What better way to get ready for Alabama football spring practice than with a houndstooth hat worn by legendary Crimson Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
Sports memorabilia site Lelands is auctioning a black-and-white houndstooth hat owned by Bryant.
The auction runs through March 12. The current bid - at the time of this publication - is $3,000, which - based on similar houndstooth hat auctions would be a steal.
In December, a houndstooth hat worn by Bryant sold for $28,000.
According to Lelands, Bryant ordered a number of houndstooth hats over the year, and he used to give them away.
In this particular case, a letter - enclosed with envelope - from his daughter in law, Cherry, who married Paul Bryant, Jr. - is included and was written to a friend who may have asked for a Bryant hat for her husband. Cherry’s reply, dated April 16, 1987, mentioned that the place that used to carry the hats that Bryant loved had gone out of business. Cherry Bryant’s letter mentions this houndstooth hat from Bear Bryant that she is sending to her friend.
The hat, according to the auction house, in “excellent condition” and features two small feathers, one red and the other white, tucked into the hatband.
The hat size is 7 and 3/4.”
Check out the listing here.
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.