Vintage Basketball Photos and Postcards

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Any vintage basketball guys in the forum? Care to share a cool pic?

Here’s one taken at a neutral site game in Madison Square Garden on February 23, 1960. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain (or Celtics vs. Warriors). Wilt had 53 points that night and Russ had 22 with 32 rebounds! Wow those guys were beasts!

Note Hall of Famers Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, and Bill Sharman in the background.

[Copa7]

Here is one of my recent estate purchases. I found 3 Hall of Fame players signed photos. Just look at the penmanship !

[Schlesinj]

I own a few, but this is my favorite. This is a type 1 of the 1963 Picture Pack.

Russel Player Pic.jpg

[Exhibitman]

Here's Rick Barry's bar mitzvah photo:



Looks 13 years old to me...

An ABA Barry:



1967 NBA 1st Team All Stars:



I'd say that five could play against any other era's best five and give them hell.

This is a 1967 George Kalinsky photo of Rudy LaRusso and Cazzie Russell:




That other Russell guy, playing against someone I can't ID



The Doctor is in! 1971 Squires team issue:



Exhibition against the Bullets in preseason. Dr. J lit up Unseld for 30.

Collegiate team issues:





and last but not least, a 1984 Bulls team issue:



i haven't seen one of these offered for sale in a while.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Chuck, Jamie, and Adam, those were amazing photo's!!

Thanks for sharing

[D. Bergin]

Michael Jordan / North Carolina

The only thick plastic slabbed photo I own.

[D. Bergin]

I love Pre-Rookie basketball photos.

Here's a 1957 one with 1st year college player Oscar Robertson and High Schooler Jerry Lucas taking in a Celtics vs. Royals NBA game.

The two HOF'ers would end up teaming up years later in the NBA as members of The Cincinnati Royals.

[D. Bergin]

Bob Cousy at Holy Cross College.

c. 1949

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I love Pre-Rookie basketball photos.

Here's a 1957 one with 1st year college player Oscar Robertson and High Schooler Jerry Lucas taking in a Celtics vs. Royals NBA game.

The two HOF'ers would end up teaming up years later in the NBA as members of The Cincinnati Royals.

Wow, that is amazing! Love to see the stars when they were wide-eyed kids! So glad I started this thread... This group has some amazing images.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Bob Cousy at Holy Cross College.

c. 1949

'The Cous' when he was young and handsome! My mom would cry lol! Family of Celtics fans right here.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Michael Jordan / North Carolina

The only thick plastic slabbed photo I own.

Type I Jordan from college with the tongue out and the MacGregor basketball!! Man these are unreal... Hey Dave, don't forget your old buddy Joe when planning your estate!

[Exhibitman]

This 1959 Hawks premium is one of the more creative ones I've ever seen, and loaded with HOFers:

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

This 1959 Hawks premium is one of the more creative ones I've ever seen, and loaded with HOFers:

Adam, from your comments on prewar baseball, I figured you were a baseball guy. No way, you've got some great hoops memorabilia... thanks

[Jewish-collector]

I am a huge Cousy fan. I am going to cash out the Bar Mitzvah bonds for whatever it takes to win this Holy Cross Cousy schedule.

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDe...-BOB-COUSY-HOF

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

This 1959 Hawks premium is one of the more creative ones I've ever seen, and loaded with HOFers:

Not only a lot of HOFers. Father of a future player, Bob father of Danny Ferry. Also four players who would later play with the Celtics - Lovellette, Macauley, Green and McCarthy. Lovellette, Green and McCarthy would play on championship teams with them. I believe Lovellette was the first player to win an NCAA championship, Olympic gold medal and NBA Championship. He was the first one to win NCAA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year - 1952.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

I am a huge Cousy fan. I am going to cash out the Bar Mitzvah bonds for whatever it takes to win this Holy Cross Cousy schedule.

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDe...-BOB-COUSY-HOF

Alan,

Those pop up a lot more than you would think. I have always liked it.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Dead-Ball-Hitter

Type I Jordan from college with the tongue out and the MacGregor basketball!! Man these are unreal... Hey Dave, don't forget your old buddy Joe when planning your estate!

Thanks Joe. Wasn't too long ago these type of photos weren't drumming up much interest at all.

I think I picked up the Jordan photo in a Mears auction 10 years ago or so, for less then the price of a 3rd year Jordan Fleer Sticker.

In hindsight, I should have been snatching up every similar type one that became available back then. Way less of them out there, then the cards.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

In hindsight, I should have been snatching up every similar type one that became available back then.

