This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 9/7/2012.
The 1958 NCAA Championship game featured a matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Seattle Chieftains, led by future Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor. Vernon Hatton, voted an All-American in ‘58, had a stellar 30-point performance in the Championship that led the Wildcats to an 84-72 victory over Seattle. Hatton would go on to be drafted 9th overall in the 1958 NBA Draft and play four seasons with the Cincinnati Royals, Philadelphia Warriors, Chicago Packers and St. Louis Hawks. This silver medallion has a diameter of approximately 1-1/2”, weighs 30 grams and was presented to Vernon Hatton after Kentucky won their fourth NCAA Championship in 1958. The medal reads “NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION - FOUNDED 1906” surrounding the casted image of a man being crowned with laurelled leaves. “WP” appears below the player’s head, possibly the artist’s initials. The verso of the medal features the casted image of a basketball player and reads “NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP” with “‘57” engraved in the lower left corner and “UNIVERSITY DIVISION” in relief along the bottom. “WP©” also appears on the verso in the lower right corner. The edge of the medal is stamped “METALLIC ART CO. OF N.Y. SILVER”. The medal is in EX condition and is accompanied by a LOA from Vernon Hatton.