First of all, Thank you for your valuable time!
I purchased a Los Angeles Rams game worn helmet a couple of months ago. I purchased the helmet on ebay. The helmet was listed as a Rich Saul helmet, but I purchased the helmet in HOPES that it might be a Jack Youngblood helmet.
I knew the helmet matched the Rich Saul specs because I've had one of his helmets in the past, so size and style was a perfect match, BUT the helmet has the wrong face mask!
After a few more emails with the seller, I had the opportunity to speak with an elderly man that sold the helmet to the eBay seller. He's getting up there in age, so I talked to him on the phone instead of trying to commicate with him on computers (which I understand because my parents are about the same age and they don't have a computer either. lol)
The gentleman actually worked for the Los Angeles Rams and he told me that he received the helmet after the 1976 Rams / Dolphins game in Miami. He told me that when the Rams were in Miami, someone broke into the Rams locker-room and stole about 15-20 of the Rams helmets. He said that Don Hewitt, the equipment manager, had about 3-4 hours to run all over town to try and find enough helmets so they could start the game! He also said that Don had a few of the Rams players sharing helmets that day. An offensive player would share a helmet with one of the defensive players! As I've looked through literally hundreds of LA Rams photos, Jack and Jim Youngblood are the only defensive players that I've found wearing that same exact face mask. Most of the other players wearing that same face mask were (offense) running backs, Cappelletti, McCutcheon, and also Jim Bertelsen.
The Elderly ex-Rams employee told me on the phone that he was told that Rich Saul shared his helmet with Jack Youngblood! It made good sense to me, becuase of the fact that they both wore Wilson "Suspension Helmets" during the day!
QUESTION! Does anyone have any information on that 1976 Rams / Dolphins game? Any information about the "stolen helmets"? I'd love to have a copy of an article on the "stolen helmets"!
I LOVE THE HELMET! It shows lite wear on the inside suspension, but shows great wear on the outside shell, and I was told by one of the TOP game worn helmet collectors that it looks to have a custom "Equipment Manager" paint job, that was done from time to time in the locker rooms! The helmet also has a vintage "RICH SAUL" name tag on the inside so it's a no brainer that it's Sauls helmet, but would love to have more history on the piece.
Thank you again for your valuable time. Mark
I purchased a Los Angeles Rams game worn helmet a couple of months ago. I purchased the helmet on ebay. The helmet was listed as a Rich Saul helmet, but I purchased the helmet in HOPES that it might be a Jack Youngblood helmet.
I knew the helmet matched the Rich Saul specs because I've had one of his helmets in the past, so size and style was a perfect match, BUT the helmet has the wrong face mask!
After a few more emails with the seller, I had the opportunity to speak with an elderly man that sold the helmet to the eBay seller. He's getting up there in age, so I talked to him on the phone instead of trying to commicate with him on computers (which I understand because my parents are about the same age and they don't have a computer either. lol)
The gentleman actually worked for the Los Angeles Rams and he told me that he received the helmet after the 1976 Rams / Dolphins game in Miami. He told me that when the Rams were in Miami, someone broke into the Rams locker-room and stole about 15-20 of the Rams helmets. He said that Don Hewitt, the equipment manager, had about 3-4 hours to run all over town to try and find enough helmets so they could start the game! He also said that Don had a few of the Rams players sharing helmets that day. An offensive player would share a helmet with one of the defensive players! As I've looked through literally hundreds of LA Rams photos, Jack and Jim Youngblood are the only defensive players that I've found wearing that same exact face mask. Most of the other players wearing that same face mask were (offense) running backs, Cappelletti, McCutcheon, and also Jim Bertelsen.
The Elderly ex-Rams employee told me on the phone that he was told that Rich Saul shared his helmet with Jack Youngblood! It made good sense to me, becuase of the fact that they both wore Wilson "Suspension Helmets" during the day!
QUESTION! Does anyone have any information on that 1976 Rams / Dolphins game? Any information about the "stolen helmets"? I'd love to have a copy of an article on the "stolen helmets"!
I LOVE THE HELMET! It shows lite wear on the inside suspension, but shows great wear on the outside shell, and I was told by one of the TOP game worn helmet collectors that it looks to have a custom "Equipment Manager" paint job, that was done from time to time in the locker rooms! The helmet also has a vintage "RICH SAUL" name tag on the inside so it's a no brainer that it's Sauls helmet, but would love to have more history on the piece.
Thank you again for your valuable time. Mark
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