This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 8/12/2011.
The San Diego Conquistadors (the "Q's" to their loyal fans) were an ABA rarity: an expansion team. Their players for their first season were unprotected players taken from other ABA teams in a special expansion draft. They played their games at Golden Hall in San Diego and during the 1973-74 season were coached by Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. Fortunately for San Diego, when Chamberlain arrived, he brought along Caldwell Jones who had failed to come to terms with the Philadelphia 76ers during the summer of 1973. Despite their youth, the Q's were occasionally able to beat the better ABA teams. On December 29, 1973, the Q's tailed the eventual champion Nets by 22 points at halftime, but came back to win the game. Eventually, the Q's barely beat out the established Denver Rockets for the final playoff spot in the Western Division and actually pushed the Utah Stars to six games in the first round. Red Robbins was nicknamed for his red hair, as well as his fiery personality, and he gained a reputation as one of the toughest players in the league, grabbing over 6,000 rebounds in his career. This jersey originates from the collection of the Q’s former trainer. On the inner left tail is the “Rawlings” manufacturer’s tag with wash instructions and jersey size “42”. Across the front is the city name “SAN DIEGO”. Player number “21” appears on both the front and back. Player name “ROBBINS” appears across the back sewn directly on the shirt. All numbers and letters are done in white on red tackle twill. The jersey shows game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind. Accompanied by a LOA from the Q’s trainer.