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1939 Sugar Bowl Twelfth Man Pendant

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chick79
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3:58p, 3/28/26
AG
My wife found this pendant in an antique store in McKinney many years ago. Tried to find the provenance, but this was back when the Internet was still in its toddler stage, so no luck. My MIL, who was on the board of the 12th Man Foundation at the time, showed it to many people and got the same result. Anyway, ran across the pendant recently while doing a little spring cleaning and thought to try again. Google Image came up zilcho. On the back of the pendant is engraved TWELFTH MAN. Anybody have any ideas? Seems if it was mass produced, there would be others out there. Thanks!

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Mega Lops
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4:37p, 3/28/26
AG
Very cool relic!
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Jugstore Cowboy
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In reply to chick79 • 5:19p, 3/28/26
AG
You might actually make War Hymn Aggie or The Glove jealous with that one.
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TexAg75
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6:20p, 3/28/26
AG
Wouldn't it say AMC if it was from that time frame? Name changed to TAMU in 1963.
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Hank the Grifter
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In reply to TexAg75 • 6:47p, 3/28/26
TexAg75 said:
Wouldn't it say AMC if it was from that time frame? Name changed to TAMU in 1963.

I don't see the word "university" nor "TAMU" anywhere on the posted image.
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Bayou City
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In reply to TexAg75 • 6:47p, 3/28/26
True but not always true. I have multiple pennants from 1919-1940 and they ALL say either Texas AMC w the old TMC styled logo or only TEXAS AGGIES, BUT I also have the 1940 Sugar Bowl Program. That specific Program and All memorabilia created for that game list Texas A&M. NOT TAMU but Texas A&M. They do not include the C but the name is written consistanly across the program as Texas A&M both on cover and the roster etc.

Thus This piece COULD be genuine.

Let me research it some. Can you put a ruler next to it so I have an idea about the size. It looks like maybe a couple Cm's by a couple cm's?

Wish I could post pictures to show…
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chick79
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In reply to Bayou City • 12:19p, 3/29/26
AG
Here you go. Length is about 7/8" at its longest. Width 5/8", so not very big. Also included a photo of the back.
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Bayou City
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In reply to chick79 • 2:24p, 3/29/26
Found it!

What you have is a silver plated commemorative pendant that was made in the 1960s or 1970s as an alumni keepsake based on the style and finish and the bail.

It's a Cooper/brass combo that's silver plated likely mass produced.

It's NOT an offically produced item from the game.

How do we know?

1st the pendant is incorrect. It's commemorating the 1939 season BUT the Sugar Bowl was 1940. Thus the 39 at the bottom is incorrect and wouldn't have been produced in bulk by the Sugar Bowl as the 1939 Sugar Bowl didn't include Texas A&M.

2nd - the Construction of the pendant doesn't fit into the 1930s/1940s. This style wasn't traditonally used until decades after the bowl game was played. The alloy brass/Copper was popular before WW2 but given the style and the 1940-1945 metal restrictions for civilian use in the US, it likely was produced after that time period.

3rd - how do we know it was "mass" produced and not a unique hand made product? The typed letter stamped 12th man on the back is too uniform in depth and stylus to be not machine pressed. Same w the front. It ISNT hand engraved. It's machine produced and then machine stamped. You can also see how centered and aligned the Twelfth Man is on the back. If it was hand engraved, it wouldn't see so straight and perfectly centered w the depth of each letter so uniform.

Thus between the mismatch of the date and the consstruction of the pendant (materials), it was likely made as a souvenir for alumni or potentially to honor the team for something like a 25th anniversary.

Value is probs about $20-$50. If I was .925 silver it would be in the $100-200 Range.

Hope that helps!

Still super cool.

If you're able to pair framed it w some Other memorabilia from the game (program, pennant etc) it could command a much higher price combined.

Edit to add: if it was made around 1964-1965 that would be the first years of Texas A&M and NOT TEXAS AMC. Thus the usage of Texas A&M vs Texas AMC would fit. Yes, the program lists Texas A&M but almost every other piece I've ever seen before the 60s is TAMC.

