While most upstart leagues, such as baseball’s Federal League and football’s WFL, usually result in bankruptcy and failure, this was not the case with the American Basketball Association. Founded in 1967, the ABA brought excitement and an almost outlaw quality to fans bored with the stodgy atmosphere of NBA games. Using their trademark red, white and blue ball, the ABA sped up the game with added features such as the three-point shot, and by themed-1970s had developed a following that made the NBA very nervous.
Among the original ABA franchises was the Kentucky Colonels. Led by coach Hubie Brown, the 1974-75 Colonels won the single-game playoff against the New York Nets (led by Dr. J) to enter the post-season, then clipped the Memphis Sounds 4 games to 1 in the semi-finals. The Colonels then defeated the Spirits of St. Louis by the same margin to face the Indianapolis Pacers for the Championship. Kentucky sacked their league rivals, again by a 4-to-1 game margin, winning their first and only ABA Championship title. Colonels owner John Brown was so proud of his team that he offered one million dollars to the NBA Champion Golden State to play his club. The Warriors refused but the idea helped bridge the gap between the two leagues, resulting in their ultimate merger by the end of the decade.
This ring, representing Kentucky’s lone ABA title, was presented to the team’s publicist and journalist named John Hamilton. Made exactly like players’ versions, the 10K gold ring has a CZ or white sapphire on the top ringed by “KENTUCKY COLONELS” and WORLD CHAMPIONS” in raised letters and “1975” engraved into the flanks. The left shank has “JOHN HAMILTON” with the Kentucky Colonels logo perched in between. The right shank has banners engraved with "Kentucky 110, Indiana 105," "Freedom Hall," "Season 59-26," "Playoffs 12-3" and Pressure 22-3." "Jostens 10K" is stamped on the inside of the ring. The condition is essentially mint, with just light surface abrasions and minimal wear to the raised surfaces. Ring size is 8 1/2 and weight is 38 grams. A rarely seen Championship ring from the glory years of the ABA.