Today Adidas is a household name, one of the largest producers of athletic shoes in the world. Back in 1936, before there was “Adidas”, there was Adolf "Adi" Dassler, a German baker who hand-crafted athletic shoes in his home workshop. When the Olympics were awarded to Germany in 1936, Dassler used this opportunity to promote his shoes on the world stage.
Before the Games, Dassler drew up a list targeting the best track & field athletes from around the world, including the United States’ Jesse Owens. When the Games began, Dassler enlisted German track coach Jo Waitzer to give Owens three pairs of his special shoes. Owens not only wore Adi Dassler’s shoes, but thought so much of them he asked Waitzer for additional pairs. After the Games, Owens sent a note of thanks to Adi Dassler along with the pair he wore while winning his Gold Medals at the games. Decades later, Adidas commemorated their company’s connection with the Olympic hero by producing Jesse Owens signature model throwback track shoes.
This lot from the Owens estate features two non-matching (both left foot) black and white 'ADIDASSLER' leather spikeless track shoes with "Jesse Owens" stamped in lovely cursive on the outer left heel. The rare, special edition shoes both come in size 9/9.5 with patented Jesse Owens branded orthotic inserts. Tje Adidas factory-issued tags and stickers indicate a "DEC 28 2005" manufacturing date. The lot also includes a “Buckeye Bullet” branded promotional t-shirt (size M) and letterman jacket (size 50) with catchy logos of the famous shoe brand and athlete. These items all appear unworn and present essentially brand new, ready for prominent display or wear if you so choose. A unique group that commemorates the link between the greatest Olympian and the athletic equipment giant he made famous.
On a somewhat related note, Adi's older brother Rudolf joined his shoe-making business and eventually branched off after WW2 to found his own brand known today as Puma. Both were members of the Nazi Party at one point, but when Adi left the party in the 1930s to focus on his Adidas brand the two brothers became bitter rivals as did their shoe companies.
Includes LOA signed by each of Jesse Owens' three daughters.