Yeah, me too. I am pleased I got what I got when I got it but another $500 put into play at the right time...

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Dead-Ball-Hitter

Adam, from your comments on prewar baseball, I figured you were a baseball guy. No way, you've got some great hoops memorabilia... thanks

I am into all four of the sports that were ubiquitous Topps issues when I was a kid, plus boxing. I like football the least and collect that strictly from a nostalgic standpoint. The early non-card basketball is just really interesting to me given the modest history of the NBA and the lack of cards.

[jad22]

Cousy picture. Not sure if its type 1 or 2.

[jad22]

Here is another one.

[jad22]

Backs.

[Copa7]

Here's one of my rarer signed Hall of Famers - Bob Davies - Rochester Royals.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by jad22

Cousy picture. Not sure if its type 1 or 2.

You ever decide to move that, please give me a heads up.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Michael B

I believe Lovellette was the first player to win an NCAA championship, Olympic gold medal and NBA Championship. He was the first one to win NCAA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year - 1952.

[jad22]

The under appreciated, difficult to find, 1950's Celtics postcards. Would have preferred ballpoint signatures but I can live with this.

[Exhibitman]

If you ever can't live with them, LMK

Here's a Minneapolis TI of Jim (The Kangaroo Kid) Pollard:



Found in a pile of miscellaneous stuff in a collection I bought. His career was 48-55, so some time in there.

[Michael B]

Photos being stubborn. will redo later.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Mahmoud Namdjou (correct spelling)(gewichtheben - weightlifting) from Iran was a great weightlifter. In the Olympics he won a silver in 1952 and bronze in 1956. World Champ in bantamweight 1949, 1950, 1951. He also set three world records.

I will see your Kosmo card and raise you.

lovellette-kurland-1.jpg
Clyde Lovellette and Bob Kurland in Helsinki for the 1952 Olympics. The athlete between them is Luis Omedes of Spain. Youngest competitor at those games at 12½. He was the cox for the rowing 4's w/cox. He would compete in Luge at the 1968 Olympics. His father rowed in the 1924 Games and his brother rowed single scull in 1948 and 1952.

[Michael B]

lovellette-1.jpg
Clyde Lovellette at Kansas circa 1951.

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Sam Balter while captain of the UCLA basketball team in 1929. One of the first Jewish basketball stars. Along with Larry Brown he was the shortest male Olympic basketball player ever. Won a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics. He would become a famous sports announcer in Southern California. He was the first person to do coast to coast radio sports commentary. He also announced the first televised college football game.

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Cliff Barker circa 1948. 1948 Olympic Gold medalist.

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Don Barksdale in 1949. The first Black U.S. Olympic basketball player. 1948 gold medal.

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Ralph Beard and fiancé in 1949. 1948 gold medal.

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Vince Boryla as a freshman at Notre Dame 1945. 1948 gold medal.

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Vince Boryla at Denver University in 1949. He was the nations leading scorer at the time.

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Jim Brewer while a senior at Proviso East High School 1967-68. 1972 silver medal.

[jad22]

Those are great pictures. I also think of Alex Groza when I see Beard. Sucky ending, to what should have been excellent careers.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Mahmoud Namdjou (correct spelling)(gewichtheben - weightlifting) from Iran was a great weightlifter. In the Olympics he won a silver in 1952 and bronze in 1956. World Champ in bantamweight 1949, 1950, 1951. He also set three world records.

I will see your Kosmo card and raise you.

Attachment 508600
Clyde Lovellette and Bob Kurland in Helsinki for the 1952 Olympics. The athlete between them is Luis Omedes of Spain. Youngest competitor at those games at 12½. He was the cox for the rowing 4's w/cox. He would compete in Luge at the 1968 Olympics. His father rowed in the 1924 Games and his brother rowed single scull in 1948 and 1952.

Hell, they were all kids, to me now. Clyde was 23, Kurland 27.

[Michael B]

Here are some more. Pretty much in alphabetical order as that is how they are in my folder. Everyone I show will be an Olympian. Since you had to be an amateur prior to 1992 I look for high school, college, amateur (NIL) or Olympic photos. With the exception of one early Cincy Royals team issue of Jay Arnette I have followed that rule. For 1992 and later I will only accept original photos, slides or negatives during the Olympics or possibly college. Absolutely no NBA photos. In case anyone wonders; all original, no reprints.

collins-1.jpg
Doug Collins - 1971. 1972 silver medal.

