Highlights of a few of our contributing writers:
- Martin Jacobs
- Martin Jacobs has been writing for Gridiron Greats Magazine since it's inception in 2002. He has been collecting 49ers programs, photos, media guides, player’s equipment, from the 1940s and 1950s since 1952.
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Martin Jacobs
In 1995, he retired from his business to concentrate on collecting and a new pursuit, writing books about his beloved 49ers. He has authored two books on the 49ers. The most recent book, “San Francisco 49ers-Images of Sport” by Arcadia-- is in bookstores now, and the other "Before They Were Champions -- the San Francisco 49ers' 1958 Season." He is presently working on another 49ers book, a comprehensive guide to 49ers memorabilia from 1946 to 2010, a complete with photos and price values. Martin was selected by Visa International as the team's No. 1 all-time fan, and was honored with a plaque that hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan Room in Canton, Ohio.
As a service to all Gridiron subscribers, Martin will offer free appraisals for those who might want to know the value of a particular 49ers collectible. He can be reached by writing P.O. Box 22026, San Francisco 94122, or by e-mail at MJacobs784@aol.com. Also, if you happen to have an obscure 49ers collectible buried in your closest, attic, or dresser drawer that he might be interested in for his collection, all the better. Any hue except white or black.
John Spano
John grew up in a family and region deep in football tradition. Both his Grandfather and Father played college football. John began collecting in 1978 and hasn’t stopped since. He enjoys collecting just about anything football ranging from 1894 N302’s to 2009 Topps. His favorite part of the hobby is connecting the history of game and its players with collectibles.
The social aspect of collecting has become increasingly important to John; which is the primary reason he enjoys contributing information in the form of articles.
Harv Aronson
Harv Aronson was born and raised in Pittsburgh but now lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his beautiful wife Melissa. Harv’s writing career began at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh where he was a sportswriter for the “Tribal Tribune” in 1975. As a college student at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Harv wrote for the school newspaper, “The Rocket” as well as served as a disc jockey and sports announcer on the university radio station, WRCK. Harv also held the role as Sports Director at WRCK, doing play by play for the football team and for an NCAA wrestling championship qualifier. Since graduating from Slippery Rock in 1982, Harv has written for many sports outlets, had run his own Pittsburgh Steelers website called “Steelers Hotline” for 15 years and in 2023 conducted a podcast titled “Total Sports Recall.” Harv also authored a book in 2012, “Pro Football’s Most Passionate Fans” that profiled football fans that were recipients of the Visa Hall of Fans Award. The award was an honor presented to one fan from every NFL team who was named fan of the year for their respective team. The book is still available from several sites on the internet. Currently, Harv writes for Abstract Sports, Yinzer Crazy, the Sick Podcast, and the magazine Gridiron Greats. Harv’s passion is for sports history but also writes articles about current sports topics. Harv loves all sports but his passion for pro sports began in 1971 as he watched Roberto Clemente, and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. As a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan and other Pittsburgh sports, Harv enjoys all sports and is an avid combat sports fan focusing on MMA and boxing. Harv is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard where he served aboard the cutter Gallatin with the job role of radioman. Since 1987 Harv has worked for several corporate offices currently working for a financial company in Florida. You can contact Harv at totalsportsrecall@gmail.com