The Super Bowl has a long and glorious history. It's one of the "biggies" in the sports world, right up there with the World Series and the World Cup.Super Bowl I– called TheFirst AFL-NFLWorld Championship Game – took place in 1967, pitting the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs against the NFL's Green Bay Packers.
Here arevalues for official programs fromthe first ten Super Bowls. Count yourself fortunate if you have any of these hiding in your basem*nt or attic. Are you ready for some football?
Super Bowl I, January 15, 1967
Super Bowl I, telecast simultaneously by both CBS and NBC from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, drew an estimated 51.18 million viewers. Vince Lombardi's mighty Green Bay Packers performed pretty much as expected, defeating Hank Stram's underdog Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 before a less-than-sellout crowd of 61,946 fans. ASuper Bowl I program in excellent-mint+ condition sold at auction for $388.38.
Super Bowl I program $388.38
Super Bowl II, January 14, 1968
The Second AFL-NFL WorldChampionship Game was played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, drawing 75,546 fans at the stadium and a televisionaudience of an estimated 39.12 million viewers. Once again, Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers triumped, beating John Rauch's Oakland Raiders 33-14. ASuper Bowl IIprogram in near mint-mint condition and autographed by such Packer royalty as Bart Starr, Jerry Kramer, Willie Wood, Jim Grabowski and Lee Roy Caffey, brought $388.38 at auction.
Super Bowl II program with 12 Green Bay Packerautographs inside $388.38
Super Bowl III, January 12, 1969
The first game to officially bear the title "Super Bowl" was played at Miami's Orange Bowl before an onsite crowd of 75,389 and an estimated 41.66 million television viewers. Joe Willie Namath and his brash New York Jetsdefeated the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts 16-7 in one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history. ASuper Bowl III program in excellent-mint condition and signed by Joe Namath (who had "guaranteed" victory the night before the game) sold at auction for $478.
Super Bowl III program signed by New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath $478
Super Bowl IV, January 11, 1970
Super Bowl IV was played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans before a then-record crowd of 80,562 fans and an estimated televisionaudience of 44.3 million viewers. Hank Stram's Kansas City Chiefs, led by their Super Bowl MVP quarterback Len Dawson, rolled over Bud Grant's favored Minnesota Vikings 23-7. ASuper Bowl IVCollector's Edition program in mint condition fetched $167.30 at auction.
Super Bowl IV Collector's Edition prgoram $167.30
Super Bowl V, January 17, 1971
The Orange Bowl in Miami was the setting as the Baltimore Colts took on the Dallas Cowboys in the first Super Bowl to be played on artificial turf. With 79,204 fans packing the Orange Bowl and an estimated 46 million viewers tuning in at home, the Colts beat the Cowboys 16-13 on Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds left in the game. ASuper Bowl V program in near mint condition brought $256.93 at auction.
Super Bowl Vprogram $256.93
Super Bowl VI, January 16, 1972
Super Bowl VI was played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans before 81,023 fans and an estimated television audience of 56.64 million viewers. Super Bowl MVPRoger Staubach led the Dallas Cowboys to victory 24-3 over the Miami Dolphins. ASuper Bowl VI program in near mint condition sold at auction for $131.45.
Super Bowl VIprogram $131.45
Super Bowl VII, January 14, 1973
Super Bowl VII was staged at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with 90,182 fans on hand and another 53.32 million viewers watching at home. Don Shula and his Miami Dolphins completed a perfect 14-0 season, beating the Washington Redskins 14-7 with Miami safety Jake Scott winning Super Bowl MVP honors. ASuper Bowl VII program in near mint condition sold for $250.82.
Super Bowl VII prorgram $250.82
Super Bowl VIII, January 13, 1974
Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, served as the setting for Super Bowl VIII, with 71,882 fans on hand and an estimated 51.7 million viewers tuning in from home. Super Bowl MVPrunning back Larry Csonka led the Miami Dolphins in a 24-7 rout of the Minnesota Vikings, carrying the ball 33 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns. ASuper Bowl VIII program along with three ticket stubs from the game in near mint condition brought $388.38 at auction.
Super Bowl VIII program with three ticket stubs $388.38
Super Bowl IX, January 12, 1975
New Orleans' Tulane Stadium hosted Super Bowl IX before 80,997 fans and an estimated television audience of 56 million viewers. Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Super Bowl MVP runningbackFranco Harris, beat the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 to claim the title. ASuper Bowl IX program in near mint condition fetched $60.95 at auction.
Super Bowl IX program $60.95
Super Bowl X, January 18, 1976
The Dallas Cowboys met the Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami's Orange Bowl before 80,187 fans and an estimated television viewing audience of 57.7 million. Led by Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Lynn Swann, the Steelers triumphed, defeatingTom Landry'sCowboys 21-17. ASuper Bowl X program in near mint condition sold at auction for $83.65.
Super Bowl X program $83.65
Credits
- All auction results and images courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas
- Top image: Super Bowl VII and VIII programs sold together for $143.40
Copyright © 2012 William J. Felchner. All rights reserved.
