This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/1/2002.
Bob Pettit was a player ahead of his time; with 16.2 rebounds per game to go with his 26.4 points per game, Pettit was the quintessential "power forward" well before anyone had coined the term to describe his style of play. Pettit was named to the All-NBA First Team in the first 10 of his 11 seasons and was named MVP in four of 11 All-Star Game appearances. Upon his retirement, Pettit was the leading scorer in NBA history with 20,880 points and was second in rebounds with 12,849. In the end, the man who was cut from his Baton Rouge High School team as a freshman and sophomore had earned a spot on the NBA's 25th, 35th, and 50th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
Offered here is a mid to late 50s worn Bob Pettit St. Louis Hawks home durene jersey. Inside the back left tail is the "Rawlings" manufacturer's tag with the size "42." To the left of the manufacturer's tag is the size tag "XL" and to the right are the "Sisler Hummel" manufacturer's tag and the wash tag. Red, white, and blue embroidered trim is sewn along the arm holes and the neck of the jersey. The team name "Hawks" is sewn across the front of the jersey and the player number "9" is sewn onto the front and back. The letters and numbers are made of red on blue tackle twill. The jersey's tagging and stitching are consistent with other late 1950s St. Louis Hawks jerseys. The jersey shows very good game-use with consistent, even wear throughout and buckling on the numbers as well as some fraying of the embroidered trim. It appears to have no alterations of any kind. This Pettit jersey comes with a letter from the man who originally obtained the item from Pettit's teammate who told him that the shirt was worn the entire championship season. Bob Pettit scored 50 points at home in game 6 of the championship series tying an NBA record. The jersey is a rare style which is in remarkable condition, has beautiful embroidered trim and it stands as one of the finest Bob Pettit game-used jerseys extant.