2023 FALL PREMIER AUCTION
Wed, Nov 15, 2023 09:00PM EST - Sun, Dec 3, 2023 09:51AM EST
Timed Auction
Lot 412
Important 1929 George Gregory "First Black All-American Basketball Player" Columbia University Original Photograph (Only Known Example!) PSA/DNA Type
Sold for
$1,516.80
Sold Price includes BP
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $200 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $300,000 | $25,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 |
Offered here is a special piece of African American sports history, a vintage original photograph showcasing young basketball star George Gregory from Columbia University in 1929. Gregory would lead the Columbia Lions (21-2 record) to the Ivy League Championship in 1930-31 and became the first Black player ever to earn All-America honors in NCAA basketball history. A New Yorker through and through, the 6’ 4” center – it was that long ago – played his Columbia home games at Madison Square Garden as a senior. After completing his undergraduate degree, he played semi-pro ball – making just $150 for an entire season – while earning his law degree at St. John's. He later worked for the New York City Civil Service Commission and was an active community leader in Harlem and The Bronx for decades.
This is the only image of George Gregory in his Columbia uniform we have ever seen. The well-built scholar, who opened so many doors for future Black student-athletes, is wearing old-fashioned basketball attire and holding a classic leather roundball. The image clarity is as sharp as can be and the photo itself comes in immaculate condition. Press credits from the Newspaper Enterprise Association and ACME with a date of “DEC 21, ‘29” are stamped on the reverse with a nice caption at the top. An educational and museum-worthy photo of a Black pioneer as important as William Clarence Matthews.
YEAR: 1929
GENERATION: First (original negative)
ISSUER: N.E.A. (also stamped by ACME)
CAPTIONED: Yes
DIMS: 6" x 8"
CONDITION: Mint
Encapsulated by PSA/DNA, Type 1
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