YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Whispers of Youngstown native Ray Prisby’s memorabilia collection reached his hero Jim Brown, and “Showdog,” as he’s called by fellow Browns fans, was in for the thrill of a lifetime.
“I hear a knock at the door. I come to the door, unlock the door. I open it up. And here standing in his gold Hall of Fame jacket is Mr. 32, the GOAT, Jim Brown,” Prisby said.
Prisby said that moment made him feel like a 12-year-old boy all over again.
Prisby has amassed a massive memorabilia collection and each item has a story.
The Browns team historian has followed the brown and orange with pinpoint accuracy since the early 60s.
Like a lot of us, Prisby collected cards as a kid, but his expansive collection began to grow when he left the Air Force, around 1989 to coincide with elite Browns teams of that era.
Prisby said Brown is his all-time favorite and that’s clear by the number of autographed items he has of No. 32.
“Cause this is only stuff that I have room to display. I still have stuff in boxes. So yeah, I bet I have pretty close to 1,000,” Prisby said.
Coincidently, Brown’s visit was to inform Prisby he was a finalist in the 2021 Ford Hall of Fans contest.
Weeks later, he learned Ford Motor Company was flying him to Tampa for Super Bowl week.
In Tampa, Prisby was in for yet another surprise.
He met Hall of Fame President David Baker, who announced “Showdog” was one of three fans inducted into the Ford Hall of Fans -the first Browns fan to receive the honor.
“He told me that you no longer represent the Cleveland Browns. You now represent the NFL and the Hall of Fame and this is going to change your life. I had never really even thought of it remotely like that. But then when I heard those words, I said, ‘wow, this is a huge responsibility,’” Prisby said.
A responsibility Prisby said he is humbled by and taking in stride.
Prisby has gathered support from Browns fans across the globe and he looks forward to what’s to come, not only with the Hall of Fans induction but with the 2021 Browns team.
“I was hearing from fans in Australia, all of Europe, Asia. I mean Browns fans are everywhere,” Prisby said.
And for the team, Prisby said it’s their time to shine.
I think they got the right coaching staff, so I’m looking for bigger and better things next year. And years to come,” Prisby said.
Prisby is expected to be honored at the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the August enshrinement ceremony.
He hopes to one day have a museum in Cleveland with all of his decades of memorabilia on display.
