2020 Holiday Auction Closing December 12-13
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2020
Offered is the 1950 Philadelphia Daily News award for the 1950 City Champions presented to former LaSalle College High School star Tom Gola. The 3 x 3 x 8½-inch trophy features a 4½-inch gold metal statue of a basketball player with a ball in his upraised right hand atop a 3¾-inch black plastic base. On the front of the base is a 1¾ x 2½-inch gold metal plaque engraved with the legend “Daily News Award City Champs 1950 T. Gola”. Gola was the star of the 1949-1950 Philadelphia Catholic League Champion Explorers, who went on be a three-time first-team All-American, 1952 NIT Champion and 1954 NCAA Champion star at LaSalle College (later LaSalle University). After his phenomenal college career, Gola turned pro with his hometown NBA Philadelphia Warriors as a territorial draft pick. He teamed with All-Pros Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston to lead the Warriors to an NBA championship in 1956, his rookie year. He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 26, 1976.