This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/27/2013
This massive, 5-foot-high trophy given to Havlicek upon the occasion of his retirement in 1978 is among the largest and most impressive basketball trophies that many collectors will have ever seen. The imposing award is 17 inches square at its base, with a 13-inch square wooden section that has detailed 10-by-5- inch metal nameplates on each side: one indicates name, team, etc., and notes the presentation was made by Celtics season ticket holders, another lists 15 lines of Havlicek’s career accomplishments and records, a third notes “Happy Birthday” for the 38-year-old retiring superstar and a fourth listed seven additional lines of Havlicek records. Four huge gold-painted columns propel this unique tribute another 30 inches skyward, which then supports a second wood base highlighted by a 22-inch living cup at the top (a smaller, 14-inch loving cup rests in the center of the lower base); a total of six different figural basketball players adorn the piece, plus four eagles at the second base corners. A spectacular black Sharpie Havlicek autograph appears on the top of the lower wooden base, along with an inscription of “26,395 Pts.” Finding additional provenance elements to such a personal artifact seems silly, but here’s one more. The whole piece is in simply remarkable, pristine condition, seemingly impossible for an item of its size and type. Its state of preservation speaks both to the reverence with which it was held by Havlicek and nature of the man himself.
Comes with an LOA from John Havlicek.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA (auto.).