National Football League

Report: Title ring returned to Donovan

Published Aug. 23, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

A 1958 NFL World Championship ring stolen from Baltimore Colts great Art Donovan over thirty years ago has been recovered and returned, myFOXdc.com reported Tuesday.

Howard County Police received a tip the ring was being sold on Craigslist for $20,000 by a seller in Elkridge, Md., near Baltimore.

Officers contacted the Hall of Fame defensive tackle, now 86, who told them the ring had been stolen during a 1977 trip to Japan.

Detectives then posed as buyers, gained possession of the ring, and told the seller it was stolen.

The seller told officers he had purchased the ring from a sports memorabilia dealer years earlier in what he believed was a legitimate transaction.

He agreed to give the ring to police so it could be returned to Donovan.

Detectives had the ring authenticated by the Indianapolis Colts, who have maintained possession of all Baltimore Colts records since the team was moved after the 1983 season.

Investigators then went to Donovan's home and personally returned the ring, which was engraved with his name and number 70.

The ring was awarded to Donovan after the Colts defeated the New York Giants 23-17 in 1958 — a game often referred to as "The Greatest Game Ever Played" after it ended in sudden death overtime at Yankee Stadium.

No criminal charges will be filed.

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