Game-worn jerseys of NBA Hall of Famers are part of an auction set to conclude at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts next month. Bidding is already underway.
Grey Flannel Auctions returns to the Basketball Hall of Fame this year with another major auction of hoops memorabilia.
Bidders are already pushing the price of George Mikan’s game-used Minneapolis Lakers jersey from 1947-’48 (currently $30,250), Bill Russell’s game-used All-Star game jersey from 1959 (currently $6655), Bob Cousy’s road Celtics warmup ($3025) and Michael Jordan’s game-used Dream Team jersey from 1992 ($10,000).
“This auction is exclusively basketball and we are showcasing some of the finest basketball memorabilia in the world, in the best possible setting,” said Richard Russek, president of Grey Flannel Auctions. “Every collector who bids online and and every attendee of a fabulous dinner honoring at least 50 Hall of Famers, will have a rare opportunity to win a unique piece of history.”
Last year’s blockbuster inaugural event showcased a Dr. Julius Erving jersey that fetched a record price of more than $140,000. In addition of items already mentioned, the second annual sale features more garb from Hall of Famers: an NBA All-Star game jersey worn in 1978 by Dr. J; a Joe Jo White green Celtics jersey; an NBA 50 greatest players signed lithograph; Magic Johnson’s 50 Greatest Players leather jacket worn at the 50th Anniversary All-Star game; Larry Bird’s “50 Greatest” jacket; Jordan’s 1993 NBA All-Star jersey, with a letter of authenticity from Commissioner David Stern; a Wilt Chamberlain All-Star game jersey; and a pre-game Pittsburgh Rens warmup worn by Connie Hawkins.
It also contains a basketball attributed to Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 100-point game on March 2, 1962, at the Hershey Park Arena in Hershey, Pa. This is the ball that a then-14-year-old fan Kerry Ryman swooped in and snatched as many of the 4,124 spectators stormed the court shortly after Chamberlain slammed home the final two points with 46 seconds remaining.
Added to the 208 lots in the sale are college jerseys from the most exciting college draftees of 2007. The sale features a home Texas Longhorns jersey from Kevin Durant; a blue road jersey from the first of two Florida Gators championship seasons worn by Corey Brewer; and Greg Oden’s North Lawrence high school jersey from the undefeated 2005-’06 season. Tomorrow’s history is definitely in the making.
As for real history, the Grey Flannel auction features an extensive collection of memorabilia from the American Basketball Association, the league that produced the red, white and blue basketball.
Among the ABA-connected items are:
* The New York Nets ABA championship trophy for 1974 and 1976;
* Ron Boone’s West All-Star team jersey;
* Louis Dampier’s Kentucky Colonels jersey and shorts;
* Rick Barry’s 10,000th point trophy, with the actual ABA ball as part of the award;
* A team-signed ABA ball by the 1971-’72 Kentucky Colonels, including the signatures of Dampier, Dan Issel, Walt Simon and Cincy Powell;
* David “Big Daddy” Lattin’s Memphis Tams game-used home jersey; and
* Rich Jones’ New York Nets jersey worn while scoring the last basket made in the ABA.;
* A very rare 1973 Indiana Pacers ABA World Championship ring;
* A scarce 1974 New York Nets World Championship ring; and
* A rare 1975 Kentucky Colonels ABA World Championship ring that belonged to Gene Rhodes.
Grey Flannel Auctions is in its second year of a five-year partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame to combine an auction as part of the annual Hall of Fame induction festivities.
To see vintage NBA memorabilia on eBay, click here.
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