Julien's Auctions Announces Property from the Collection of Elgin Baylor

Julien's Auctions, the world's premier sports and entertainment auction house, announces the exclusive auction of Property From The Collection of Elgin Baylor, the eleven time NBA ALL-STAR, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and L.A. Lakers Legend. A collection of memorabilia, awards and personal property is set to be offered at auction on Friday, May 31st, 2013. The legendary Baylor is one of the NBA's 50 greatest players of all time and was also the 1958 NBA #1 draft pick, 1959 NBA Rookie of the Year, 11-time NBA All-Star and 1977 NBA Hall of Fame Inductee. This exclusive auction event offers an incredible opportunity for fans, collectors, museums and investors alike to celebrate the career of one of the greatest players to ever grace a basketball court.

With a career spanning fourteen seasons, his style of play set the stage for players like Dr. J and Michael Jordan. Baylor was the first player who took the game off the floor with powerful, high-flying, acrobatic and ballet-like moves never before seen in the game. Bob Short, owner of the Minneapolis Lakers at the time of Baylor's play, has been quoted as stating that the team would have gone bankrupt without him.

Baylor's exclusive collection features a wide array of memorabilia from every stage of his career. From his beginnings at Spingarn High School in Washington D.C., through his 1977 NBA Hall of Fame induction, into his post-playing career as an NBA coach and being named 2006 NBA Executive of the Year, this is the first time property from Elgin Baylor's personal collection has been offered for auction.

Highlights from the auction include Baylor's 1959 NBA All-Star Game MVP Trophy, Baylor's 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship Ring and a number of items from Baylor's professional career including LA Lakers game-worn warm-ups. Baylor's rare Lakers rookie-year shorts that feature the uniform number 14 which was issued to him after he was drafted by the Lakers and before he officially changed to his familiar number 22, will also be offered. Baylor's #22 jersey is forever immortalized after it was retired by the Los Angeles Lakers on November 9, 1983, now marked by the banner that displays his name and number hanging from the rafters of The Staples Center.

One of the more unique items in the auction will be a pair of Baylor's Adidas game worn shoes. The shoes were taken without Baylor's knowledge, bronzed, and presented to him at a talk show appearance.

"I've been blessed with a tremendous career and amazing fans throughout my entire life both on and off the court," said Elgin Baylor. "Now it's time to share some of these historic items with those fans and collectors who want to celebrate with me as time goes on."

Memorabilia also includes personal items from his post-basketball career and his 1977 NBA Hall of Fame Induction certificate along with Baylor's gold NBA Lifetime Pass. In 1996, Baylor was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball History, chosen by the NBA to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the league. Included in the auction will be Baylor's NBA 50 Greatest Players ring, 50 Greatest Players jacket, and Baylor's NBA 50 Greatest Players signed lithograph, featuring the autographs of 49 of the 50 players chosen and numbered "Baylor 1/1".

The auction will also include property from Baylor's high school and college careers, with numerous trophies and awards from Baylor's playing days at Joel Elias Spingarn High School in Washington, D.C., through to Baylor's triumphant charge to the NCAA National Championship game in 1958 as a member of the Seattle University Chieftains (now Redhawks), including Baylor's 1958 Chuck Taylor All-American Certificate. Also included are autographed items including photographs, basketballs and jerseys. Many iconic NBA players and sports heroes are among Baylor's friends. The auction will include signed items from Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, David Robinson and Clyde Drexler.

From his beginnings as a three-time All City teenage basketball player at Phelps and Singarn high school's in Washington, D.C., to his storied career inside the NBA's greatest arenas, Elgin Baylor has let his actions on the basketball court speak for themselves, resulting in a career and legacy of incredible and astounding achievements. All of the property in the auction will be featured in a full color limited edition catalog available for purchase at www.juliensauctions.com for $75. A number of limited edition catalogs will be signed by Elgin Baylor for the price of $200 each.

Fans can get a first look at the Elgin Baylor Collection this week at the Long Beach Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center, Hall A100 South Pine Avenue, Booth # 1248 & 1250. The show is open from Thursday February 7th at 10am through Saturday, February 9th, 2013 at 10am.

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