ABCs of ABA collectibles

It was a short-lived league — the American Basketball Association — but it brought style and pizazz to basketball courts across the country. “Being called the American Basketball Association, having the red, white and blue ball wasn’t bad,” said George Mikan, the first commissioner of the ABA, which fielded teams from 1967 to ’76. “The red, white and blue ball was more viewable, and it was really mesmerizing to watch it spin. The kids loved it, and the ladies loved it, and we couldn’t keep enough in stock. We sold them by the thousands.” In fact, they sold 30 million of the funky tri-colored orbs. “Today, official ABA basketballs are by far the most treasured game-issued ball of any sport in any era,” said Dennis Tuttle, a writer for Tuff Stuff magazine. ABA balls sell for anywhere from $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on the model, condition, historical significance and whether it bears an autograph. A first-year official leather ball with Mikan’s facsimile signature recently brought $5,500 at auction. “A lot of people out there don’t realize how valuable these balls are,” said ABA collector Jonathan Singer. The most common official leather game ball is the Dave DeBusschere ball. Despite the number available, DeBusschere’s popularity as a former New York Knick has made this ball one of the most prized. One of them recently sold at auction for $3,300. Prices average $1,600 to $2,100 for loose examples, $2,800 in the box. “The original boxes that the balls were shipped in have a big value,” said Tuttle. “If the ball is still in the plastic, the price can escalate by leaps.” When the ABA merged with the NBA, many of the official leather game balls were given to youth centers, prisons or simply handed out to fans. Most have become lost to time and the elements. But Rawlings, the manufacturer, had a huge supply of the red-white-and-blues. Look for leather and a stamped signature to find the most valuable balls. The Rawlings store model is a rubber-coated ball with the ABA logo but no commissioner’s stamp. Prices average $100 to $200 for this one. Souvenir balls are often confused with official game balls. Souvenirs are rubber balls without a bladder and usually stamped with “Official Size and Weight.” Expect to pay between $75 and $150 for this ball, according to Singer. The Mikan signature official game ball is a gem of ABA balls. Prices for this leather ball range from $1,800 to $3,800. Official leather game balls with the signature stamps of commissioners Jack Dolph, Bob Carlson, Mike Storen and Ted Munchak range in value between $1,450 and $2,100 depending on their condition. Singer cautions collectors to watch out for balls with yellowing of the white panels — that drives down values. Trading-card collectors were introduced to the big hair, flashy uniforms and red, white, and blue balls of the American Basketball Association with the Topps’ 1971-72 basketball set. Bright colors and bold graphics were typical of the cards, which were issued until the ABA merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976. There are some shooting stars among Topps’ ABA sets — the ’72-73 Julius Erving rookie is valued at $280 — but most of the cards are attainable by the average collector. Manyof them are valued in the single digits. Standouts in the ABA card lineup are the 1971-72 rookie cards of Rick Barry ($55) and Dan Issel ($40). Don’t overlook Artis Gilmore ($20), George McGinnis ($15) and Erving’s All-Star ($65) cards from the following year. Moses Malone’s 1975-76 card highlights the final set to feature ABA players with a value of $50. When 1976-77 basketball cards were issued, Topps continued to use ABA photos. Check out James Silas’ hair, necklace, and the red, white and blue ball on that year’s NBA Spurs card. Basketball photos courtesy of Jonathan Singer. Copyright 2002 by Krause Publications. For a free catalog of Krause Publications books or periodicals on collectibles, write Public Relations, Dept. IC, Krause Publications, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001, or visit www.collect.com on the worldwide web, or e-mail info@krause.com.