This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/29/2019
From the late Red Holzman's personal collection comes this important 1977 game-used basketball. The 1976–77 New York Knicks finished the regular season in third place in the Atlantic Division at 40–42 and did not qualify for the playoffs. After their final home game played on 4/7/1977 against the Indiana Pacers in what was believed to the Hall of Fame coach's last at Madison Square Garden, the game's two referees Walter Rooney and Don Murphy presented this game ball to Red and inscribed the ball in detail. As it turns out, Red's retirement was short-lived. After stepping down and handing over head coaching duties to his longtime star Willis Reed, he would return just 14 games into the 1978-79 campaign. His real retirement came in 1982. Still, this ball certainly had a lot of sentimental significance to Holzman and the Knicks at that time.
The official NBA (Larry O'Brien) basketball made by Wilson has the appropriate manufacturer stamps and the leather panels shows plenty of game usage. The personal notation in bold 9-10/10 black marker reads, "GAME BALL PRESENTED TO RED HOLZMAN COACH OF NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. APRIL 7, 1977 BY (REF) DON MURPHY WALTER ROONEY." Red is the team's all-time winningest coach with 613 for the Knicks and 696 overall. The two championships he delivered for the city of New York in the early 70s earned him legendary status forever. Number "613" is hung in the rafters at MSG in Red's honor. Includes LOA from the Holzman family.