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Mel Counts as a senior at Oregon State. 1964 gold medal.

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Mel Counts vs Uruguay at 1964 Olympics. Unstamped press photo out of Latvia

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Chuck Darling while with the Phillips 66ers of the National Industrial League. 1956 gold medal.

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Terry Dischinger in 1960. 1960 gold medal.

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Patrick Ewing during the 1984 Olympics. To his left is Wayman Tisdale and on the edge it looks like Joe Kleine. This was in a group of pool photographer photos from the 1984 Olympics that I purchased.

Freiberger-1.jpg
Marcus Freiberger with the Peoria Caterpillars of the NIL in 1952. 1952 gold medal.

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Alex Groza circa 1948. 1948 gold medal.

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Burdette "Burdie" Haldorson with the Phillips 66ers in 1958. The third person, after Bob Kurland and Bill Hougland, to win 2 gold medals in basketball at the Olympics - 1956 and 1960.

[Michael B]

I was wrong in one of my earlier posts. Lovellette was not the first person to win the NCAA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year. That honor goes to the 5 members of the 1948 Olympic team who played for Kentucky: Cliff Barker, Ralph Beard, Alex Groza, Wah Wah Jones and Kenny Rollins. I got my years mixed up as Kentucky won the NCAA in 1948.

haywood-1.jpg
Spencer Haywood - 1969. Gold medal 1968

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Walt Hazzard - 1963. Gold medal 1964

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Patti Sue Head - 1973 after winning gold medal at the Universiade (World University Games). Better known as Pat Summitt. 1976 silver medal.

hoag-1.jpg
Charlie Hoag - 1952. He was a starting half back for the football team at Kansas as a Junior. He was also a punter. That would not happen today. 1952 gold medal

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Bill Hougland - 1952. The second double gold medalist in basketball - 1952, 1956.

jackson-64-1.jpg
Luke Jackson - 1964 Olympics game vs Uruguay. Latvian press photo. 1964 gold medal. He also played on the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers who went 68-13.

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Bobby Jones - 1972 Olympics vs Spain. 1972 silver medal.

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K.C. Jones - 1956 Olympic publicity photo. 1956 gold medal.

[Exhibitman]

I think we gotta break up this insanely great Olympics run. Here's Justin Bieber, er, Pete Maravich back in the day for ATL:

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I think we gotta break up this insanely great Olympics run. Here's Justin Bieber, er, Pete Maravich back in the day for ATL:

Do you think Doug Collins and Pete got together and decided to get the same hair cut?

[Michael B]

Let's keep going with the insanity.

jones-wally-1.jpg
Wally "Wah Wah" Jones circa 1948. Fellow Olympian and 1948 gold medalist Kenny Rollins #26 in the background.

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Michael Jordan 1984 Olympics. August 8 vs. Canada. Jay Troiana is #9. This was in a lot of pool photographer photos I purchased at well less than $100.

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1956 Olympic team members - Gib Ford #12, K.C. Jones #5, Bill Evans #8, Ron Tomsic #10 and Jim Walsh #7. Gib Ford would become the president and chairman of the board of Converse.

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Carl Knowles late 1930's. Gold medal 1936.

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Janus Krumins Soviet Center and Bill Russell in 1956 at the Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Krumins would win 3 silver medals. He was Latvian. His name as a member of the Soviet team was Yanish Kruminsh.

kupchak-1.jpg
Mitch Kupchak against Puerto Rico in the 1976 Olympics. This was the closest the U.S. came to losing a game not interfered with by officials. Quinn Buckner is #8. 1976 gold medal.

kurland-williams-bontemps-1.jpg
Hungarian center scoring over Bob Kurland 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. Ron Bontemps is #15. Howie Willams in #14.

kurland-1.jpg
Bob Kurland with the Phillips 66'ers in 1951. 1948 and 1952 gold medalist. Member of the inaugural class of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Quite possibly the greatest player of the first half of the 20th century.

lucas-1.jpg
Jerry Lucas at the 1960 Olympics. 1960 Gold medal.

[bigfanNY]

Bob Kurland with the Phillips 66'ers in 1951. 1948 and 1952 gold medalist. Member of the inaugural class of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Quite possibly the greatest player of the first half of the 20th century.

Gonna call BS to that statment. Being a top player in the AAU is not being a top Basketball player. Even in the first half of the 20th century. Miken vs Kurland Miken 3-2 with one of Kurland's wins coming in a game Miken fouled out in the 1st half. Kurklands Ncaa titles Going forward Miken played against top talent in the ABL BAA and NBA. So not even the best big man. Fulks Lapchick Hickey Gates Cooper. All of them great Professional Basketball players. And remember when Kurkland was winning the NCAA The NIT was the top tournament.

[jad22]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

Bob Kurland with the Phillips 66'ers in 1951. 1948 and 1952 gold medalist. Member of the inaugural class of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Quite possibly the greatest player of the first half of the 20th century.

Gonna call BS to that statment. Being a top player in the AAU is not being a top Basketball player. Even in the first half of the 20th century. Miken vs Kurland Miken 3-2 with one of Kurland's wins coming in a game Miken fouled out in the 1st half. Kurklands Ncaa titles Going forward Miken played against top talent in the ABL BAA and NBA. So not even the best big man. Fulks Lapchick Hickey Gates Cooper. All of them great Professional Basketball players. And remember when Kurkland was winning the NCAA The NIT was the top tournament.

Excellent points.

[bigfanNY]

I try and only collect Pro Basketball but I do have college items And Chicago HS tournament programs from 1904 to late 1920's
As for photos I have a few the two 1928 Rosenblum's Celtics type 1's are my earliest
My Miken vs Knicks NBA Finals press photo clearly shows Miken had moves.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

Bob Kurland with the Phillips 66'ers in 1951. 1948 and 1952 gold medalist. Member of the inaugural class of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Quite possibly the greatest player of the first half of the 20th century.

Gonna call BS to that statment. Being a top player in the AAU is not being a top Basketball player. Even in the first half of the 20th century. Miken vs Kurland Miken 3-2 with one of Kurland's wins coming in a game Miken fouled out in the 1st half. Kurklands Ncaa titles Going forward Miken played against top talent in the ABL BAA and NBA. So not even the best big man. Fulks Lapchick Hickey Gates Cooper. All of them great Professional Basketball players. And remember when Kurkland was winning the NCAA The NIT was the top tournament.

Check your math. First half of the 20th century ended in 1950. By then Kurland had won back to back NCAA's (1945-46), 3 AAU Championships (1947, 1948, 1950) Olympic gold medal (1948), 2 time NCAA Final Four most outstanding player, Helms Foundation and Sporting News Player of the Year (1946) and retired in 1952. You know squat about the AAU. It was just as important back then and drew a lot of talent. Read up on the National Industrial League. Guaranteed players a career with a corporation and allowed them to play basketball. Mikan and Kurland were probably equal. Don't make excuses for Mikan fouling out of a game vs Kurland. Perhaps he was outplayed. Chuck Cooper did not graduate from college until 1950. Fulks was an above average player. Horrible shooter who bricked a lot in a short career.

[bigfanNY]

Well The 2 years that Miken won the Helms tropy as top collegiate player Kurland was playing as well. Kurland won in 46. The NIT was the top college tournament at the time and in 1945 Miken and depaul won. And Miken was tournament MVP. Head to head Miken 3 Kurland 2. By 1950 Miken had won 2 NBL Titles and 2 BAA/ NBA titles. Led NBL in Scoring in 1948 BAA in 1949 and NBA in 1950. And was named Greatest player of the first half Century by AP. So they were not close Kurland a good player who did not turn pro so never faced top talent. Tarzan Cooper not Chuck. I am a Philly basketball fan so soft for Fulks who led early years of BAA in scoring and won title in 47. Pop Gates Lapchick and early Celtics. Many great players in the first 50 years. Kurland on the list sure top 10, not in my opinion. Not playing againt a circut of company teams vs a circut of Professional basketball players. I dont know much about AAU but I do know they were not a pro leauge. And the greatest player of the first half Century would not have settled for that.

[bigfanNY]

Not a picture but a couple items signed by Clyde Lovellette. Who was pictured in a number of previous posts in this thread the first to win an NCAA Olympic and NBA title. Also signed by Miken Pollard and assorted Laker greats. The 1957 program has Miken pictured in all six of the lakers championship photos. But his signature is on the 1958 junior lakers day insert.

[jad22]

This is a wire photograph but still pretty cool.

[Exhibitman]

Globetrotters time!







I have such a soft spot for that team; they were literally superheroes when I was a kid:

[jad22]

Here's a Team issued photograph.

