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1969 Boston Celtics NBA Championship Ring Presented to Bill Russell....
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Sold on Nov 17, 2023 for:
$444,000.00
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Description
1969 Boston Celtics NBA Championship Ring Presented to Bill Russell.UPDATE: Typo in engraved jersey number has been corrected.
He's the most prolific champion in the history of the professional hardcourt, equaled in North American sports only by fellow Hall of Fame legend Henri Richard with a tally of eleven, although Russell's collection was built in just thirteen NBA seasons compared to twenty for Richard in the NHL. Certainly we will never again see an era of such protracted dominance in any of the four major sports, so any NBA Championship ring earned by this towering figure (both literally and figuratively) in the history of the hardcourt rates among the most desirable that exist.
But this one is particularly special among that record accumulation, as it's the last of them, the ring that sent Beantown's best into retirement (although he'd return in future seasons as head coach of the Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings). It's also noteworthy that the Celtics found themselves in the unlikely role of underdog for the 1969 NBA Playoffs, ranked fourth in the East after posting their worst regular season record of Russell's career.
But Boston would upset the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks en route to the ultimate NBA Finals rivalry--Celtics vs. Lakers, a team newly invigorated by the signing of fellow Hall of Fame big man Wilt Chamberlain. The series would go the full seven games, with a thirty-five-year old Russell contributing six points, twenty-one rebounds and six assists in his final NBA game.
Russell famously auctioned his personal collection less than a year before his passing in July 2022, and this ring derives from that sale. The ring is an elegant beauty, with a large real diamond set into a figural basketball and Celtics green stone on the face, fenced in by raised text trumpeting, "1969 Boston Celtics World Champions." Left shank pictures the leprechaun mascot twirling a basketball with Russell's number "6" engraved into its surface. "William" flies on a banner above his head, with "Russell" completing the name on the right shank above shamrock and figural "NBA" basketball imagery. Interior band is stamped "10K Jostens" and measures to a size thirteen and a half (13.5). Weight is thirty-four grams (34 g.). Proud wear evident. An absolutely monumental symbol of unparalleled athletic achievement.
Auction Info
2023 November 16 - 18 Fall Sports Catalog Auction #50065 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
November, 2023
16th-18th
Thursday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 15
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 4,440
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20% of the successful bid per lot.
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