This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 9/7/2012.
The Baltimore Bullets were an American Basketball League (ABL) team from 1944-47, and later, a Basketball Association of America (BAA) team from 1947–49. Following the BAA's merger with the NBL in 1949, they became an NBA team based in Baltimore through 1954. Out of all defunct NBA teams, the Bullets are the only team to win a championship, 1947-48. The team took their name from the Bata Bullets athletic shoes, which were made in nearby Harford County. The Bullets began the 1948 playoffs by winning a Western Division tie breaker against the Chicago Stags. They defeated the Philadelphia Warriors in the Finals, four games to two. This game-used basketball is attributed to those Finals and was presented to Bullets star Paul Hoffman. “Wilson” Official basketball with initials “P.J.H.” written in black marker (Paul James Hoffman). Also written in black, block lettering is “B.A.A. CHAMPIONS BALTIMORE BULLETS 1947-48”. The ball holds air and shows signs of game-use as well as some cracking of the leather. VG-EX overall, a true piece of basketball history from more than a half a century ago.