Vintage Basketball Photos and Postcards

[D. Bergin]

Michael Jordan / North Carolina

The only thick plastic slabbed photo I own.

[D. Bergin]

I love Pre-Rookie basketball photos.

Here's a 1957 one with 1st year college player Oscar Robertson and High Schooler Jerry Lucas taking in a Celtics vs. Royals NBA game.

The two HOF'ers would end up teaming up years later in the NBA as members of The Cincinnati Royals.

[D. Bergin]

Bob Cousy at Holy Cross College.

c. 1949

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Bob Cousy at Holy Cross College.

c. 1949

'The Cous' when he was young and handsome! My mom would cry lol! Family of Celtics fans right here.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I love Pre-Rookie basketball photos.

Here's a 1957 one with 1st year college player Oscar Robertson and High Schooler Jerry Lucas taking in a Celtics vs. Royals NBA game.

The two HOF'ers would end up teaming up years later in the NBA as members of The Cincinnati Royals.

Wow, that is amazing! Love to see the stars when they were wide-eyed kids! So glad I started this thread... This group has some amazing images.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Michael Jordan / North Carolina

The only thick plastic slabbed photo I own.

Type I Jordan from college with the tongue out and the MacGregor basketball!! Man these are unreal... Hey Dave, don't forget your old buddy Joe when planning your estate!

[Exhibitman]

This 1959 Hawks premium is one of the more creative ones I've ever seen, and loaded with HOFers:

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

This 1959 Hawks premium is one of the more creative ones I've ever seen, and loaded with HOFers:

Adam, from your comments on prewar baseball, I figured you were a baseball guy. No way, you've got some great hoops memorabilia... thanks

[Jewish-collector]

I am a huge Cousy fan. I am going to cash out the Bar Mitzvah bonds for whatever it takes to win this Holy Cross Cousy schedule.

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDe...-BOB-COUSY-HOF

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

I am a huge Cousy fan. I am going to cash out the Bar Mitzvah bonds for whatever it takes to win this Holy Cross Cousy schedule.

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDe...-BOB-COUSY-HOF

Alan,

Those pop up a lot more than you would think. I have always liked it.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Dead-Ball-Hitter

Adam, from your comments on prewar baseball, I figured you were a baseball guy. No way, you've got some great hoops memorabilia... thanks

I am into all four of the sports that were ubiquitous Topps issues when I was a kid, plus boxing. I like football the least and collect that strictly from a nostalgic standpoint. The early non-card basketball is just really interesting to me given the modest history of the NBA and the lack of cards.

[jad22]

Cousy picture. Not sure if its type 1 or 2.

[jad22]

Here is another one.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by jad22

Cousy picture. Not sure if its type 1 or 2.

You ever decide to move that, please give me a heads up.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

This 1959 Hawks premium is one of the more creative ones I've ever seen, and loaded with HOFers:

Not only a lot of HOFers. Father of a future player, Bob father of Danny Ferry. Also four players who would later play with the Celtics - Lovellette, Macauley, Green and McCarthy. Lovellette, Green and McCarthy would play on championship teams with them. I believe Lovellette was the first player to win an NCAA championship, Olympic gold medal and NBA Championship. He was the first one to win NCAA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year - 1952.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Michael B

I believe Lovellette was the first player to win an NCAA championship, Olympic gold medal and NBA Championship. He was the first one to win NCAA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year - 1952.

[jad22]

The under appreciated, difficult to find, 1950's Celtics postcards. Would have preferred ballpoint signatures but I can live with this.

[Exhibitman]

If you ever can't live with them, LMK

Here's a Minneapolis TI of Jim (The Kangaroo Kid) Pollard:



Found in a pile of miscellaneous stuff in a collection I bought. His career was 48-55, so some time in there.

[Michael B]

Photos being stubborn. will redo later.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Mahmoud Namdjou (correct spelling)(gewichtheben - weightlifting) from Iran was a great weightlifter. In the Olympics he won a silver in 1952 and bronze in 1956. World Champ in bantamweight 1949, 1950, 1951. He also set three world records.

I will see your Kosmo card and raise you.

lovellette-kurland-1.jpg
Clyde Lovellette and Bob Kurland in Helsinki for the 1952 Olympics. The athlete between them is Luis Omedes of Spain. Youngest competitor at those games at 12½. He was the cox for the rowing 4's w/cox. He would compete in Luge at the 1968 Olympics. His father rowed in the 1924 Games and his brother rowed single scull in 1948 and 1952.

[Michael B]

lovellette-1.jpg
Clyde Lovellette at Kansas circa 1951.

Balter-1.jpg
Sam Balter while captain of the UCLA basketball team in 1929. One of the first Jewish basketball stars. Along with Larry Brown he was the shortest male Olympic basketball player ever. Won a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics. He would become a famous sports announcer in Southern California. He was the first person to do coast to coast radio sports commentary. He also announced the first televised college football game.

Barker-1.jpg
Cliff Barker circa 1948. 1948 Olympic Gold medalist.

Barksdale-1.jpg
Don Barksdale in 1949. The first Black U.S. Olympic basketball player. 1948 gold medal.

beard-1.jpg
Ralph Beard and fiancé in 1949. 1948 gold medal.

boryla-1.jpg
Vince Boryla as a freshman at Notre Dame 1945. 1948 gold medal.

boryla-denver-1.jpg
Vince Boryla at Denver University in 1949. He was the nations leading scorer at the time.

brewer-1.jpg
Jim Brewer while a senior at Proviso East High School 1967-68. 1972 silver medal.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Mahmoud Namdjou (correct spelling)(gewichtheben - weightlifting) from Iran was a great weightlifter. In the Olympics he won a silver in 1952 and bronze in 1956. World Champ in bantamweight 1949, 1950, 1951. He also set three world records.

I will see your Kosmo card and raise you.

Attachment 508600
Clyde Lovellette and Bob Kurland in Helsinki for the 1952 Olympics. The athlete between them is Luis Omedes of Spain. Youngest competitor at those games at 12½. He was the cox for the rowing 4's w/cox. He would compete in Luge at the 1968 Olympics. His father rowed in the 1924 Games and his brother rowed single scull in 1948 and 1952.

Hell, they were all kids, to me now. Clyde was 23, Kurland 27.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Dead-Ball-Hitter

Type I Jordan from college with the tongue out and the MacGregor basketball!! Man these are unreal... Hey Dave, don't forget your old buddy Joe when planning your estate!

Thanks Joe. Wasn't too long ago these type of photos weren't drumming up much interest at all.

I think I picked up the Jordan photo in a Mears auction 10 years ago or so, for less then the price of a 3rd year Jordan Fleer Sticker.

In hindsight, I should have been snatching up every similar type one that became available back then. Way less of them out there, then the cards.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

In hindsight, I should have been snatching up every similar type one that became available back then.

Yeah, me too. I am pleased I got what I got when I got it but another $500 put into play at the right time...