NFL hall of famer Jim Brown has said the 1964 championship ring up for sale with Lelands was stolen from him more than 40 years ago.
 Lelands has yet to comment on the sale, with Brown refuting its claims that he inspected the ring some years earlier |
The former Cleveland Browns star, who now works as an adviser for the team, is considered one of the greatest players in the sport. In 1964, he led the Browns to a record season, before cleaning up 27-0 against the Baltimore Colts in the championship game.
The ring he won from that game is currently selling for $33,275. Lelands' lot description reads:
"The ring was obtained directly from a Brown immediate family member and sold by Lelands.com in 1998. During that original auction preview, Jim Brown himself inspected the ring and acknowledged its authenticity."
"That's a lie," Brown told cleveland.com. "I never spoke to anyone from there about the authenticity of the ring and I never would have given that ring to a family member."
Lelands has not commented any further on the sale, which is due to close on July 25.
However, the auction house will not part with the ring readily, hailing it as "one of the most important sports pieces ever sold, this gem is without a doubt the finest football piece ever to reach the market ."
The 78-year-old has said he would like the ring back.
"I'd really appreciate that," Brown commented in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "That would be very cool."
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fantastic selection of signed sports memorabilia for sale.
