The Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was presented with this 1964 Herb Hess Trophy for being the “Best Catholic Athlete of 1964”. This trophy is named after Herb Hess, a legend in the New York prep basketball community. Hess coached at Saint John’s Prep for over 30 years, making an indelible impact not only at St. John’s but in New York athletics as a whole. Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, was a junior in 1964 and unquestionably the best basketball player in the New York metropolitan area. This trophy, which originates from Abdul-Jabbar’s personal collection of memorabilia, measures 26 inches tall and stands on a 9.5 x 8.5-inch base. The trophy is topped by a silver statuette of a man. Please note that the man’s hands are missing. A plaque affixed to the front of the trophy reads “The Herb Hess Trophy / Metropolitan New York’s / Best Catholic Athlete of 1964 / Awarded By The Saint John’s Prep / Alumni Association / Lewis Alcindor / Power Memorial High School”. This trophy comes with a LOA signed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Auction Notepad