This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/25/2015.
The Oakland Oaks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association. Following the ABA’s inaugural season (‘67-’68) where the Oaks finished with a league-worst 22-56 record, the team rebounded with a league-best 60-18 record and were crowned ABA Champions for the ‘68-’69 season. Hall of Famer Rick Barry finally joined the Oaks following a contract dispute and a lawsuit between the team and the cross-bay San Francisco Warriors of the NBA that required he sit out for the ABA’s inaugural season. Prior to the start of the season, the Oaks handed over the reigns to Hall of Fame Coach Alex Hannum. The Oaks then traded for future Hall of Famer Larry Brown, Doug Moe, and drafted a group of talented rookies including John Clawson of the University of Michigan who had just won a gold medal as a member of the USA basketball team in the 1968 Summer Olympics (see Lot 150 in this auction for Clawson’s 1968 Olympic ring). Offered here is the championship ring that was given to John Clawson after he and his teammates won the 1969 ABA Championship. This size 11.5, 10k gold players ring weighs 25 grams. The top panel reads “OAKLAND OAKS CHAMPIONS” in relief surrounding an emerald-like stone. The left panel features a banner engraved with the player name “CLAWSON” above the casted image of the official ABA logo and a shield that reads “AMERICAN BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION”. The right panel features two banners cast to read “60” and “18”, the team’s record. Adjacent below is the casted image of the Oakland Oaks logo and “1969” below. The inside of the ring has been engraved with the player name “John Clawson” and stamped “HERFF JONES HJ 10K”. The ring is in NM condition, comes in an original Herff Jones ring box and is accompanied by a LOA from John Clawson.