UCLA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar football uniform is on display
The UCLA uniform worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1968 NCAA finals is up for auction and is estimated to fetch more than $1 million.
UCLA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar football uniform is on display
According to News.
Context
The uniform worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1968 NCAA Finals is the only known UCLA game uniform to ever appear on the market. This event highlights Abdul-Jabbar's significance as one of the greatest players in basketball history and his impact on college sports.
Why is this important
The uniform up for auction is a unique artifact of college sports and a symbol of the era when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, dominated the NCAA. These uniforms not only have historical value, but are also an important part of the legacy of the UCLA Bruins, one of the most successful programs in basketball history.
Key takeaways
- UCLA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar football uniform is on display.
- The UCLA uniform worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1968 NCAA finals is up for auction and is estimated to fetch more than $1 million.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s UCLA jersey once traded for transistor radio poised to sell for $1 million-plus - The Athletic.
The uniform worn by then-Lule Alcindor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during UCLA's 1968 NCAA finals victory will be auctioned by Gray Flannel Auctions this weekend. This is the only known UCLA game uniform worn by the legendary center to ever hit the market. At the moment, bids have already exceeded $1 million, including commissions for the buyer.
When the form was last sold about 50 years ago, the price was significantly lower - just one transistor radio. According to the owner, who asked to be identified only by his first name, David, the uniform was acquired in the mid-to-late 1970s in a swap meet in the parking lot of The Forum in Inglewood, California. “I was a huge Lakers fan and loved UCLA,” David said. “Growing up in South Gate and as teenagers we regularly took the bus to The Forum to see if we could get in.”
David says he started a conversation with another fan who brought the uniform, hoping to get an autograph. In 1971, Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The owner of the uniform was a USC fan and was willing to part with it for the right trade. The transistor radio he used to listen to Dodger games proved sufficient to seal the deal. "(Radio) was very important to me, but he said 'OK' and we traded," David recalls. "I gave him the radio and he gave me the uniform. Now that's turning out to be a pretty good deal, I think."
David didn't know the uniform was used in the game and doesn't believe the other fan knew either. Decades later, the uniform is now considered one of the most significant pieces of Abdul-Jabbar's memorabilia, as well as one of the most important pieces of college basketball memorabilia to ever hit the open market. David had kept the uniform in storage for all these years, but recently decided it was time to part with it, so he contacted Gray Flannel Auctions to sell it. “Even as a child, when I got married and had kids, I just kept it in good condition the whole time,” David says. "I moved two or three times, ended up in Oregon, and then I just decided I was tired of carrying it around. I don't have a place to put it on display to be appreciated."
Michael Russek, director of operations at Gray Flannel, says the company felt the shape could be used in the game after receiving initial images from David. Russek adds that the mold had the appropriate tags from the era, and the auction house had a good idea of its age based on the patini and wear. “We immediately started looking for periodic photographs to start matching unique characteristics,” says Russek. “We immediately knew we had something special."
Gray Flannel was able to match the mold to an undated photograph of period wire before meeting David to view the item in person. The form was later compared to UCLA's 85-82 victory over Drake in the 1969 Final Four. A collaboration with SIA Photo Match revealed that the uniform was also worn in the 1968 finals, when UCLA beat North Carolina 78-55 thanks to 34 points and 16 digs from Alcindor. "It's one of those things where the photo matching has elevated its collectability to such a level that it's hard to find another college game uniform that has that kind of significance," Russek says.
Russek notes that the uniform was clearly team issued and the numbers on the front and back were original. During the photo-matching process, Gray Flannel used specific characteristics, including the UCLA "A" cutout, to connect the shape to images of the time. Other characteristics may include folds and wrinkles from the industrial washers the team used, which after multiple washes can create unique patterns that can help identify specific shapes. The loose thread on the "A" on one side of UCLA, seen in Alcindor's photo, helped connect the garment to the 1969 Final Four. The bids at this point came as a surprise to David, who had no idea how much the uniform might cost. Gray Flannel has not placed a pre-score on it. "It's amazing.I mean, when you hear something like that, and you've taken care of it and worn it all these years," says David. "I didn't have a place to hang it, and it comes back with such significance. I'm still excited about it." David says he has no plans for how he will use the money, but he would be happy if the uniform somehow came back to UCLA. "Yeah, I think it would be great if it came back to the university."
What happens next
Grey Flannel Auctions' auction of the jerseys will attract the attention of collectors and basketball fans around the world. The price of the kit is expected to continue to rise given its uniqueness and association with the legendary player, which could lead to record bids.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's uniform?
The uniform worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during UCLA's 1968 NCAA finals victory is up for auction for more than $1 million.
Who confirmed the form auction?
The mold auction has been confirmed by Gray Flannel Auctions, which will be bidding this weekend.
Why is the uniform being put up for auction now?
The uniform is being auctioned now because it is the only known UCLA game uniform worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to ever come to market.
What changes have occurred to the form over the past 50 years?
The mold was last sold about 50 years ago for a transistor radio, and now sells for more than $1 million.
What is known about the owner of the form?
The owner of the uniform, who asked to be identified only by his first name David, acquired it in a trade in the parking lot of The Forum in Inglewood in the 1970s.
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