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Basketball Cards, Autographs and Memorabilia
6 Lots
 Lot 249. Scarce 1929 Stanford at UCLA College Basketball Program. Two-panel 6” x 9” program that features three future Olympians. Harlow Rothert, captain of the Stanford “Redshirts,” captured the silver medal in the shot put at the 1932 Games in Los Angeles. Four years later, UCLA “Blueshirts” Frank Lubin and team captain Sam Balter were members of the team that won the gold in basketball in Berlin. Dated Feb. 2, 1929, the program, printed on thin paper, has vertical and horizontal folds and multiple creases. Uncommon, and historically interesting.
Winning Bid $77.
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 Lot 250. Scarce Autograph of Forrest C. Allen, the “Father of Basketball Coaching.” Allen was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959 as part of the inaugural class, which included his college coach, basketball inventor James Naismith. In 49 seasons as a basketball coach, he won college national championships at the University of Kansas in 1922, 1923 and 1952. Allen retired with a 771-233 record – more wins than any other college coach at the time. His own success and his development of successful coaches earned him recognition as the “Father of Basketball Coaching.” Among his students were four future Hall of Fame coaches – Dutch Lonborg, Ralph Miller, Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp. Largely through his efforts, basketball became an official Olympic sport in 1936. Allen coached the 1952 U.S. team to the Olympic gold medal. His large fountain pen signature is a mint 9 on a typed letter that apparently congratulates an Indiana student and invites him to visit the Kansas campus. The letter has some stains away from the signature. Allen died in 1974. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $291.
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 Lot 251. Ray Meyer, HoF DePaul Coach, Autograph and Memorabilia Collection. For 42 years, Meyer was a Chicago basketball fixture, leading DePaul to a 732-354 record and 21 post-season appearances, 13 in the NCAA tournament and eight in the NIT. From 1975-84, his teams were a part of March Madness six times and advanced as far as the Final Four. Meyer was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. He passed away in 2006. The items in this collection are from his estate. His personalized signature is on the flyleaf of a first edition of Ray Meyer: America’s #1 Basketball Coach by James Enright, who also signed. Their signatures are 10s. The book is ex-m in a vg dust jacket. Meyer’s autograph is also on a full-sized DePaul Blue Demons pennant, which is ex. Dated 1989, the signature on the white strip at the left is ex 5. Meyer also signed a baggage tag and a 2996 typed letter (signed Ray). Thirty-seven 4” x 6” snapshot photos picture Meyer, his friends and acquaintances and enshrinees and events at the 2003 Basketball HoF induction. Meyer was loved and admired by DePaul fans, and various items, some of them humorous, were given to him: A 16 ½” basketball trophy with an engraved plate that says “Ray Meyer’s ‘Blue Demons’ can always beat the Little Sisters of the Poor.” An engraved 1 ½” x 7” strip that says “To Coach Ray Meyer for 25 Years of Leadership & Devotion to Basketball.” An atlas with a special cover picturing Meyer and saying “Ha-Lo Advertising Specialties Salutes Ray Meyer.” A handmade certificate from the staff of the Ramada O’Hare to “Ray Meyer, Super Coach.” And even a sweater knitted by a fan. Many items are more personal, including religious charms (5) that Meyer liked to hand out, photocopies of several performance self appraisals, an appointment letter to the position of Special Assistant to the President (of DePaul) for Athletic Fund Raising, and an Illinois Sesquicentennial Commission certificate. There also are envelopes for “Ray Meyer’s Basketball Camp,” a Ray Meyer Hall of Fame shirt from the Washington, D.C., Touchdown Club and a Notre Dame shirt. Excellent collection providing insights to Meyer’s personality and why he had such a loyal following. Autographs authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $92.
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 Lot 252. 1991 Basketball Hall of Fame Yearbook Signed by 25 Members. Players, coaches, referees and contributors signed by their photos. Most of these individuals have passed away since they signed at a 1991 HoF event. The autographs grade gem mint 10: Ed Macauley, Bob Kurland, Andy Phillip (d. 2001), Ben L. Carnevale (d. 2008), Harry Litwack (d. 1999), John P. Nucatola (d. 2000), Jim Pollard (“J” is light, d. 1993), Peter Newell (d. 2008), Ray Meyer (d. 2006), John B. McLendon Jr. (d. 1999), Les Harrison (d. 1994), J Dallas Shirley (d. 2007), Arad A. McCutchan (d. 1993), Clarence Gaines (d. 2005), Jack Gardner, Marv Harshman, Red Holzman (d. 1998), Fred Taylor (d. 2002), Stan Watts (d. 2000), Bob Wanzer, Ralph H. Miller (d. 2001), K. C. Jones and Pop Gates (d. 1999). Gates starred for the New York Rens (Renaissance) and helped to integrate pro basketball in the 1940s. The inside front cover of the yearbook has four signatures: Ann Meyers and Earl Strom (d. 1994), who are HoF members, and Will Robinson (d. 2008) and Lee Williams, who are not. Williams was the HoF executive director. In 1970, Robinson became the first African-American NCAA Division 1 coach when he was hired Illinois State. He also is the first black scout in the NFL. Meyers is the first woman elected to the HoF. Strom, considered to be the greatest referee in the history of the NBA, was elected to the Hall of Fame posthumously (d. 1994); consequently, his autograph on any item associated with the HoF is rare. Many of these autographs sell individually for $75-$100. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $225.
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 Lot 253. Chicago Bulls 1997 NBA Champions Banner. Impressive 35” x 58” banner that hung in the city to mark the Bulls’ fifth championship of the 1990s under the leadership of Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan. The silk-like material shows some light to moderate stains in the background, but they tend to get little notice because of the dominance of the large Bulls’ logo.
Winning Bid $152.
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