This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/6/2013.
The American Basketball League played one full season, 1961-1962, and part of 1962-1963 season, folding on December 31, 1962. The ABL was the first basketball league to have a three point shot for baskets scored far away from the goal. The Cleveland Pipers won the only league Championship. The league was formed when basketball mogul Abe Saperstein did not get the Los Angeles NBA franchise he felt he had been promised in return for his years of supporting the NBA with doubleheader games featuring his Harlem Globetrotters. When Minneapolis Lakers owner Bob Short was permitted to move the Lakers to Los Angeles, Saperstein reacted by convincing NABL team owner Paul Cohen (Tuck Tapers) and AAU National Champion Cleveland Pipers owner George Steinbrenner to take the top NABL and AAU teams and players and form a rival league. Inside the left rear tail is the “Rawlings” manufacturer’s tag with size “44”. Adjacent are the “Cleveland Sport Goods” distributor’s tag and a wash instructions label. Across the front is “Pipers”. Player number “41” appears on both the front and back. All numbers are done in white tackle twill. The jersey is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion, shows outstanding use.