The world of Olympic basketball was irrevocably changed in 1992 when the “Dream Team” broke the age-old amateur rule and fielded an unstoppable aggregation of NBA stars. But before that Dream Team, there was an earlier squad of American players who captured the Gold while upholding the Olympic amateur ideal. Competing at the 1960 Summer Games in Rome, Team USA featured America’s finest collegiate stars including four future Hall of Famers: Walt Bellamy, Jerry West, Jerry Lucas and Oscar Robertson. Coached by Cal-Berkley’s Pete Newell, the American team won every game of the competition by an average of 42 points to win the Gold. The squad’s collective talent was such that the entire team has been enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and is regarded as the greatest amateur basketball team ever assembled.
The undisputed star was 21-year-old Oscar Robertson, who had just finished off perhaps the most dominant college career ever at the University of Cincinnati. This special offering is believed to be one of two blue jerseys worn by Oscar during the Olympic tournament. A letter of provenance from the former owner of this famous #14 blue jersey, whose cousin covered the Games in Rome for the Indianapolis Times, states that Oscar definitively wore it against the USSR. Photographs show that in the deciding gold medal game victory over Brazil 90-63, Team USA was also outfitted in blue.
The blue durene shell boasts Robertson’s number “14” below “USA” in white and red tackle twill with the number repeated on the back in the same colors. The lower left front tail has the Wilson label with “44 +3” flag tag affixed. The jersey shows outstanding evidence of wear with light toning throughout along with loose threads and some puckering to the tackle twill. There is some light staining on the white lettering from age, but overall the colors are bright. Robertson would return to the States and go on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors six months later. This rare piece of history represents the brief, but crucial period when the “Big O” transitioned from college superstar to basketball legend. It should be noted that in 2012 we auctioned Oscar’s white 1960 Olympic jersey for $121,324.
Includes LOA from MEARS graded a perfect A10. Letter of provenance from previous owner.