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1961-1963 Connie Hawkins Pittsburgh Rens Warm-Up Jacket (MEARS)
Pittsburgh Rens warm-up jacket worn by future Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins during the 1961-1962 American Basketball League (ABL) season. Accompanied by a full LOA from MEARS certifying the garment as "Authentic" (MEARS does not grade warm-up jackets). This jacket dates from Connie Hawkins' rookie season and is the earliest game-worn Hawkins garment we have seen. It should be noted that any Connie Hawkins professional garment is rare, let alone one dating from his first professional season. This is the first Connie Hawkins game-worn item we have ever offered and we know of just a few others. The purple satin button-down jacket is lettered "Renaissance" across the front and "Pittsburgh" on the reverse. "Hawkins" is lettered on the detachable purple nameplate located on the extended rear collar. Hawkins uniform number ("42") appears on the right sleeve. All letters and numerals are applied in white tackle twill. A "Wilson" label is located in the collar. The jacket, which is original as issued, displays heavy wear. Research indicates that Hawkins wore both number "42" and "43" during the 1961-1962 season, and number "43" the following year, which was the Rens' final season in the short-lived ABL. As such, this jacket must date from his first professional season, which was also the inaugural season for Pittsburgh in the ABL.Connie Hawkins signed with the Pittsburgh Rens of the newly formed ABL in 1961 after being expelled from Iowa for his alleged involvement in a point-shaving scandal on the basketball team. Hawkins, as later research showed, had no involvement in the scandal, but nevertheless he was effectively banned from playing in the NBA when his class was eligible to be drafted (1964). After leaving Iowa, he began his professional career by joining Pittsburgh for the 1961-1962 season. Hawkins was an instant sensation with the Rens, averaging 27.5 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in helping to lead the Rens to the ABL championship. For his efforts, Hawkins was named the ABL's Most Valuable Player at season's end. Unfortunately for Hawkins, the ABL folded mid-year during the 1962-1963 season, at which time he joined the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. Hawkins later starred in the ABA and, finally, in the NBA (he sued to remove the ban), where he finished his career with the Atlanta Hawks in 1976. Hawkins was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. Full LOA from MEARS.
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