Lot # 2691: Circa 1941-1947 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Basketball Warm-Up Uniform - MEARS

Offered is a Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons warm-up uniform, circa 1941-1947. The white durene shirt, manufactured by Hi-Style, features red and blue trim along the shoulders, sleeves and collar. "Zollner Piston" is lettered across the front in blue lettering. The blue satin shorts (size 36), manufactured by Marshall Gamemaster, feature red and white trim along the waistband and legs. A front half belt with a stamped silver buckle is visible along the waistband. Both the shirt and shorts exhibit moderate wear. The Fort Wayne Pistons were founded in 1937 as a semi-pro team. The franchise's founding owner and sponsor, Fred Zollner, owned Zollner Corporation, which specialized in producing pistons in automobile engines, hence the team name. The Pistons joined the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1941, where they enjoyed almost immediate success, winning championships in 1944 and 1945. The franchise then played a single season (1948-1949) in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), after which the NBL and BAA merged to become the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949. Zollner himself played a key role in the merger. Today, the team is known as the Detroit Pistons. Full LOA from MEARS.