Hoop Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor Consigns Collection

Julien’s Auctions announced Wednesday that it would sell items from the collection of Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor.

Dozens of items will be offered at a live auction on Friday, May 31 in Beverly Hills with bidding also taking place by phone and internet. The legendary Baylor, is one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players of all time and was also the 1958 NBA #1 draft pick, 1959 NBA Rookie of the Year, 11-time NBA All-Star and 1977 NBA Hall of Fame Inductee.  He later went on to a career as an NBA executive.

Baylor’s decision to sell is the latest in a long line.  Numerous well known stars have opted to liquidate in recent months including Ozzie Smith, Bob Knight, John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson and Steve Garvey.

With a career spanning 14 seasons, Baylor’s style of play set the stage for players like Dr. J and Michael Jordan. He was the first player who took the game off the floor with powerful, high-flying, acrobatic and ballet-like moves never before seen in the game. Bob Short, owner of the Minneapolis Lakers at the time of Baylor’s play has been quoted as stating that the team would have gone bankrupt without him.

Baylor’s exclusive collection features a wide array of memorabilia from every stage of his career. From his beginnings at Spingarn High School in Washington D.C., through his 1977 NBA Hall of Fame induction, into his post-playing career as an NBA coach and being named 2006 NBA Executive of the Year. This is the first time any of the items has been offered for auction.

Other highlights from the auction include Baylor’s 1959 NBA All-Star Game MVP Trophy, his 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship Ring and a number of items from Baylor’s professional career including LA Lakers game-worn warm-ups. Baylor’s rare Lakers rookie-year shorts that feature the uniform number 14 which was issued to him after he was drafted by the Lakers, and before he officially changed to his familiar number 22 will also be offered.  His #22 jersey is forever immortalized after it was retired by the Los Angeles Lakers on November 9, 1983, now marked by the banner that displays his name and number hanging from the rafters of The Staples Center. (1971-72 NBA Championship Ring)

One of the more unique items in the auction will be a pair of Baylor’s Adidas game worn shoes. The shoes were taken without Baylor’s knowledge, bronzed, and presented to him at a talk show appearance.

“I’ve been blessed with a tremendous career and amazing fans throughout my entire life both on and off the court,” said Elgin Baylor. “Now it’s time to share some of these historic items with those fans and collectors who want to celebrate with me as time goes on.”

Memorabilia also includes personal items from his post-basketball career and his 1977 Pro Basketball Hall of Fame Induction certificate along with Baylor’s gold NBA Lifetime Pass. In 1996 Baylor was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball History, chosen by the NBA to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the league. Included in the auction will be Baylor’s NBA 50 Greatest Players ring, 50 Greatest Players jacket, and Baylor’s NBA 50

Greatest Players signed lithograph, featuring the autographs of 49 of the 50 players chosen and numbered “Baylor 1/1”.

The auction will also include property from Baylor’s high school and college careers. With numerous trophies and awards from Baylor’s playing days at Joel Elias Spingarn High School in Washington, D.C., through to his charge to the NCAA National Championship game in 1958 as a member of the Seattle University Chieftains (now Redhawks), including Baylor’s 1958 Chuck Taylor All-American Certificate. Also included are autographed items including photographs, basketballs and jerseys. Many iconic NBA players and sports heroes are among Baylor’s friends. The auction will include signed items from Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, David Robinson and Clyde Drexler.

All of the property in the auction will be featured in a full color limited edition catalog available for purchase at www.juliensauctions.com for $75. A number of limited edition catalogs will be signed by Elgin Baylor and offered at $200 each.

Fans can get a first look at the Elgin Baylor Collection this week at the Long Beach Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center. Hall A100 South Pine Avenue, Booth # 1248 & 1250. The show is open from Thursday February 7 at 10am through Saturday, February 9 at 10am.

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for more than 30 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]