This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/1/2002.
When we think of Pete Maravich, no image comes to mind quicker than Maravich in his Louisiana State University jersey with his mop of brown hair and trademark floppy socks. Clad in the yellow, purple, and white of LSU, Maravich scored 3,667 points in his three-year varsity career, a record comparable to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak and Cy Young's 511 career wins because each will probably never be broken.
Maravich wore this particular Louisiana State University home durene jersey during the 1967-68 season, in which he scored 1,138 points in 26 games for an average of 43.8 points per game, first in the nation. Unsurprisingly, Maravich earned more acclaim after that season than most players earn in their entire career. Maravich was not only named Most Valuable Player of LSU and the Southeastern Conference, but was selected as an All-American by the Associated Press, United Press International, Look Magazine, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News and National Association of Basketball Coaches.
On the inside of the jersey's back left tail is the "Rawlings" manufacturer's tag with the size "42" and to its right is the wash tag. The team name "LSU" is sewn across the front of the jersey and the player number "23" appears on both the front and back of the jersey. All of the letters and numbers are made of purple tackle twill on a yellow tackle twill backing. The uniform's tagging and stitching are consistent with tagging and stitching present on other LSU jerseys from that era. We can date this LSU varsity jersey to Maravich's 1967-68 sophomore season because LSU wore Rawlings jerseys in Maravich's sophomore year and Sand-Knit jerseys in his junior and senior years. Because of this, it is tantamount to a Maravich rookie jersey.
The jersey came to us directly from Maravich's wife Jackie and comes with a letter of authenticity from her. It shows good game-use with consistent, even wear throughout and appears to have no alterations of any kind. Perhaps the most important basketball jersey in existence.