Vintage Pottstown Firebirds Banner’s

Description

The Pottstown Firebirds were a professional American football minor league team and member of the Atlantic Coast Football League from 1968 to 1970. The Pottstown Firebirds were former NFL football players, former college football players, and former high school football players who loved to play the game of football. The Firebirds were originally a “farm club” of the Philadelphia Eagles and were provided with equipment/helmets already emblazoned with Eagle wings. Only a few Firebirds ever moved up to NFL teams. The Firebirds affiliation with the Philadelphia Eagles was short-lived and was withdrawn in 1970. The Pottstown Firebirds played their home games at Pottstown High School stadium. In their final two seasons of existence in Pottstown (1969 and 1970), the Firebirds won the league championship.

The Firebirds were perhaps best remembered as the subject of a 1970 NFL Films documentary Pro Football, Pottstown, Pa. which documented the ties between the minor league club, its players, and their hometown of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Of particular note was the portrayal of the Firebirds’ star quarterback, Jim “The King” Corcoran. “The King” was considered the “Poor Man’s Joe Namath” for his flamboyance; preferring to be a star in the minor leagues over a backup in the NFL, he played a single game in the NFL with the then-Boston Patriots in addition to preseason stints with several others.

In 2000 NFL Films returned to Pottstown for an episode of their Lost Treasures series. Pottstown Revisited covered some surviving players reminiscing about their days on the team, remembered the town’s relationship with the long-gone /football team, and filmed a 30-year player reunion.

These Pottstown Firebird banners are from Phil Tuckett’s personal collection.  It took several decades within his career to amass these rare collectibles at events. The highlight is that it includes autographs of the most prominent entertainers, historical figures, and sports players Tuckett met along the way.

Presented from Tuckett’s collection are these two Pottstown Firebirds banners (37″ x 48″). They were from the famous NFL Films series bestowed on the team in 1970 and 2000. The blue one is original to the ’70’s time period of the team and features blue lettering “Pottstown Firebirds” with a central red bird with a football. The blue fringe accents the borders. It was manufactured by a local Pennsylvania company with the tagging still intact – Valley Forge Flag Co. – Spring City, PA. It shows aging/discolorations throughout from display and storage.  The other banner in Tuckett’s lot is a commemorative (reproduction) and is green in its color variation with the same measurement/tagging as the blue one.  It has only minor storage wear expected from transport.

Vintage Pottstown Firebirds Banner