This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/11/2013
From the legendary collegiate figure Tony Lavelli comes this amazing satin warmup jacket and pants. Lavelli was a four-year All-American at Yale and a talented musician who combined those skills in his college and professional careers. A cousin to Pro Football Hall of Famer Dante Lavelli, Tony averaged 6.9 points per game during his two-year NBA career (1949–51), while also providing half-time entertainment with his accordion performances. This remarkable combination warmup jacket and pants is likely from a College All-Star contest featuring the top collegiate players of the day. Lavelli was one of of Yale's all-time greatest players, a 6-3 forward who scored 1,964 points in four years and graduated as the fourth highest-scorer in college basketball history, earning four All-American team selections and one Player of the Year award. Upon graduating, he was selected as the first overall pick of the Celtics in the 1949 BAA Draft. After his pro career, Lavelli played with the College All-Stars during the 1950's, who primarily served as opponents to the Harlem Globetrotters, and his accordion performances became a fixture of the Globetrotters’ halftime shows much as he had done in his two-years as a pro. This Size 48 warmup jacket has Athletic Supply tagging on the collar, with a spectcular "All American 46-49" badge-shaped patch on the front, stunning 5-inch red, white and blue piping on the sleeves, intricate knitted cuffs and the knitted-and-satin back flap from the collar that was such an identifiable element to uniforms of the era. All elements appear to be superior condition, largely as-issued and problem-free, save only for the wear evidenced from genuine game use. The Size 32 Wilson-tagged satin pants are a perfect complement, showing even more noticeable game use and staining, likely from the condition-sensitive white satin, with no rust or corrosion visible on the metal zippers at the bottom of each leg. Just a wonderful artifact from an important figure in postwar college basketball and early NBA history.