Bettis Helmet

[NEFAN]

http://cgi.ebay.com/PITTSBURGH-STEELERS-GAME-USED-WORN-HELMET-6X-CHAMPS_W0QQitemZ170329428994QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27a86cd402&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Quite a story with this one.

[Vikingshelmetguy]

Re: Bettis Helmet

I noticed this one too. I am not a Steelers fan or expert, and (besides the Vikings) I don't know all the subtle details of other teams helmets like Robert/Aeneas01 does, but it seems that a glaring omission from this helmet is the usual Steelers player ID numbers that are posted on the front or back of the helmet (depeding what year the Steelers helmet is). I think in most pictures I have seen of Bettis, his helmets always have white #36 number decals pasted onto the front of the helmet. This helmet lacks such player number decals... The game wear, mask and warning label look somewhat convincing, however.... I'd be intersted to find out what conclusions/input that Robert/Aeneas01 might have about this helmet.

[DrJ]

Re: Bettis Helmet

To my knowledge the Steelers wear numbers on the front and back during the regular season and only on the back during preseason (at least it was that way at one time, I haven't researched recently).

[helmets]

Re: Bettis Helmet

To my knowledge the Steelers wear numbers on the front and back during the regular season and only on the back during preseason (at least it was that way at one time, I haven't researched recently).

I don't think they wear the numbers during training camp, which would jive with the story.

I recall Bettis wearing a Riddell all-black chinstrap, but as I recall, it was with black padding and front snubber as well. With the white padding, I believe he wore an Adams pro 100 with a black cup and white straps.

Yes, I have heard some far-fetched stories on how people obtain helmets, and this one ranks right up there. A decent price if there would be a way to prove that it was a Bettis helmet, but if it isn't, you're out a grand for a beat up Pro Air II.

Pretty easy helmet to duplicate. For much less, one could obtain a beat up Pro Air II that looks identical to the one in the photos -with or without the 36's. The only thing you will have to do is make up the story...

[jobathenut]

Re: Bettis Helmet

I'm no helmet expert,but i am a lifetime steelers fan.And i can't ever recall bettis wearing a all black chin strap like that.People can check that getty site they always mention on here to see if there are any pictures of him wearing it.I'm not saying if it's authentic or if it isnt,but like "helmets" said-it's a great pick up if it is and if it isn't,well than you just bought a normal helmet way over the value of it.Problem is,there is no way to prove either way,all you can do is go by what you believe.And i also go by the sellers feedback also,and i email the seller and ask questions.

[jhunt28]

Re: Bettis Helmet

I've done some extensive Bettis helmet homework recently, because I was about to buy one. This was mentioned before, but Bettis never wore a chinstrap with a black cup and black straps (pretty sure colored straps are against the NFL uniform code). During the 1996-1997 seasons, Bettis did wear an Adams chinstrap with white straps and black cup a few times. And Bettis wore an Adams chinstrap all the way up until 2004, when he switched to Riddell. Bettis always wore a size large chinstrap with Riddell, which means the cup has 4 air vents in it. This chinstrap shown is a size medium (only 2 air vents in the cup), and can be picked up anywhere. Another giveaway is the placement of the upper chinstrap hookup in relation to the Steelers logo decal. The snap is positioned way too low...it should be at the height of the "blue star" on the decal. Shocked that something this bad could get a bid, let alone a few hundred dollars??

[jhunt28]

Re: Bettis Helmet

I need to revise what I wrote...I stand corrected. In Oct-Dec of 1998, Bettis did wear a black chinstrap with black cup to my surprise. Before October of that year he had white straps, and went back to white straps in 1999.

[jobathenut]

Re: Bettis Helmet

Really,i don't ever recall bettis wearing a totally black chin strap.I'll have to go back threw my steelers game tape libary threw those dates and look.I guess jhunt,you proved me wrong.And as far as people bidding on it,that's no surprise to me,some people just take people's word for something being authentic.

I need to revise what I wrote...I stand corrected. In Oct-Dec of 1998, Bettis did wear a black chinstrap with black cup to my surprise. Before October of that year he had white straps, and went back to white straps in 1999.

[Vikingshelmetguy]

Re: Bettis Helmet

Really,i don't ever recall bettis wearing a totally black chin strap.I'll have to go back threw my steelers game tape libary threw those dates and look.I guess jhunt,you proved me wrong.And as far as people bidding on it,that's no surprise to me,some people just take people's word for something being authentic.

