November 2015 Auction Ends Thursday, November 19th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/19/2015
Hall of Fame induction plaque for the founder and former president of the New York Knickerbockers, Edward ''Ned'' Irish, the driving force behind the mainstreaming of basketball in the United States. Irish started his career as a sportswriter before promoting college games at Madison Square Garden, where he segued into actually purchasing the New York Knicks in the fledgling Basketball Association of America that soon became the NBA. Years later, Irish led the push to merge the NBA with the ABA, saying at the time, ''I don't see the two rival leagues existing.'' Under Irish's tenure, the Knicks won NBA Championships in both 1970 and 1973, during the enormous rise of basketball as one of America's favorite sports. Presented to Irish during the 1964 induction ceremony, plaque reads, ''Basketball Hall of Fame / Edward S. 'Ned' Irish has been elected by the Honors Committee to the Basketball Hall of Fame as Contributor''. Inlaid into wood with a glossy finish, plaque measures 13'' x 10.5''. Near fine condition.
Edward S. ''Ned'' Irish's 1964 Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Plaque -- Founder of the New York Knicks
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