Hope that helps
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Bayou City
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2:36p, 3/29/26
Edit to add: mass produced just means it wasn't a unique item. If it was something made for the entire team as a keepsake at the 25th anniversary mark, having one made per player or coach would fit.

Usually these types of items were made in batches of 50-100 which is almost the exactly number of coaches players and other staff.

Meaning it couldve and likely did originally belong to SOMEONE on the team as this item wouldve been soecifically made for commemerative purposes and or for a specific event and not for sale/distribution.

Thats likely why it had the 39 typo instead of 40.

Who ever had it made was told to commemorate the 1939 natty but after 20-25 years forgot the game as actually played in 1940. Easy to happen if that person was a Secretary or someone in the department but NOT around for the actual game as anyeone from the team or staff at the time wouldn't make that mistake.

I have WAY too much old TAMC memorabilia from the 1900s through the Jim Earle period of the 60s with the original old sarge so I have a decent amount of experience winnowing through old A&M keepsakes.

Hope this is useful information. If I was you, I'd put it in an anti tarnish pouch. You want to keep it dry, avoid air exposure and KEEP IT AWAY FROM ITHER METALS to minimize potential chemical reactions discoloring or deteriorating the silver plating.

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chick79
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In reply to Bayou City • 3:14p, 3/29/26
AG
Thank you! Appreciate you looking into this and for the in-depth answer.

My wife reminded me that when she found it, it was in the fall of 1998...when the Ags went on to play in the 1999 Sugar Bowl against Ohio State. Kind of spooky timing. Not only that, it was half hidden under some other junk in a display case. She very nearly passed it over, but something stopped her.

We gave the pendant to my MIL who wore it at every game and A&M function; she got lots of comments on it, but no one ever recognized it. Rather surprising considering it was mass produced in the '60's or '70's; seems there would have been plenty of people around then to remember it.

Again, thanks!

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Bayou City
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In reply to chick79 • 3:55p, 3/29/26
No probs!

Another thing that makes it stand out is the use of "Sugar Bowl" vs. Sugar Bowl Classic

Anything produced by the Sugar Bowl including the trophy , program, Official pendant etc, list the game as the Sugar Bowl Classic. They dropped the "Classic" in 1978.
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Gator92
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In reply to Bayou City • 8:38p, 3/29/26
AG
When would you date this...

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Bayou City
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In reply to Gator92 • 9:02p, 3/29/26
1940s to early 1950s.

It's lithographed tin which puts it after 1920s but before modern printing in 1970s.

The players and horizontal stripe design are indicative of 1940s/50s along w the use of the players in running/action poses.

Add in the brass football charm and streamer and it's almost definietly 1940s to early 50s.

The block T lettering was also used exclusively for these types of buttons between the 1940s to 1960s but the later years (1960s) rarely included the illustrated players and more so included Old Sarge instead.

I'd say with 90% plus confidence is post WW2 but pre 1963 most likely sometime in the late 40s early 50s.

I have several of these same styled buttons that I match the button like you have along w the opposite teams button and frame them under the program of the game along w the game score.

Great find.
"I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which have actually happened."

Mark Twain
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Bayou City
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9:08p, 3/29/26
Heres all tiny smattering of my collection.



"I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which have actually happened."

Mark Twain
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Gator92
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In reply to Bayou City • 10:07p, 3/29/26
AG
Thanks!

This came from my Uncle's estate c/o 48.

After reading your post about Texas A&M v Texas AMC, I thought It might be mid late 60's.

Hoping it came from his time as a student.

BTW he lied about his age and joined USN at 16. Was aboard USS Ammen DD-527 at Okinawa. Came home after the war and went to TAMC on GI Bill.
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Hank the Grifter
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In reply to Bayou City • 7:12a, 3/30/26
DDP
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Hank the Grifter
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In reply to Hank the Grifter • 7:13a, 3/30/26
Bayou City said:
Heres all tiny smattering of my collection.




This is something that was made much later than 1925, no? "Gig 'em" (in this context) wasn't spoken into existence until 1930 and probably didn't regularly enter the Aggie lexicon until a few years after that.
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Bayou City
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In reply to Hank the Grifter • 7:55a, 3/30/26
Nope. Little known fact that Gigem actually First appeared in the campus paper in 1922. That's the First instance of the phrase being Associated w TAMC.

