I had my “Wizard of Oz” meets “Wizard of Westwood” moment at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion in 1980, which I will explain later. But my awareness and fascination with basketball and UCLA began quite innocently. As an eight-year-old boy growing up in Centerville, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton, our family attended a December 1966 holiday gathering at a neighbor’s home, the McDaniels. … [Read more...] about Dribbles & Scribbles: Sports Illustrated, UCLA, John Wooden and a Lifetime of Collecting Memories
John Wooden
Notes: Controversy over Adrian Peterson Auction; eBay’s Curated Card Sale; Bedard Alternative; John Wooden Stamp
A Texas auction company is selling items from storage units belonging to former pro football running back Adrian Peterson, including memorabilia from his NFL career. Peterson’s 2007 Rookie of the Year award, his 2015 NFL Player of the Year trophy, numerous milestone game balls and other items are for sale through TexMax Auctions in Houston. Personal clothing … [Read more...] about Notes: Controversy over Adrian Peterson Auction; eBay’s Curated Card Sale; Bedard Alternative; John Wooden Stamp
Notes: CGC Milestone; 1914 Ruth Update; New Minnesota Show; MeiGray’s NBA Stash; John Wooden Stamp Coming
CGC says it has now graded five million cards since its launch in July of 2020. Included in that number are sports, non-sports and TCG. The latter is where the company got its start in the card grading arena. CGC Cards began accepting sports card submissions in February 2021. Though CGC Cards began by grading standard-sized cards and large vintage Topps cards, … [Read more...] about Notes: CGC Milestone; 1914 Ruth Update; New Minnesota Show; MeiGray’s NBA Stash; John Wooden Stamp Coming
NFL Quarterback Bought John Wooden’s 1930’s Purdue Jersey
The mystery buyer of that early 1930s John Wooden Purdue basketball jersey turned out to be another pretty famous Boilermaker alumnus. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees revealed in a video that he had teamed up with a local collector/restaurant owner to win the auction and has turned the jersey over to the school where it will go on display. The plan had been … [Read more...] about NFL Quarterback Bought John Wooden’s 1930’s Purdue Jersey
Ruth 60th Home Run Bat Sells for $660,000
The Baseball Hall of Fame claims to own the bat Babe Ruth used to hit his record-setting 60th home run in 1927 but prominent collectors believed The Babe's weapon of choice that day is the one found in Heritage Auctions' Spring catalog. Inscribed to Ruth friend Joe E. Brown, a nationally known actor-comedian who was among the first celebrity sports collectors, the bat … [Read more...] about Ruth 60th Home Run Bat Sells for $660,000
John Wooden College Jersey Coming to Auction
He’d gain national fame in southern California but John Wooden was a Hoosier at heart. A star high school player, he would become a Big Ten legend as a player at Purdue University in the early 1930s. While Wooden’s personal collection was sold in a well-publicized auction in 2011, few knew that one item dating from those early Boilermaker basketball days was still out … [Read more...] about John Wooden College Jersey Coming to Auction
Early Alcindor UCLA Jersey Among Hall Auction Headliners
On the weekend of the annual Naismith Hall of Fame inductions, we’ve learned SCP Auctions will be offering a jersey that would be at home in Springfield, MA. A 1966-67 UCLA game-worn home jersey worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his sophomore season—the first of three straight NCAA Championships won by the Bruins—will appear in the Second Annual Hall of Fame Auction. … [Read more...] about Early Alcindor UCLA Jersey Among Hall Auction Headliners
High-Grade Icons, Vintage Packs Headline Memory Lane Spring Auction
Kids who found them inside packs they opened decades ago were excited. In 2017, the enthusiasm for the biggest names in baseball history hasn’t waned a bit and some pack-fresh classic cardboard is about to go on the auction block. Memory Lane’s upcoming Spring "Holy Grail" Auction includes some single cards that are expected to attract six-figure bids, a group of … [Read more...] about High-Grade Icons, Vintage Packs Headline Memory Lane Spring Auction
Photo of the Day: John Wooden, Purdue Star, in 1930
Most images of John Wooden date from his long and successful tenure as coach of the UCLA Bruins. In 1930, though, Wooden was a couple thousand miles away, as a college basketball star in the making at Purdue University. An extremely rare original 1930 photograph of the legendary coach, one of only a handful of known images from his playing days, is now up for … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: John Wooden, Purdue Star, in 1930