This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/1/2011.
In 1972, tryouts for the U.S. Olympic Team were about to be held. Bobby Jones was not only unaware of the trials, but he also did not know that the Games were being staged in Munich. When Coach Dean Smith heard that a couple of players had been taken ill at the tryouts, he got on the phone and got Jones a shot. Jones made the team, playing in the Soviet Union’s infamous win over the United States in the gold medal game. The Games were largely overshadowed by what has come to be known as the Munich massacre. On September 5, a group of eight Palestinian guerrillas belonging to the Black September organization broke into the Olympic Village and took eleven Israeli athletes, coaches and officials hostage in their apartments. Two of the hostages who resisted were killed in the first moments of the break-in; the subsequent standoff in the Olympic Village lasted for almost 18 hours. The US team refused to pick up their bronze medals. This uniform is from those historic Olympic Games and comes from the collection of Bobby Jones. On the left front tail of this navy blue knit jersey are the remnants of the “Wilson” manufacturer’s tag. Attached is a heavily faded flag tag with “+4” length”. On front is “USA”. Player number “8” appears on both the front and back. All numbers and letters are done in red on white tackle twill. Inside the rear waistband of the satin like short is the “Wilson” manufacturer’s tag with wash instructions and size “34”. Player number “8” is written in black marker. Attached is a flag tag with “+1” RISE”. The uniform shows good game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind. Accompanied by a LOA from Bobby Jones.