Put a search for "Jerome Bettis 1998" into Getty Images and there are a load of photos of him from the 1998 season which show Bettis wearing a helmet with an all black chin strap and black chin guard. Attached are photos. It's starting to look like this Bettis helmet on Ebay just might be legit:

[Vikingshelmetguy]

Re: Bettis Helmet

Now that I look more closely, here is one difference between the helmet on Ebay and the Bettis photos I have posted. Notice the white helmet brand section on the front of the helmet on the Ebay helmet, while the photos of Bettis from 1998 do not have that white section. Not to say the Ebay helmet is not legit, but just pointing out that the Ebay helmet is not quite a photo match with photos of Bettis from 1998. Could be his helmet from another season, perhaps....

[jhunt28]

Re: Bettis Helmet

The reason I didn't go into much detail about the "black" helmet that he used from Oct-Dec 1998, is because that black helmet had black padding (black front bumper, black ear pads, black forehead padding). This helmet pictured has the white front bumper (like you pointed out), and white inside padding. I just don't think he would wear a helmet that was all black, then take out the black inside padding, black front bumper, take off the number decals, and just hand it to someone the following year at training camp. I guess nothing is impossible...I just have a hard time believing this story.

[Vikingshelmetguy]

Re: Bettis Helmet

The reason I didn't go into much detail about the "black" helmet that he used from Oct-Dec 1998, is because that black helmet had black padding (black front bumper, black ear pads, black forehead padding). This helmet pictured has the white front bumper (like you pointed out), and white inside padding. I just don't think he would wear a helmet that was all black, then take out the black inside padding, black front bumper, take off the number decals, and just hand it to someone the following year at training camp. I guess nothing is impossible...I just have a hard time believing this story.

Jhunt28, another great observation that you have noticed: the Oct-Dec 1998 photos of Bettis reveal all black padding on the inside, whereas the Ebay helmet has white padding on the inside and a white front bumper. The helmet on Ebay kind of looks a little small too, whereas it appears from photos of Bettis that he wore a pretty large size helmet (he is a big dude with a big head).... There seem to be a lot of red flags with this helmet being sold on Ebay (with the story on how it was acquired being almost too unbelievable to be true). I am watching with interest as there are currently already 9 bids and the price is getting close to $400, with a couple more days of auction time to go! Glad I am not a Steelers helmet collector. This helmet is confounding!

[jobathenut]

Re: Bettis Helmet

vikings-I don't go on that getty site so thanks for the pictures to prove me wrong.I emailed the seller and he was'nt sure what season he got it.He said he thought it was 1996 season,which would be his first season with the team.I just found it funny,cause if bettis were to give me his helmet,i would never,ever forget the day,the month,the year ,the time it was in the day that he gave it to me.

Put a search for "Jerome Bettis 1998" into Getty Images and there are a load of photos of him from the 1998 season which show Bettis wearing a helmet with an all black chin strap and black chin guard. Attached are photos. It's starting to look like this Bettis helmet on Ebay just might be legit:

[aeneas01]

Re: Bettis Helmet

someone emailed me about this helmet yesterday, not sure if he's a forum member, and i told him to ask the seller for the date code. i actually posed the question and told him that he could just copy/paste it and send it to the seller. apparently the seller got back to him with the date code but also wanted to know what it signified.

anyway, the helmet was manufactured in 2001, which doesn't seem to jive too well with his story. i haven't taken a close look at it but from what i saw it doesn't strike as an authentic bettis/steelers helmet, doesn't strike me as anything different than what tends to hit ebay. btw the guy that contacted me said that he never heard back from the seller after sending him this info even though he had asked additional questions....

....

[Vikingshelmetguy]

Re: Bettis Helmet

vikings-I don't go on that getty site so thanks for the pictures to prove me wrong.I emailed the seller and he was'nt sure what season he got it.He said he thought it was 1996 season,which would be his first season with the team.I just found it funny,cause if bettis were to give me his helmet,i would never,ever forget the day,the month,the year ,the time it was in the day that he gave it to me.

Hi Jobathenut, actually I was not intending to prove you wrong—sorry about that …. I was just trying to figure out whether any photos existed of Bettis wearing an all-black chinstrap in an effort to try and figure out whether the helmet for sale might possibly be Bettis’ helmet. You’ll notice that after I posted those photos, I quickly realized the Getty photos I posted do not match the helmet that is for sale on Ebay (I posted a photo of the Ebay helmet, and the differences were quickly apparent). Jobathenut, that’s a really great point you’ve made: Like you, if I were a Steelers fan and a player like Bettis just gave me his helmet right there, I’m pretty sure I’d remember (or never forget) what year/season I got it. I’m no expert, but after all the discussion and analysis of photos I’ve looked at, I suspect that this helmet on Ebay is probably not Bettis’ helmet (it could be an actual Steelers gamer worn by another player, but I don’t think it is/was Bettis’ helmet). Interestingly, I notice that one of the bidders cancelled their bid, and that the current auction price has now dropped significantly.