Vintage Dr. J jersey a slam dunk, brings $190K at sports memorabilia auction

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1972-73 Julius "Dr. J" Erving Virginia Squires ABA game-used and autographed road jersey, $190,414. Photo courtesy Grey Flannel Auctions

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WESTHAMPTON, N.Y. – An autographed Virginia Squires ABA road jersey game worn in 1972-73 by Julius “Dr. J” Erving smashed through the existing record for a basketball jersey at auction in Grey Flannel’s May 11, 2011 sale with a final bid of $190,414 (all prices quoted include 20 percent buyer’s premium). In total, the event took in $2.4 million, the highest auction gross ever achieved by Grey Flannel.

The iconic navy and gold UCLA staff jacket that beloved basketball coach John Wooden (1910-2010) worn throughout his career with the invincible Bruins was another slam-dunk winner in the sale. Offered with a letter of authenticity signed by Wooden, it garnered 17 bids before settling at $183,500.

Among the top basketball lots were Wilt Chamberlain’s 1968-69 L.A. Lakers Playoffs game-used road jersey, $73,409 and a circa-1897 leather-laced basketball with side-panel construction, $59,135.

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The priciest football-related item was Steve Wright’s 1973 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl I player’s ring, with LOA, which scored a winning bid of $73,409. “To our knowledge, it is the only player’s ring from the first Super Bowl ever to be offered in a public auction,” said Russek.

Baseball lots were dominated by a 1959 Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates game-used flannel home jersey vest, which knocked it out of the park at $55,152.

For additional information visit Grey Flannel Auctions.

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