Lot 322. Nov. 18, 1987 SI “College Basketball ’87-88” Issue Signed by Wyoming’s Fennis Dembo. The first Wyoming athlete ever featured on the cover of SI, Dembo remains the University of Wyoming’s all-time leading scorer. He was a member of the 1989 NBA Champion Detroit Pistons team. Cover only, no label, ex-m+, sharpie 10 signature. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Minimum Bid $20.
Lot 511. 100+ Basketball Publications + Michael Jordan Memorabilia. A big collection of Sports Illustrated issues with basketball covers and Michael Jordan publications and cards highlight this collection. Thirty-nine of the 56 SI issues are from the 1970s and earlier. College Preview issues are from five seasons, including 1957, 1976 and 1979, and Pro Previews, from 1977, 1984 and 1999. Stars abound, with Jabbar on 7 covers, Bird 6, Walton 5, Hayes 2 and Ewing, Havlicek, McAdoo, Bradley and Barry each on one. Two-player covers include Jabbar and Walton (2 copies), Jabbar and Havlicek, and Bird and Johnson. Four Life issues feature Jabbar and Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Ralph Vaughn of USC and the 1945 St. John’s team. The first issue of Sports World, from March 1949, has Ed Maculey of St. Louis U. on the cover. Other covers show Bird, the Dream Team (4 publications), Bradley, and Oscar Robertson (1963 Hawks vs. Cincinnati program). Michael Jordan appears on the covers of 28 periodicals, including Sports Illustrated. There are two books on Jordan, “Rookie” by Jim Patton, 1995 first printing, ex-library copy, and “Second Coming” by Sam Smith, 1995, stated first edition. The Jordan collection also includes two newspapers reporting on the Bulls’ 1998 Championship game, 10 pieces of Bulls stationery, 29 Imax Theatre promotional handouts, five boxes of Valentine cards, a 1995 Upper Deck oversized set of 12 basketball cards and the 1995 UD Michael Jordan “Final Edition” baseball card set of 10. Publications average ex with some less, some better, and cards are nm-m.
Minimum Bid $100.
Lot 899. Adbul-Jabbar Autograph on a Special NBA “Hoop” Tribute Issue + a Bonus. This May 1989 edition pays tribute to Jabbar at his retirement. Vg+ to ex issue. The “Abdul-Jabbar” autograph is 10 of 10. Bonus: 1984-85 New York Nets program with cover autograph of Ralph Sampson and Akeem Olajuwon. Nm program. Olajuwon signed only his first name. Signatures are 10s.
Minimum Bid $40.
Lot 905. Autograph of Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Al McGuire on a Publication. McGuire signed a publication for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in blue sharpie. The autograph is 10 of 10, and the publication is nm. McGuire served as honorary chairman of one of the hospital’s major fundraising programs for 15 years. McGuire coached Marquette to 11 consecutive postseason bids and won the NCAA championship in his final game as a coach in 1977. McGuire died in 2001.
Winning Bid $25.
Lot 908. Program Signed by Mike Gminski, 9 Others on the 1979-80 Duke Basketball Team. An outstanding center, Gminski led Duke to the NCAA championship game in 1978. He earned All-America honors in 1979 and 198 and Academic All-America honors in three seasons. Duke retired his uniform number. The 1979-80 Duke team finished at 22-8 and 14th in the AP poll. Gminski signed this program from the “Classic 4” tournament at Providence in December 1979. Joining him in signing were Coach Bill Foster, Gene Banks, Bob Bender, Kenny Dennard, Tom Emma, Chip Engelland, Jim Suddath, Mike Tissaw and Vince Taylor. Gminski, Banks, Dennard and Taylor subsequently played in the NBA. Gminski’s pro career spanned 14 seasons, including seven with New Jersey. He made 84% of his free throws, an exceptional number for a big man. He and Foster signed in blue felt-tip, and their signatures show as 9 of 10 against dark backgrounds. The others in black sharpie are 10s.
Minimum Bid $25.
Lot 909. 8 Hall of Fame Basketball Autographs in “The Pictorial History College Basketball” by Bill Gutman, 1989 first edition. Two facing inside pages are signed by Hall of Fame players Luisa Harris-Stewart, Jim Pollard (dec.) and Anne Donovan; coaches Ben Carnevale, John B. McLendon Jr. (dec.), John Kundla and Ray Meyer (dec.), and referee J. Dallas Shirley (dec.). Boston Celtic Jo Jo White also signed. Pollard and Shirley are relatively difficult autographs. All signatures are very large in bold blue or black sharpie and rate 10 of 10
Winning Bid $35.
