Bidding on Rare Memorabilia Begins Today
Springfield, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in conjunction with its new auction and appraisal partner, SCP Auctions of Laguna, Niguel, Calif., is pleased to announce the start of its 2016 online auction, which begins today, August 3, and runs through Saturday, August 20, at www.scpauctions.com. The auction will feature more than 300 exceptional lots of outstanding, authentic basketball memorabilia from Hall of Famers including the late Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Bob Cousy, Julius Erving and Larry Bird, as well as the personal collection of Ann Meyers Drysdale, the only female player ever to sign a free agent contract with an NBA team, the Indiana Pacers. A portion of the proceeds from the inaugural SCP Auctions basketball-themed auction will go toward benefitting the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Additionally, SCP Auctions will serve as a Premier Sponsor for the Class of 2016 Enshrinement festivities, as well as the presenting partner of the Family Reunion and Awards Dinner during Enshrinement weekend on September 8th.
“SCP Auctions is very excited about hosting our Inaugural Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame online auction,” said David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions. “As one of the country’s premier sports memorabilia auction houses, we have secured hundreds of incredible basketball pieces that will be going up for bid from many of the sport’s greatest legends.”
Besides Ann Meyers Drysdale’s entire personal memorabilia collection, which includes her 1993 Hall of Fame plaque, the auction boasts multiple pieces chronicling the career of the great Wilt Chamberlain such as his 1959-60 NBA Player of the Year Trophy; a 1962 game ticket stub from his record-setting 100-point game at the Hershey (PA) Sports Arena as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors; and his 1971-72 L.A. Lakers game-worn, championship season warm-up jacket. Dozens of game-worn uniforms and shoes from retired legends including Dr. J, Bird and Michael Jordan, as well as from current superstars including LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Dwyane Wade will also whet collectors’ appetites.
John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame added: “We are thrilled with our new partnership with SCP Auctions led by David Kohler and we are excited to have them host their first Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame auction. There is no doubt they are the trusted leader in the industry and we appreciate the quality and expertise they bring to our organization in this very meaningful authentic product marketplace.”
The Hall of Fame Class of 2016 includes Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, early African-American pioneer of the game Cumberland Posey, 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson, three-time ABA All-Star Zelmo Beaty, eight-time NBA All-Star Yao Ming, 11-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson, four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal, six-time WNBA All-Star Sheryl Swoopes, three-time NAIA National Championship coach John McLendon, and two-time NABA Coach of the Year Tom Izzo, who has led Michigan State to seven Final Four appearances.
For event details and Enshrinement ticket information, visit www.hoophall.com.
About SCP Auctions
SCP Auctions has been a leader in brokering and auctions of important sports memorabilia and cards since 1979. The southern California-based firm conducts online auctions throughout the year, highlighted by its Premier Auctions in the spring and fall. SCP Auctions has handled some of the most significant individual items in their field such as the record-setting sale of the earliest known jersey worn by New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth ($4.4 million), the 1857 “Laws of Base Ball” documents ($3.2 million), the famed T206 Honus Wagner baseball card ($2.8 million), a Jesse Owens’ gold medal from the 1936 Olympic Games ($1.4 million), and Babe Ruth’s bat used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium ($1.3 million). SCP Auctions has also sold the personal memorabilia collections of Basketball Hall of Famers including the late Red Auerbach, Oscar Robertson, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek and Julius Erving. Interested bidders can call (949) 831-3700 or visit SCP Auctions online atwww.scpauctions.com for more information on how to participate.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
… on Twitter/Instagram: @hoophall
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA