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Courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Museum, National Archives & Records Administ…
Courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Museum, National Archives & Records Administration.
Basketball Autographed by the Los Angeles Lakers
Courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Museum, National Archives & Records Administ…
Courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Museum, National Archives & Records Administration.

Basketball Autographed by the Los Angeles Lakers

Artifact ID1985.00597.03
Object Type Basketball
Maker (American sports equipment manufacturer, founded 1876, Bowling Green, KY)
Gifter
Date 1985
Medium Leather, Rubber, Ink
Dimensions9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)
Physical DescriptionAn orange Spalding NBA game basketball autographed by the 1985 Los Angeles Lakers. One section has “SPALDING” engraved in black and the section below has “Official Game Ball NBA [signature] David J. Stern COMMISSIONER NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION” engraved in black. One section on the other side has “SPALDING” engraved in black, and the section below has the NBA logo and “NBA” engraved in open letters. Around the needle, hole are engraved “SELECTED GRAIN GENUINE LEATHER” and “MOISTEN NEEDLE INFLATE 7-9 LBS” in black. Another section has “LOS ANGELES LAKERS” engraved in black. The autographs in marker include Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis, Ronnie Lester, Bill Sharman, Bob McAdoo, Mike McGee, Mitchell Kupchak, Chuck Nevitt, Larry Spriggs, Michael Cooper, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pat Riley, James Worthy, Magic Johnson, and Gary J. Vitti.
Historical NoteIt was presented in the Rose Garden ceremony honoring the Lakers by Coach Pat Riley and team captains Kareem-Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson. As he spoke in the microphone during the presentation, President Reagan remarked, "I just have to explain something. The reason that they had to bend over to reach the microphone was because if I'd put it up at their height, there's no way I could stretch that high, but they could always bend down a little bit. I appreciate your doing that."
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThe item was a gift from a member of the general public to President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan during the Reagan administration. It was received through the Executive Office of the President Office of Correspondence and maintained there until its transfer to the National Archives in January, 1989 for deposit with the Reagan Presidential Library.
National Archives Catalog CollectionRecords of the White House Gift Unit (Reagan Administration) (National Archives Identifier 6816362) and
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from the General Public (National Archives Identifier 6816363)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
Use Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Related LinksMonday Minute: March Madness

President Reagan's Diary entry for Thursday, June 6, 1985 

Speech: Remarks to the Los Angeles Lakers, the National Basketball Association Champions June 10, 1985

Video: President Ronald Reagan Remarks to the 1985 NBA Basketball Champions Los Angeles Lakers in the Rose Garden June 10, 1985

Video: President Reagan meeting with 1985 NBA Basketball Champions Los Angeles Lakers in Oval Office, Cuts of 1985 NBA Basketball Champions Los Angeles Lakers in Rose Garden June 10, 1985

Photograph: Ceremony for members of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team who had just won the NBA Championship title in the Rose Garden 06/10/1985 c29667-01   c29668-01   c29669-01   c29670-01   c29671-01   c29672-01   c29673-01   c29674-01   c29676-01   c29677-01   c29678-01   c29679-01