Fresh to the hobby Wendell Ladner signed index card!
Ladner was one of the most colorful characters in the history of the ABA, and that is really saying something considering the legacy of that league! Ladner’s exploits were part of the inspiration for Will Ferrell’s character in the film Semi-Pro.
However, Ladner had some game as well, suiting up first for the Memphis Pros, where he was a two-time All-Star. Then with the New York Nets, he teamed with Julius “Dr. J” Erving on the Nets 1974 ABA championship team.
Sadly, Ladner passed away at age 26 in 1975 in a plane crash. Based on his special place in ABA history and his passing at such a young age, Ladner’s autograph is a desired treasure among basketball historians and collectors.
Ladner has signed this index card in bold black ballpoint, inscribed Memphis Pros and his jersey #33. It is authenticated and encapsulated by Beckett.
Provenance:
As documented in the story The Great Autograph Hunt from the February 5, 1974 Dayton (Ohio) Journal Herald, Jack Zimmerman and his grade school buddies Tim Gallagher and Vince Martin started collecting autographs of athletes through the mail, at games and at team hotels, primarily in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas. The boys were relentless in their pursuit of baseball, basketball and football players, obtaining the stars and "commons" of the day, plus "old timers" and "legends" that were coaches, broadcasters or responsive through the mail. Jack was locked in on collecting from about 1968 through 1975, until pursuit of his own basketball career took priority. Jack became an All-State high school player, then had a Hall of Fame career hooping at the University of Dayton, followed by several seasons as an overseas pro, including suiting up for the prestigious Maccabi Tel Aviv club. Jack's extensive collection was essentially put in a time capsule in 1976 and has literally followed him all over the world. We are proud to present selected treasures from Jack's collection in our Auction, fresh to the hobby and seeing the light of day for the first time in over 45 years!