This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 9/9/2007.
When dribbling wizard Marques Haynes left the Globetrotters in 1953, he founded his own barnstorming team, the Harlem Magicians, and the team has been around comedy basketball in one form or another ever since. Boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson sometimes played exhibitions with this team. The Magicians became a household name when the team signed the original Clown Prince of Basketball, Goose Tatum, and later the "newer" Clown Prince, Meadowlark Lemon, who held the title for 22 years with the Globetrotters. Lemon played in 94 countries, before various diplomats, world leaders, royalty, celebrities and the paying public in general. There is a famous image of him with Betty Ford and a basketball at the White House in 1974. Due to the scarcity of detailed period ephemera available, making exactitude impossible, we attribute this jersey to Meadowlark Lemon; his Globetrotter jersey number was 36, and he certainly played with the Magicians; at the time, however, the Magicians were a barnstorming team, there were four Globetrotter groups playing concurrent exhibitions, and players would jump between teams when needed, as they were generally part of the same overall organization. On the rear inside tail is the "Sand-Knit" manufacturer's tag. Inside the rear collar is the "BUCKS MARK OF QUALITY" tag with attached "42" size flag tag. Across the front of the jersey is "ORIGINAL HARLEM MAGICIANS" with four stars. On the back is the player number "36" with six stars surrounding it. All lettering and numbering is done in orange on white tackle twill. There are a few holes in the jersey due to age. The jersey shows game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind.