The 1970-71 ABA All-Star 5×7 Picture Pack cards aren’t really “cards,” they’re simply pieces of 5″ x 7″ paper. The backs are blank. Authenticity isn’t really an issue, but it doesn’t hurt to check the stock and color of the paper against plain white. The cards will be appropriately yellowed with age. These are simple “cards,” just black-and-white photos with player and team names underneath. There’s no numbering, so I’m ordering alphabetically by last name. Twelve All-Stars from the ABA make up this set and the Rick Barry card is the highlight. But for those willing to explore and spend time with the set, there’s a lot of fascinating history here.
In terms of biography and trivia, there is one thing that every basketball fan should know about George Lehmann that they most likely don’t. He created an instructional video about shooting that is just as informative as any clinic out there. If you don’t read any more of this page, at least go to this link and enjoy this video. It’ll make you want to get out and practice and immediately! It really deserves a place in foundational instructional material for basketball. George Lehmann could shoot! The video is impressive, but his stats back it up. He was the first professional basketball player to make more than 40% of his 3-pointers in a season. Basketball has stayed in George Lehmann’s family and this video is a strong reason why. His son Todd Lehmann played for Drexel University and his daughter Nicole Lehmann Tharrington played at NC State. And Nicole’s son, J.C. Tharrington plays at UNC Greensboro. In this article, Tharrington mentions that he watched his grandfather’s instructional videos countless times growing up. And at 6′ 1″, he successfully relies on his shooting, averaging 40% in 3-pointers at the time that article was written.
It’s also interesting to see the family connections stemming from the fact that he played for the Carolina Cougars. The Cougars, existed from 1969 to 1974 and were marketed as a “regional” team, playing in a variety of locations. Although primarily based in Greensboro, NC, they also played regularly in Charlotte and Raleigh, and even a few games in Winston-Salem. And like I just mentioned, his grandson now plays in Greensboro and his daughter played for NC State in Raleigh. Really great basketball family history in this card!
Despite the “cards” being paper, as well as being off-the-beaten-path for basketball cards, they can be a unique addition to a collection. You can see them listed as the first set in comprehensive price guides like the 2001 Standard Catalog of Basketball Cards. This guide lists the price of the set at $60, but frankly, the price is unpredictable because it’s rarely on the market and depends on if there’s a buyer searching for it! But for those looking to explore the history of the ABA this set is really great!
You must be logged in to post a comment.