight surface wear and reverse oxidation. "Made in occupied Japan" is factory molded into the back of the figurine, thus establishing the 1945-52 timeframe. #3 stamped onto back of Giants player. Shipping and handling is $6.00
History
1945: With the victorious end of World War 2, life began to return to normal in America, and the NFL, who got many of its stars back. However, up and coming Al Blozis who departed the Giants early in the 1944 season would not return. Blozis would lose his life in battle, and the Giants would retire his uniform number 32 in his honor. The Giants would also experience rough times on the field as they suffer through a disappointing 3-6-1 season.
1946: The Giants rebound nicely off their poor 1945 showing and reclaim the Eastern Division title with a 7-3-1 record. However, the Giants could not contain the Chicago Bears and QB Sid Luckman who was a one-man wrecking crew in the Bears 24-7 win over the Giants at the Polo Grounds.
1947: The Giants never quite get started, and struggle from the very beginning of the season. The defending Eastern Division Champions would not even win their 1st game until November 30th, by then the Giants were settled in last place having started the season 0-7-2. The Giants would go on to split their last 2 games as the aging Giants finished with a 2-8-2 record.
1948: The Giants continue to struggle posting a record of 4-8 as the Giants defense allows a league high 388 points as they allowed 35 or more points 7 times during the season including an embarrassing 63-35 home loss to the Chicago Cardinals and a 52-37 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
1949: After 2 straight 8-loss seasons the Giants show some signs of life, and sit at 6-4 with 2 games remaining even though a Division Title is out of the question the Giants can get a measure of respect if they can beat the Philadelphia Eagles in any of the 2 games to close out the season. However, the Eagles prove to be too strong, and hold the Giants to a FG in each game ending the Giants hopes for a winning season.
1950: The Giants rise back to the top of the newly re-christened American Conference, and put together a solid 10-2 season beating the Cleveland Browns twice. However, the Browns also finished 10-2, forcing a playoff game for a trip to the NFL Championship Game. Making matters worse is that the Giants lost a coin toss, and the game was played in Cleveland where the Browns and Giants met in a Defensive struggle, in which the Browns emerged victorious 8-3.
1951: The Giants put together another solid 9-2-1 season. However, both losses would come at the hands of the American Conference Champion Cleveland Browns.
1952: The Giants would fall 1 game short of first place as they posted a 7-5 record, in which they beat the first place Cleveland Browns twice. However a home loss to the last place Washington Redskins in the next to last week of the season would prove costly.