Welcome to Lelands - Sports Memorabilia and Card Auctions

Lot # 874: 1992 Christian Laettner Duke Jersey from "The Shot"

Category: Basketball

Starting Bid: $100,000.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall 2013 Catalog Auction",
which ran from 12/9/2013 12:00 AM to
1/10/2014 9:00 PM



It may be the greatest shot in college basketball history, capping the greatest game in college basketball history. On March 28, 1992 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Christian Laettner swished a buzzer-beating fall-away jumper off a full-court inbounds pass that lifted Duke past Kentucky and straight into the Final Four. That play - as well as the frenzy that followed it - has become video for the ages, appearing on thousands of montages and highlight reels. Straight off the back of the Duke senior that storied afternoon comes this home white Blue Devils jersey with the famous number 32 that has since been retired by the school. The back reads: "LAETTNER 32" and there is a Champion size 48 tag on the outer front tail. Even though he managed a commendable - if unspectacular - 13-year NBA career, Laettner's legacy is that of one of the most celebrated athletes in amateur sports history. A four-year starter at Duke, he is one of only three men ever to play in four consecutive Final Fours, and the only one ever to start four. He also holds the NCAA Tournament records for most games played (23 out of a maximum 24), points scored (407) and free throws made (142). That particular game, Laettner was a picture-perfect 10-of-10 from the floor and identical 10-of-10 from the foul line, with "The Shot" being the proverbial cherry on the sundae as Duke edged the Wildcats, 104-103. Just recently, Laettner reflected on the moment frozen in time: "When I'm catching the ball, you see the entire half of the Spectrum and everyone's hands are down, they're all seated, and then the next photo is the ball through the net and the whole side of the arena is up. That's the stuff that gives me goosebumps, those type of things." Laettner and his Blue Devils teammates captured back-to-back NCAA championships in 1991 and 1992, and he was the only collegiate player on the original Olympic Dream Team that summer. So you can add a Gold Medal to Laettner's pile of hard-earned hardware and magical memories. This famous uniform top exhibits multiple pin holes from framing, as well as some staining in the reverse tail from having been taped to the mat. Still and all, this is a one-of-a-kind item and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to possess an invaluable piece of American sports history. If there is one artifact that best symbolizes the sheer unpredictability and outright serendipity of March Madness, it is this very jersey. Comes with a notarized letter of providence.

Views: 75