Larry Bird photomatched shoes

[joecoco]

Hello everyone-

I was pretty excited to pick up these shoes from a MEARS auction a while back (terrific experience with them). Basically, I have a signed letter from the gentleman who originally purchased them at a charity auction in 1986, directly after the NBA Finals.

On the MEARS website they had a picture of Larry wearing these in Game 3, but I have too much fun doing my homework with photomatching, so I found, what I believe, are some more shots of Larry wearing them. The screen shots are pictures I took from the DVD of the 1986 Finals. I could find a picture of the distinct scuff marks on Larry's shoes in most of the DVDs. The one I have included is of Larry walking from a time out in Game 6. I found larry wearing shoes on gettyimages dated from Game 1, but I was not sure if I could include them inpost due to copyright stuff.

What I think is so cool is that Larry won his last regular season MVP the year these were worn, along with a finals MVP. so in other words, Christmas came early for me this year in September when I go these!

Thanks for the look guys!

Joe

[Wrigley2010]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Sweet shoes!

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Great shoes!
Does the tag on the tongue say "ALL-STAR" or "WEAPON" ? My experience with the "WEAPON" model is the game shoes are green and the retail model is black.
However, I am no expert.

[joecoco]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Thanks a lot! It sort of feels weird getting my "White Whale" after all of these years.

So the tongues read "All Star," unlike the store model ones which read "Weapons." Bird started wearing the Converse Weapon during the 1985-86 season and though the 87-88, when he switched to the Cons ERX-400 at the end of the 87-88 season (he battled Nique and the Hawks in the ERX-400s). During the 89-90 seasonhe started off with the ERX-250s, and then went to the Con Waves, Star Conquest and Accelerator (I think). I just love the Weapons b/c I had a pair as a kid and think they are just the best looking shoe.

So his game shoes are black with some minor differences. For instance, the soles of the retail Weapons are black/white, where as Bird kept the soles he had been using on his canvas ones the years before, which are white (see below). Another interesting thing I found: most of Bird's Weapons did not have the name "Converse" printed on the side; they were usually plain, like the sides of his canvas shoes. As you can see, it is printed on mine (not sure if this was for the playoffs?) and I found it on a screen shot I got from the 86 Finals.

Thanks again!

[bdeol44]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Those are sweet!

[dangerzone79]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

From one Boston fan to another, congrats. Getting the "White Whale" is a tremendous feeling. I picked up Pedro Martinez' glove from '99-'00 a few months ago & I can't believe I actually have it! Enjoy man.

[sportscentury]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Terrific pair, Joe -- congrats! I'm sure you plan to keep the pair forever, but if you ever decide to move it, please let me know. Thank you.

[joecoco]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Thanks a lot guys for the kind words. As cheesy as this sounds, finding these has really turned down the thermostat on collecting for bit, as I am sure it does when you get the "Whale." I say that now, but am sure there will be something else soon

That is an awesome pick-up. I remember seeing Pedro in 99-00 when he was absolutely untouchable. I recall a game against the Royals when Johnny Damon broke three bats against him!

Thanks again.

[Takuleechch]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Great shoes!
Does the tag on the tongue say "ALL-STAR" or "WEAPON" ? My experience with the "WEAPON" model is the game shoes are green and the retail model is black.
However, I am no expert.

Can anyone add insight to that?

[joecoco]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

I havelooked at a lot of pictures of Larry's shoes and have owned three Converse Weapon Models and from what I have seen, his shoes had "All Star" on them and not "Weapons," which was available on the retail model.

[jmeekins33]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Unbelievable! This has got to be one of the best game used pieces I've ever seen. Congrats.

[joecoco]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Thanks so much for the kind words! I could not be happier with these. I really appreciate it. Geez, I was such a big fan of Larry gowing up- I remember missing my little league game to watch game 6 of the finals when they won it all. Nothing like 1980s NBA; just awesome stuff!

[otismalibu]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

Inside the shoe, can you notice any difference between them?

[joecoco]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

That is a great point. I think Larry had his shoes customized after his achilles surgery in 1989, where the heel portion had modification made to it. He wore these shoes in 1986, before the heel surgery, so they are free of these modifications. That is a subtle point though. Good stuff!

[otismalibu]

Re: Larry Bird photomatched shoes

I didn't know what year he had that issue, but I've talked to the gent that made Bird's shoes and he mentioned having to work around a bone spur in that area.