[Michael B]

A few more photos.

lumpp-boryla-1.jpg
Ray Lumpp and Vince Boryla in their Olympic uniforms. 1948 gold medal. Lumpp was a long time employee of the New York Athletic Club. I met him a few times at the Basketball Hall of Fame during induction weekend.

mcpherson-1936-1.jpg
1936 McPherson Globe Refiners. They lost the Olympic Qualifying Tournament to Universal Pictures. This allowed them 6 players on the Olympic team. Due to the FIBA rules at the time the U.S. could only use 7 players per game. The first game was a forfeit by Spain as their team could not compete due to the civil war at home. Universal played games 2 and 4. McPherson, along with University of Washington player Ralph Bishop played games 3 and 5. Since McPherson, plus Bishop, played in game 5, the gold medal game vs Canada they were the only ones allowed to attend the medal ceremony. The are from left to right with Olympians in bold:
Gene Johnson coach, Francis Johnson, Jack Ragland, Bailey, Lee 'Tex' Gibbons, Bill Wheatley, Vernon Vaughn, Harry Down, Joe Fortenberry and Willard Schmidt.

meyers-1.jpg
Ann Meyers at UCLA. 1976 silver medal. In high school, Meyers not only played basketball she played volleyball, field hockey, softball, track and tennis. She was the first female to receive a four year athletic scholarship to college. She was also the first female to sign a contract with an NBA team, the Pacers. Lusia Harris was drafted, but did not intend to play.

miller-and-miller-1.jpg
Cheryl Miller and Reggie Miller. Cheryl 1984 gold medal. Reggie 1996 gold medal.

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Art Mollner in the 1930's. 1936 gold medal.

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Art Mollner and Carl Knowles with actress Mary Anderson (Gone With the Wind and Lifeboat). 1930's photo probably from Mexico as it has a Spanish caption sheet. They played for Universal Pictures until the 1936 Olympics. Universal stopped supporting a team and they joined the 20th Century Fox team.

mulkey-1.jpg
Kim Mulkey second from the right while a sophomore or junior in high school. She won 4 state high school championships as a player. Won two national champions as a player at Louisiana Tech (NAIA 1981, NCAA 1982). Assistant coach for HOFer Leon Barmore at her alma mater. Won 3 NCAA championships as Baylor coach. Just finished her first year as coach at LSU. Her son Kramer Robertson plays/played in the St Louis Cardinals minor league system (Peoria, Palm Beach, Springfield and Memphis). 1984 gold medal.

olympic-48-1.jpg
1948 Olympic team on the boat to London. This shows the highest numbers worn by U.S. players in an Olympic basketball tournament. R.C. Pitts #99, Bob Kurland #90, Jack Robinson #77, Gordy Carpenter #66 and Jesse 'Cab' Rennick #55.

olympic-48-2-1.jpg
1948 Olympic team official photo at Haringay Arena in London.

[Michael B]

This is an page from a 1952 Olympic autograph album. The Scandinavians tend to use these spiral bound notebooks. Not just back in the 1950's, I also have 10 or so albums from Athletics World Championships in the 1990's and 2000's that are like this. The graph style paper is also popular over there.

lovellette-1.jpg
Clyde Lovellette at the Olympics. The signature below him is Forrest C. "Phog" Allen. He coached Lovellette at Kansas and was the head coach for the Olympic team.

The two signatures below Allen are Juan Gazsó and Alberto López of the Argentine basketball team. They finished fourth in the Olympic games. They were also members of the Argentine team that won the first ever FIBA World Championship in 1950. As the host country they won all their games. They defeated the U.S. 64-50 in the gold medal game.

This album, along with the others I have, came from the same person in Finland. Either he or someone else would clip out signatures they wanted though they did miss some better ones. This album has another 'Phog' Allen signature along with 2021 Boxing HOFer Davey Moore and gold medal boxer Ed Sanders. Both Moore and Sanders died as a result of injuries suffered during a boxing match. Moore fought Sugar Ramos in 1963. He was knocked down and hit the ropes suffering whiplash. He fell into a coma and died four days later at 32. Sanders, one of the rarer gold medal boxers, was knocked out by Willie James during a match in Boston Garden. He was carried from the ring and died the next day at the age of 24.

[Jewish-collector]

What are the names of the 3 other players in the Kim Mulkey photo ? Thx.

[bigfanNY]

Michael
Nice pic of Reggie and Cheryl Miller..I watched the HBO documentary "The Women of troy" It was a great story about a great team. It was in fact Great. Watch it if you get a chance.