Born in the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahomas Indian Territory Jim Thorpe developed into an outstanding multi-sport athlete at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Playing football under legendary coach Pop Warner, Thorpe was a two-time All-American. He played minor league baseball during the summer of 1909 and 1910, a violation of his amateur athletic eligibility and a decision that would cost him dearly later. Thorpe qualified for the US Olympic Track and Field Team, and he won two Golds at the 1912 Games. He returned home a national hero and demonstrated his multi-sport talent by playing both professional baseball with the NY Giants and pro football with the Canton Bulldogs. A controversial Olympic investigation into his minor league career eventually saw stripped Thorpe of his Olympic titles, medals, and awards. He continued to play baseball and football and eventually transitioned to coaching. In 1920 he was invited to become the first president of the American Professional Football Association, which became the NFL in 1922. Jim Thorpes popularity only grew over the years and his life story was even made into a major motion picture. A groundswell of support eventual saw his two Olympic Medals returned posthumously. To this day Jim Thorpes signature remains highly sought after by collectors of baseball, football, Olympic and track and field collectors. This piece was originally the cover of a 1951 Memphis Navy - Scott Air Force base football program that Thorpe signed in blue pen. The cover was subsequently cut down and a period portrait of Thorpe added to create an original, visually interesting, signed piece. The cut signature has been encapsulated and graded AUTHENTIC by PSA.