Auction Item Details
Lot 183
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Lot Number: 183
Description: Scarce and Important 1966 NCAA Finals "Glory Road" Ticket Stub: First Five African American Starting Player Lineup. Although the color barrier had been broken within professional sports by Jackie Robinson in 1947, the 1960s still witnessed significant hurdles for people of color. Segregation and other challenges to civil rights were rampant during the 1960s era with particular note to the southern portion of the US. The Texas Western Miners enjoyed a fine 1965-66 regular season ending with only one loss and a national ranking of third in the college polls. Led by coach Don Haskins, the Miners entered the NCAA tournament and unexpectedly advanced to the championship game after two overtime victories including one over fourth ranked Kansas. They were set to face the powerful Kentucky Wildcats behind their legendary coach, Adolph Rupp. The Miners surprised the Wildcats, and the basketball world, by capturing the championship game by a score of 72-65. Notably, Haskins’ starting line up for the game was the first instance in which an All-African American starting line up were crowned as NCAA Champions. The game itself was played at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland before a crowd of only 14,253 spectators at 10pm at night and was not even nationally televised. The spectators were white, the sportswriters were largely white, the referees were white, and the opposing players were white. At tip off, there were Kentucky fans waving Confederate flags near the top of the stadium rafters. Much to the surprise of everyone not on the Texas Western bench, the heavily favored Wildcats were methodically dismantled by the Miners and in turn a barrier was broken that would change the sports landscape for the future. Nonetheless, the Miners were still confronted with painful reminders of the times including not supplying the team with a ladder to take part in the tradition of cutting down the net after the game. Rupp himself was believed to have taken part in a series of calls with the University of Kentucky president with content illustrating lingering racism as a result of the Miners’ victory. The loss also haunted Rupp who would frequently recount the game for the remainder of his life often issuing excuses as to why his team had lost. The game was memorialized in the 2006 classic sports film “Glory Road” and has growingly become recognized as one of the most important basketball games ever played. Offered is an original ticket stub to the game presenting in fine general condition with intact perforation line and strong original color. Some edge creasing is found to the far right side with the back remaining very clean. Given the small crowd on hand for the game in addition to the unexpected significance of the game the 1966 NCAA Finals ticket is regarded as one of the most desirable of its category. The offered ticket is one of only nine ever graded by PSA and the first we have encountered in our 30+ year company history: Encapsulated by PSA (Authentic): VG-VG/EXEstimated Price Range: ($15,000-$25,000)
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