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The San Diego Conquistadors (the "Q's" to their loyal fans and sportswriters) were an ABA rarity: an ABA expansion team. Their players for their first season (1972-73) were unprotected players taken from other ABA teams in a special expansion draft. Given the talent available in this pool, one national basketball publication predicted that in their first season, the Conquistadors would be "the worst team in organized professional basketball history."
As always, however, the ABA was anything but predictable. The Q's weren't all that bad (well, not as bad as people thought they would be) and actually made the playoffs in that first year (barely beating out the established Dallas Chaparrals for the last playoff spot). While they were swept in the first round by the Utah Stars, the season was still regarded as a success. The Q's coach was K.C. Jones (yes, the future coach of the World Champion Boston Celtics), and his players were Chuck Williams, Stew Johnson, Red Robbins, and George Adams.
San Diego would field a team for 3 more seasons after their first (their last season, they would go by the name of the San Diego Sails) before folding.
This Rare Official Rawlings ABA Jack Dolph (1969-72) basketball displays the classic red, white, and blue ABA colors, which helped to set this flashier league apart from its older and more established counterpart, the NBA, which used orange balls. Vintage “Rawlings RSS Official” Red White and Blue paneled “ABA Jack Dolph COMMISSIONER” basketball. It has been signed by 14 members of the organization which includes: HOFer – K.C. Jones, Alex Groza (General Manager) (1948 Olympics, Kentucky Basketball scandal), Chuck Williams, Stew Johnson, Larry Miller, Simmie Hill, Bill Antoni, Ollie Taylor, Gene Moore, George Adams, Stan Albeck, Red Robbins, Stan Albeck (asst coach), Garfield Smith, Henry Bacon,
This ball is exceedingly rare in its’ own right, not to mention anything signed by the San Diego franchise is virtually non-existent.
Comes with full LOA from PSA/DNA
NOT FOR SALE
Item: 9017
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