This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/30/2005.
The New Orleans Buccaneers were a major force in the early years of the ABA. Led by superstar players (and future great coaches) Larry Brown and Doug Moe, the Bucs took Pittsburgh to seven games in the 1968 ABA Championships before loosing to the Pipers. After three seasons in New Orleans, the franchise moved to Memphis and went through a variety of names (Pros, Tams and Sounds). The franchise finally ended up in Baltimore before folding prior to the start of the ABA's last season in 1975. Leland Mitchell wore this number during the Bucs first season in 1967-68, with the number being used by Jerry Rook in the team's last season in New Orleans. On the inside back tail of the jersey is the "Rawlings" manufacturers tag with the jersey size "44" on it. Adjacent to that is an additional manufacturers tag with "L" on it. Adjacent to that is the "Holmes Sporting Goods" distributors tag. Adjacent to that is an additional manufacturers tag with wash instructions on it. Across the front of the jersey is "Bucs" in script. Below that and on the back of the jersey is the player number "22." All lettering and numbering is done in red on black tackle twill. On the inside back waistband of the shorts is the "Rawlings" manufacturers tag with the shorts size "36" on it. The jersey and shorts show good game use and appear to have no alterations of any kind.