Ben Kerner St. Louis Hawks NBA Owner Signed AUTO Letter on Hawks NBA letterhead JSA COA

Ben Kerner (D. 2000) was the founder and longtime owner of the NBA's St. Louis Hawks. He established the franchise in 1946 as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks before relocating to Milwaukee and then St. Louis. Kerner is perhaps best known for trading the draft rights to Bill Russell to Boston for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley — a deal that helped fuel the Celtics dynasty. Despite that, his Hawks won the 1958 NBA Championship, beating Boston in six games. A scrappy, budget-conscious operator, Kerner sold the franchise in 1968, after which it relocated to Atlanta. He is a strong candidate for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Offered is 8.5” x 11” typed letter signed to Sid Hartman (Minneapolis sports writing legend and the Lakers first GM) in 1957 regarding Jim Spivey who was the 3^rd round draft pick by the Lakers.  Signed in steel tipped pen. 

Rare autograph!!!

JSA COA