Nitschke Memorabilia on the Block

Content Originally Published by Sports Collectors Daily on Friday April 22, 2011.

From the early 1960s through the early 1970s, he was one of the Green Bay Packers' most popular players.

Not bad for a kid from Illinois.

Ray Nitschke has been gone for 13 years, having died of a heart attack at age 61.  He and his wife Jackie kept everything from his playing career and their personal lives.  Now some of it is on the auction block.

The couple had three adopted children and much of what the Hall of Fame linebacker left behind belonged to his son Rich, who operates businesses in northern Wisconsin.

While he has hung onto a number of items, Rich Nitschke decided to part with several of them.  They're on the block tonight when the live bidding commences via Heritage Auctions.  Bidding has been underway for a few weeks, though, with a few of Nitschke's game jerseys among the treasures.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette has more on the family's decision to let some of the items go.