PHOTO-MATCH: The photo-match LOA has been uploaded.
Philadelphia 76ers shooting shirt worn by Hall of Fame forward Julius Erving during the 1976-1977 season, including the 1977 All Star Game. We have photo-matched the shirt to two images, 1) All Star Game MVP trophy ceremony (Getty 515404234), and 2) Undated image against Buffalo Braves (Getty 1293285925). 1976-77 was also his first season with the club. Dating from our bicentennial year, this rare and colorful shooting shirt is one of the most attractive basketball garments we have ever handled. The fact that it was worn by one the game's greatest players in his first season with the 76ers only adds to its significance.
The button-down blue-knit shirt features a likeness of Independence Hall on the front left, with ten white stars running along each side of it. The 76ers team logo appears on the front right, above which is a circle of thirteen white stars (for the original thirteen colonies). The team name and logo is lettered in red and blue upon a large representation of the Liberty Bell on the reverse. All letters and logos are applied in either tackle twill or embroidery. The trim along the collar and sleeves is in patriotic white and red. Both the year, and Erving's uniform number, "6," are embroidered in white upon a blue strip tag in the collar, directly below which are a "Wilson 42" label and an adjacent white flag tag reading " 3" X Long" in black marker. A faded "11" in blue marker also appears on the strip tag. The jersey is original as issued and displays moderate wear. A swatch of white tackle twill bearing Julius Erving's black-marker signature, "Julius 'Dr. J' Erving," (grading 8/10) has been applied along the base of the right front tail.
Erving joined the Philadelphia 76ers for the start of the 1976 season after spending his first five professional seasons in the ABA. His inaugural NBA season was a successful one, as "Dr. J" averaged 21.6 points per game to help lead the 76ers to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1967. Erving played with the 76ers for ten more seasons before retiring, during which time the club made the playoffs every year and captured the NBA title in 1983. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006. Full LOA from MEARS, which has certified the garment as "Authentic". (As a matter of policy, MEARS does not grade warmup jerseys, jackets, hats, or gloves). Comes with Davious Photo-Match LOA.