The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was created in 1959 and named in honor of physician and inventor of the sport James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. The Hall wouldn’t gain a brick-and-mortar location until February 17, 1968, but this presented program cover is from the 70th Anniversary celebration of the game of basketball in 1961. The 8 1/2x11-inch program is labeled “NAISMITH BASKETBALL 1861-1961 FOUNDED 1891” in black lettering above “Springfield College Future Basketball Hall of Fame. SPRINGFIELD, MASS” in black lettering. The center of the program cover features a first-day cover envelope labeled “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE” and “A B COVERS BOERGER” next to a “MARKING THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GAME OF BASKETBALL AND THE CENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF Dr. James Naismith IT’S ORIGINATOR” in black labeling on the left side of the first-day cover on the cover of the program. A “NAISMITH 1861-1961” four-cent stamp is located on the top right cover of the first day cover. A postal indicia stamp labeled “SPRINGFIELD NOV.6 9:00 A.M. 1961”. An illustration of the state of Massachusetts adorns the bottom of the program cover. The cover is signed by Hall of Famers Hank Luisettie, Charles “Stretch” Murphy, Ed Macauley, and John Wooden. The four signatures are signed in various colors of ink, with Wooden inscribing “Thanks for your interest. John Wooden. Purdue + NCLA” in black ink. The signatures are bold, and the program cover features elements of toning. The program cover from the 70th anniversary of the sport of basketball honoring the centenary birthday of its founder, Dr. John Naismith, and signed by four Hall of Fame members comes encapsulated and authenticated by Beckett Authentication (0007896475) and is graded AUTHENTIC. The signed program cover was originally authenticated by JSA (X90513).

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