1979-80 Larry Bird Game Worn Boston Celtics Rookie Uniform, MEARS A10....

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Sold on Jul 31, 2014 for:

$22,705.00 Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder

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The only known Bird rookie!

1979-80 Larry Bird Game Worn Boston Celtics Rookie Uniform, MEARS A10. He was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft but returned to Indiana State for his final season, earning the 1979 College National Player of the Year Award before signing with Boston for a rookie-record $3.25 million for five years. Few questioned the wisdom of entering this uncharted financial territory to secure rights to the collegiate superstar, who delivered the sharpshooting accuracy of an elite guard in the body of a six-foot nine power forward. Perhaps only Bill Russell catalyzed such an immediate positive effect in Celtics history, as Boston improved their win total by thirty-two games over the 1978-79 season in Bird's rookie campaign, claiming the Eastern Conference's first playoff seed with a 61-21 record.

Certainly any rookie uniform from the locker of a Hall of Fame legend carries enormous collecting intrigue, but only a handful of those pantheon athletes turned the tide of fortunes for his team as fully and instantly as Bird, establishing this as one of the most significant first year ensembles of the post-war era. Together with center Robert Parish and forward Kevin McHale, this Hall of Fame triumvirate formed the most formidable front court in the history of the National Basketball Association. Presented are the only Larry Bird rookie jersey, and the only known Larry Bird rookie shorts, known to exist.

The jersey is constructed from white knit fabric and adorned in the classic style with green tackle twill identifiers boldly proclaiming "Celtics 33" on chest and "Bird 33" on verso. Lower left front tail holds proper dual "Medalist Sand-Knit" labeling denoting Celtics exclusivity and size "42." Matching shorts hold single "Medalist Sand-Knit" label at interior waistband with a frayed and illegible flap at left edge, and a pair of coded swatches reading "33" and "79."

The experts at MEARS characterize game wear as "moderate" and "consistent," assigning the 100% original and unaltered full uniform its highest assessment. It is, quite simply, the finest Larry Bird uniform that exists, a status that likewise establishes the offering as one of the most significant in entirety of the basketball subgenre of the sports collectibles hobby. LOA from MEARS, A10. LOA from Heritage Auctions.