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Lot # 540: The Earliest Known New York Knickerbockers Photographs

Category: Basketball

Starting Bid: $500.00

Bids: 9 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Classic 2021",
which ran from 2/25/2021 2:00 PM to
4/2/2021 11:00 PM



The earliest known New York Knicks photographs from their first practice at Nevele Country Club in Ellenville, NY, on October 16th, 1946. Total of seven (7) negatives measuring 4x5" come in the original paper sleeve and feature incredible content from the very first days of the franchise, including players jogging as a team, practicing, stretching and playing games. "New York" is on the jerseys and "New York Knickerbockers" is on the players' sweaters in the jogging photo. Negatives are accompanied by a carbon copy of the original filing for the photos where the headline states, "The newly formed N.Y Knickerbockers basketball team. They are training at Ellenville, N.Y. Country Club." Carbon copy details the photographs, including a mention of players Ralph Kaplowitz, Stan Stutz, Oscar Shechtman, Sidney Hertzberg, and Leo Gottlieb; photographer John De Biase is listed on the carbon copy and on the sleeve. Formed in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America, the league changed to its current NBA name three years later; on November 1 - just two days before the stamp on this envelope - the Knicks met the Toronto Huskies at Maple Leaf Gardens in what is considered to be the first NBA game ever played. Amazing Knicks and pro basketball history.

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