You are looking at a ticket stub for the 1989-90 season opener between the Portland Trailblazers and Sacramento Kings which took place on November 3, 1989 at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon.
This game is notable for so many reasons, including debuts. This date was originally scheduled by the club to be both a celebration of the very first Trailblazers team (hence the picture of the 1970-71 team on this ticket) and the date the Blazers retired Hall of Famer Bill Walton's jersey #32.
Here is an account of these celebratory events from Joe Freeman of The Oregonian written on November 3, 2011, the date the Blazers '11-'12 season was scheduled to start. The opener was delayed by a lockout which Joe laments:
"Today is a forgettable and depressing one for Rip City. Nothing could have been further from the truth on Nov. 3, 1989, when the Blazers opened the 1989-90 season against the Sacramento Kings at Memorial Coliseum.
The evening featured two celebrations — the retiring of Bill Walton’s famous No. 32 uniform and the honoring of the inaugural 1970 Blazers team — and a runaway season-opening victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Of course, the highlight was Big Red’s big night.
After the Memorial Coliseum big screen displayed legendary clips of Walton in his Portland prime, heaving outlet passes, driving to the basket and dunking, Maurice Lucas gave a short introduction of his dear friend and one-time teammate. Then Walton emerged onto the Coliseum floor and a sellout crowd greeted him to a 50-second standing ovation, according to a story by Kerry Eggers in The Oregonian.
Walton, the star of the Blazers’ 1977 NBA Championship team, waved, flashed his big-tooth smile and soaked in the moment.
“Start me up,” Walton told the crowd, borrowing lyrics from The Rolling Stones. “Don’t ever stop. It’s been a long, strange trip for me.”
Walton, who was joined in the festivities by his parents, two brothers, two nephews and his four sons, went on to thank the fans. After a controversial exit from the franchise 10 years prior, in which he demanded a trade and filed a $5.6 million lawsuit against the team physician for improper medical treatment, Walton wanted to acknowledge Portland’s loyalty.
“During often turbulent and troubled times, you stood by me,” Walton told the crowd. “Your love and help and support has carried me through the good times and the bad times.”
There were more good times that evening, as the Blazers also celebrated their original team, the 1970-71 expansion group that exceeded expectations.
Ten of the 12 original Blazers were on hand for the event, in addition to head coach Rolland Todd and trainer Leo Marty, and in a pregame ceremony they were “honored like champions,” according to a story by Steve Brandon in The Oregonian.
“We really and truly loved each other,’’ guard Stan McKenzie told The Oregonian.
The team finished last in the Pacific Division, but won 29 games — far more than anyone expected — and played an entertaining, free-wheeling style. The Blazers scored at least 100 points in 81 of 82 games, including in their debut performance, when they recorded a 115-112 opening-night victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, also an expansion team.
The Blazers were hardly the biggest game in town during their inaugural season — opening night drew just over 4,000 people — but it was the team that set the foundation for the success that would develop through the years.
Geoff Petrie averaged 24.8 points per game that season and went on to share Rookie of the Year honors with Boston center Dave Cowens. And Petrie’s teammate, Rick Adelman, would go on to coach the Blazers during one of their most successful eras.
“We knew we probably weren’t going to win many games,” Todd told The Oregonian, “but we made a commitment to the community to entertain them.”
Fans were both entertained and treated to a win on Nov. 3, 1989, as the Blazers finished the festive night in fitting fashion, defeating the Kings 114-96 in the opener of the franchise’s 20th season.
Jerome Kersey led the Blazers with 22 points and nine rebounds and Buck Williams added 18 points and 12 rebounds in his first game in a Blazers uniform. Clyde Drexler added 16 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
It was the first of 59 regular-season wins for the Blazers, who went on to play in the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons."
This game also marked the first appearance of Hall of Famer Drazen Petrovic on an NBA court. Drazen was hurt for all of the preseason games, so not only was this game Drazen's debut, but it was also his professional debut as an NBA player). The "Basketball Mozart" tragically died in a car accident on the Autobahn in the summer of 1993.
This game also marked the NBA debut of Uncle Cliffy, Portland mismatch power forward Cliff Robinson who carved out a quality 17-year NBA career and perhaps was humorously known as a cannabis aficionado. Unfortunately he suffered from significant health issues beginning in March 2017 when a stroke paralyzed the left side of his body. Robinson soon recovered much of his arm and leg movement. In March 2019, Robinson underwent surgery for cancer. He died of lymphoma approximately four years ago at only 53.
For PSA collectors, PSA lists this ticket as a pop 2 with a well creased "AUTH" example and a 5, rendering this a notably scarce HoF debut ticket.
Please take a look at the scans for condition. I have been a long time ticket collector and will be posting many additional tickets in the coming weeks. The item you see pictured is the actual item you will receive. Feel free to email me with any questions. I will ship for free anywhere in the United States.