This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2010
The American Basketball Association was founded in 1967 to directly compete with the long established NBA. Many historians believe the long-term goal was to become just competitive enough to force a merger, resulting in ownership of an NBA franchise at half the cost, thus doubling the value of the investment. The theory proved sound for four teams, the New York Nets, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, and Denver Nuggets, while the rest either disbanded or folded due to financial problems. The ABA distinguished itself from its older counterpart with a more wide-open, flashy style of offensive play, as well as differences in rules, such as a 30-second shot clock (later changed to a 24-second clock in 1975), the three point arc (adopted by the NBA in 1979), and the "three to make two" free throw bonus. Also, the ABA used a colorful red, white and blue ball, instead of the NBA's traditional orange ball.
One of the founding teams was the Dallas Chapparals, who would relocate in 1973-74 to San Antonio and become the Spurs. The Chaps were a middle of the pack ABA team, with wealthy ownership that refused to spend money. They rarely signed any of their high draft picks, relying on low budget "finds" to keep them competitive. One "diamond in the rough" was 8th round draft pick Cincinnatus "Cincy" Powell, a 6'7" forward from Xavier University. An immediate scoring machine, Powell averaged over 18 points as a rookie in the ABA's inaugural season. By his third year, he was averaging over 20 points per game. After stints in Kentucky, Utah, and Virginia, Powell's career ended after the '74-75 season, as did the ABA's, with just under 10,000 career points.
Offered is an extremely rare game-used Dallas Chapparals jersey, worn by Dallas star forward Cincy Powell and dating to the inception of the late, great ABA. Containing the appropriate Sand-Knit size 46 label stitched to the front left tail, the Dallas logo and numbers are blue tackle twill stitched, with moderate fraying around the seams and light spots suggesting moderate game use. An amazing artifact from an era long since past! LOA from Mile High Card Co.