This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/20/2016
This is an amazing collectible touching upon the long-defunct American Basketball Association, the short-lived league that sprang up in the 1960's, lasted until the 1970's and left its indelible mark on the NBA behemoth that ultimately put it out of business by absorbing so many of its great teams and flamboyant superstars. Long a treasured collectible by serious fans of the ABA, this striking durene shooting shirt bears of the earmarks of considerable game usage but remains in simply outstanding condition.
The orange short-sleeve shirt has "Minnesota Pipers 1967-68 ABA Champions" across the front with intricately embroidered sections complementing orange, blue and white tackle twill elements. The same orange, blue and white scheme highlights the knit elastic collar, sleeves and waist panel. Rawlings Size 48 embroidered labeling appears at the back of the collar along with a flag tag beneath that remains affixed but is too worn to reveal wording. "Pipers" appears on the back in blue and white tackle twill above the dot of the "I" basketball logo in the same fashion with orange embroidery for the ball. As noted, the shirt lays claim to usage during the club's 1967-68 ABA Championship season; on a club that featured one of the true giants of the early ABA, Connie Hawkins, the artifact is a truly engaging treasure from a ball club that would transfer to Minnesota after that championship season only to return to Pittsburgh one year later. Such was the peripatetic ways of a struggling new league in its earliest years challenging the entrenched National Basketball Association.