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1952 – 53
NBA World Champion
MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS

The roster for this championship year consisted of: George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Lew Hitch, Bob Harrison, Vern Mikkelsen, Pep Saul, Howie Schultz, Whitey Skoog, Slater Martin, Jim Holstein.

This is a section of a page (22?) from The Minneapolis Star dated April 6, 1953. The focus of this is an action shot from game 2 of the NBA finals (played the night before) between the New York Knickerbockers and the Minneapolis Lakers. At this point, the series is tied (the Knickerbockers won game 1; the Lakers game 2) and the teams are heading to NY for 3 games (that the Lakers will sweep to clinch the championship).

The photo shows Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton (a former member of the Harlem Globetrotters and the first African-American to sign a contract to play in the NBA) stealing the ball from (the NBA's first superstar and later Hall-of-Famer) George Mikan.

Looking on are Harry Gallatin (Knickerbockers) and two more players that will also become Hall-of-Famers…Vern Mikkelsen (Lakers) and Jim Pollard (Lakers). Mikan and Pollard also went on to coach the team within that decade.

This piece has an overall size of c.12” x 11” while the photo size is c.5.75” x 6.5”.

It is signed by NINE players, including THREE Hall-of-Famers!! It was first signed by George Mikan. In all, it reads:

“To Bob, Yours in Sports, Geo. L. Mikan

Vern Mikkelsen    Jim Pollard    Pep Saul    Bob Harrison
Jim Holstein    Lew Hitch    Whitey Skoog    Dick Schnittker"

THE STORY BEHIND THE ITEM

It belongs to a friend of mine, but he did not obtain it personally; his father did. As it was told to me, the father was on the same flight as the Lakers as it left Minneapolis. Having that Monday’s paper with him, he asked them to sign it for his son. They graciously obliged...but there are two mysteries to this.

1. Only Slater Martin and Howie Schultz are missing from the official 10-man roster. It is unknown why they did not sign it, or if they were even on the same flight.

2. From my research, I could not find any record of Dick Schnittker on this championship club. He played for the Washington Capitols 1950-51 and the Minneapolis Lakers starting with the 1953-54 season. I cannot find any record of him for this year, so I'm not sure why or how he was traveling with them during the 1952-53 Finals and was able to sign this piece.