Spirits of St Louis Hoodie

Product Details:

• Midweight cotton/polyester fleece (~8.5 oz)
• Pill-resistant brushed interior
• Unisex classic fit
• Kangaroo pocket with drawstring hood
• Ribbed cuffs and waistband
• Printed graphics
• Ships in 4–7 business days

Team: Spirits of St Louis
Years Active: 1974–1976
Home: St. Louis Arena — St. Louis, MO

The Spirits of St Louis played two seasons in the ABA starting in 1974. The franchise had started as the Houston Mavericks in 1967 before becoming the Carolina Cougars in 1969. Hall of Famer Rod Thorn served as head coach for one season and a young Bob Costas was the play-by-play announcer.

After a successful first season with stars like Moses Malone, Maurice Lucas, and Marvin "Bad News" Barnes, the team struggled in its second year and rarely drew crowds of even 1,000 people. The Spirits were excluded from the 1976 merger with the established league. The owners, though, refused to take the NBA's $3 million buyout. To move the merger along, the teams that joined the NBA agreed to pay 1/7 of their television revenue to the Spirits' former owners — a deal that lasted nearly four decades until a buyout in 2014. Notable players included Moses Malone (Hall of Fame), Maurice Lucas, Marvin "Bad News" Barnes, Ron Boone, and Don Chaney.

Vintage-inspired reproduction — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any team, league, or organization. Used for historical and artistic purposes only.