The phrase wasn't WIDEY Incorporated until 1930 w Pinky Downs. Kinda cool to have a item w gigem on it pre pinky.

I've had this pennant tested and they aged it at 1926-1927.

When I die it's going to be gifted to the Association.

I've shown it to them before and they were floored by both the item and the provenance we were able to provide.
"I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which have actually happened."

Mark Twain
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Hank the Grifter
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In reply to Bayou City • 8:05a, 3/30/26
Wow. Learn something new every day!
Thats got to be a one of a kind piece.


Tangentially related question….
I've got a pennant that's a little over 30 years old that I'd like to have restored. Any suggestions? Do you have "a guy"?
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Bayou City
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In reply to Hank the Grifter • 8:21a, 3/30/26
Month damage? Oil damage? Whats the issue?

Yup I got a guy

Just J Havens @ Gmail

No Spaces
"I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which have actually happened."

Mark Twain
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Bayou City
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In reply to Hank the Grifter • 8:24a, 3/30/26
The browish pennant is from 1909

Found it and the seniors pennant in my grand mas attic. Her husband was class of 48 (enlisted at 16 too and went to TAMC after on GI bill) probs knew the above posters grandpa. Such a small world.

We think his father class of 1912 got the first pennant while in school and picked up the sniors pennant while his wife worked in the campus post office. She worked there for almost 40 years.
"I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which have actually happened."

Mark Twain
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Bayou City
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In reply to Gator92 • 8:26a, 3/30/26
My grandpa was the same class and same story. W.S "Doc Bill" Nichols. He was a large animal vet in Woodville for dcada after graduating.
"I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which have actually happened."

Mark Twain
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Hank the Grifter
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In reply to Bayou City • 8:33a, 3/30/26
Bayou City said:
Month damage? Oil damage? Whats the issue?

Yup I got a guy

Just J Havens @ Gmail

No Spaces

Just some discoloration and tack holes from where I tacked it up in the mid 90's not realizing it was something I'd want to preserve decades later!
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TMartin
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8:39a, 3/30/26

The pendant was probably minted at tu to remind Ags how long it has been.
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Mega Lops
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In reply to Bayou City • 12:42p, 3/30/26
AG
Bayou City said:
Nope. Little known fact that Gigem actually First appeared in the campus paper in 1922. That's the First instance of the phrase being Associated w TAMC.

Texas A&M calls BS on this post lol. 1917 Long Horn illustration linked below which A&M acknowledges as a reference to "gig 'em" before 1922.

https://bookreader.library.tamu.edu/book.php?id=yb1917&getbook=Go#page/n217/mode/2up



Official A&M/AFS claim of usage of "gig 'em" before 1922:



https://www.aggienetwork.com/traditionsthroughtime/rivalryreturns/
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Bayou City
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In reply to Mega Lops • 4:33p, 3/30/26
Thanks Karen. I said TAMc campus News paper not the Long Horn or on campus but glad you're panties got in a twist over a simple picture. Still appreciate you making the point that it was already in the lexicn. My quote is straight from the Association.

what others Pearls do You Have o Wizard of Oz?

Speaks volumes about you as a person id surmise.
"I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which have actually happened."

Mark Twain
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Mega Lops
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In reply to Bayou City • 8:48p, 3/30/26
AG
Bayou City said:
Thanks Karen. I said TAMc campus News paper not the Long Horn or on campus but glad you're panties got in a twist over a simple picture. Still appreciate you making the point that it was already in the lexicn. My quote is straight from the Association.

what others Pearls do You Have o Wizard of Oz?

Speaks volumes about you as a person id surmise.
just take the L and move along. I don't have a paid account for you to threaten me with a cease and desist like you have done before to posters over DM. Sorry.
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Skywalker18
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9:32a, 3/31/26
AG
I was really enjoying reading this thread until two old men started arguing. Keep it classy ags. Post more old school memorabilia for us to see and don't get so twisted over a few misaligned "facts".
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