This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
The name Bill Russell is synonymous with perfection, and his signature -- one of the hardest to find in sports given his longtime aversion to giving out autographs -- dominates this commemorative Basketball Hall of Fame ball as the largest and most obvious among the signatures of 27 all-time greats of the game. Russell, who won two titles at USF, a gold medal with the 1956 U.S. Olympic team and 11 NBA titles with the Boston Celtics, signed, "Bill Russell, #6, HOF 74" in black marker on a panel apart from the rest, with the signature rating a solid 9. On another panel are the signatures of Dolph Schayes and Russell's Celtic teammates Sam Jones and Bailey Howell. A white panel includes signatures from Walt Frazier, Marques Haynes, Frank Ramsey, hallowed coaches C.M. Newton, Ray Meyer, John Kundla, and many others.