You Can’t Fill These Shoes

Close your eyes. Go ahead, close ’em. Picture owning a piece of Packers history. Imagine owning game apparel from the historic, 1996 World Championship season. Apparel that was used in the mud bowl game in the divisional playoffs against the 49ers. Apparel that was used on the same the turf that they sold afterwards for $10 for a 25 square inch chunk and is still planted in the backyard of my childhood home.

Now open your eyes… you’re 5 years too late.

While doing some research on the 1996 season I came across Mears Monthly Auctions and their lots of game worn cleats were very inspiring and left me just a bit jealous. Here are some of the items you could have bid on and their winning bid.

John Michels

Starting bid: $50

Winning bid: $58

Bidders: 1

This may have had more value if it would have been positioned as ‘buy the game worn cleats of the Packers 1996 first round draft pick” instead of John Michels. Still, somewhere some guy is inviting his buddies over and bringing them down to his man cave to show off the ‘Michels’ section of his shrine.

Jeff Thomason

Starting bid: $50

Winning bid: $58

Bidders: 1

Apparently Jeff wasn’t cool enough to get Nike’s like the rest of the team. He didn’t officially record a catch… or a target in this game but at least he remembered to go on the field for all of the kick returns which is more than I can say for Desmond Howard.

Lindsay Knapp

Starting bid: $50

Winning bid: $58

Bidders: 1

I couldn’t believe it but apparently Lindsay Knapp did indeed see game action during the 1996 playoffs. Looking at the bid prices, I’m starting to think that people just bought the cleats for the deal not the historic value. Go and try to buy a pair of Nike cleats for under $60. You won’t be able to I promise you.