The precarious state of the upstart American Basketball League is evident in the fact that the Pittsburgh Pipers champions of the first ABA season of 1967-68 pulled up stakes to take up residence at Minneapolis' Bloomington's Met Center left vacant when the Minnesota Muskies headed south to become the Miami Floridians. The experiment proved no more successful than their predecessors' however and the Pipers returned to Pittsburgh for the 1969-70 season. While any uniform article deriving from the American Basketball Association could accurately be characterized as "rare" and thus eagerly coveted by a cadre of collectors that pursues relics from the ABA the single year of Minnesota residence for the Pipers makes the presented garment one of the toughest of that thin supply. Heightening the appeal here are the eye-popping aesthetics the tackle twill and chenille patch dominating the chest boasting of the franchise's status as defending Champs. Verso repeats the team nickname in similar fashion. Interior collar holds a "Rawlings Size 44" label and what appears to be the remnants of a secondary label. Heavy wear is evident though nothing that could be properly described as damage. Zipper at collar remains functional. An absence of any player identification leaves one to ponder that perhaps the legendary Connie Hawkins once wore this garment but at the very least it's an evocative memento of this key stage in the evolution of the professional game.