This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
This extraordinarily rare artifact from the NBA's prehistoric days recalls the brief but important
history of the Anderson (Indiana) Duffey Packers. In 1948, when four teams in the National Basketball League jumped to the more cosmopolitan Basketball Association of America, the owner of the Packers, Ed Duffey went out and signed the entire Kentucky University national championship team of the year before and the Pack won the NBL title before the NBL and BAA merged in 1949-50 to form the National Basketball Association. The Packers, who also played as the Chief Anderson Meat Packers, then played for the first NBA title, losing in the finals to George Mikan's Minneapolis Lakers, before Duffey was forced to fold the team due to a shortage of money. This magnificent and historic maroon warm-up top was worn by David Johnson, who played for the Packers from 1947-49 and owned the shirt for 50 years. However, there's an air of mystery in the shirt since, on the inside, there is "Brian" stitched crudely in white thread, which may indicate that the shirt at one time may have belonged to Frank Brian, the Packers' leading scorer during that 1949-50 season, when Johnson was not on the roster. Emblazoned across the back of the shirt are the words "Chief Anderson Meat Packers" in white and blue, the same color scheme that borders the neck and bottom. Inside the neck is the "Sand-Knit" label and the size tag "L." Although there is some tearing along the back of the shirt, the front is virtually flawless. The shirt comes with a letter of authenticity from Johnson.