This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/31/2005.
Class of 1964 - Known as the "American Ambassador of Basketball" due to his extensive foreign travel, Contributor John Bunn coached at Stanford, winning the 1937 National Championship, at Springfield College, and at Colorado College. Bunn initiated many rule changes, most notably being the elimination of the center jump after every made field goal. Player Harold "Bud" Foster led the University of Wisconsin team that compiled a 43-8 three-year record. As a senior in 1930, Foster was named an All-America. He returned to coach at Wisconsin where he compiled 265 wins and the 1941 NCAA Championship. Contributor R. William Jones served as Secretary-General from its formation in 1932 through 1976. His efforts grew the sport into one played by more than 130 countries. At LaSalle, Coach Ken Loeffler introduced the Figure-8 Motion offense that led the team to six 20-win seasons. His teams won the NIT in 1952, the 1954 NCAA Championship, and went to the finals of the NIT in 1953 and NCAA in 1955. John "Honey" Russell began his pro career at age 16 and played for three decades in more than 3,200 games for teams in virtually every pro league. He led the Cleveland Rosenblums to three ABL Championships from 1925 to 1931. Later Russell became the first coach of the Boston Celtics. Class of 1965 - Considered one of the country's foremost sports figures in the 1930s and 40s, Boston Celtics owner and Hall of Fame Contributor Walter Brown was one of the founding fathers of the NBA in 1946. In addition, as owner of the Boston Bruins, Brown was instrumental in the early years of the NHL. Paul "Tony" Hinkle was the dean of Indiana college coaches from the early 1920s until 1970. Hinkle coached baseball, basketball and football at Butler, winning over 1,000 games and the 1929 national basketball championship. Coach Howard Hobson pioneered intersectional play at Oregon, and guided the Ducks to three Pacific Coast Conference titles and the first ever NCAA Championship in 1939. He also coached at Southern Oregon and at Yale. Contributor Bill Mokray was the public relations director at the Boston Garden and for the Celtics. He wrote for the Converse Yearbook (1946-73), was the founder of the Official NBA Guide, and wrote the history of the basketball for numerous encyclopedias. All are Silver Relief medallions. Bunn, Foster, Jones, Loeffler, Hinkle, Hobson and Mokray are in NM condition. Russell is in excellent condition; slight wear on nose. Brown is in excellent condition; very slight scratch on tip of nose.