1979-85 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Game Worn Los Angeles Lakers Jersey, MEARS A10....

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1979-85 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Game Worn Los Angeles Lakers Jersey, MEARS A10. Despite winning the NBA's Most Valuable Player award five times in the 1970's, Kareem Abdul Jabbar was part of only one league championship victory during that memorable time frame. The legendary big man was unquestionably a model of consistency throughout his career, and despite his dominance in the middle, he seemed to be missing a little "Magic" from his L.A. Laker ball club ever since he joined the team in 1975. But then it happened. In 1979, the Lakers selected Earvin Johnson with the first overall pick of the 1979, and Abdul Jabbar and the young Michigan State alum would put together an unimaginable five Finals victories in the 1980's.

Offered here is Jabbar's gold mesh jersey he wore during his prime years out west. Exhibiting heavy wear throughout, the jersey has the proper "Tiernan" tag in the front/center tail. Hailing from the collection of jersey pioneer John Kindler, the Hall of Fame-caliber piece is graded an impressive A10 by the experts at MEARS. LOA from MEARS, A10. Letter of provenance from Ian Kindler. LOA from Heritage Auctions.

The John Kindler Collection

It has been twenty years since John Kindler left his family one of the most significant personal collections of game worn football jerseys ever assembled, and it took that long for the Kindlers to come to terms with the notion of parting with it. Kindler's son Ian is quick to report that the pursuit of the next gridiron garment was his father's greatest passion, his collection the thing that most succinctly defined this important pioneer of the hobby. Ian's fondest memories of his father involve their shared pursuit of the next addition to the collection. "He got into it first through UCLA equipment managers," Ian explained. "UCLA was his first love. Then it grew through those relationships, cold calling, and the fact that he somehow knew the sport would explode and very few were doing what he did. He focused on game used jerseys. Somehow he knew that would matter. UCLA, NFL, Heisman winners, and certain UCLA-related NBA was his focus."

By the time of the elder Kindler's 1994 passing, his collection had swollen to over 250 jerseys, representing two decades of single-minded determination. In his earliest days of the hunt, just after his graduation from college, John Kindler was among the first game used jersey collectors in the country, reaching out to team sources who were often confused at the young man's request for a dirty, old shirt. But Kindler's charm won most targets over. "He was very social, personable. He'd reach out to equipment managers first, then assistant coaches, management, and even head coaches," his son reported.

Though his collection may have had little value in its earliest days when few collected game used gear, today the Kindler Collection is estimated at over a half a million dollars. Highlights include collegiate jerseys from Heisman winners Barry Sanders, Tim Brown, Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker, and professional gamers from Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Bob Griese and more.

Heritage Auctions is proud to represent this important collection, and to honor this essential early pioneer of the sports collectibles hobby. The earliest offerings from The John Kindler Collection appear in our July 2014 Platinum Night auction, and our November 2014 Signature auction will highlight dozens of important jerseys from this unique assembly. All will be accompanied by a letter of provenance from Ian Kindler.

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