Some time ago, I blogged about how I planned on donating my Albany Patroons game-worn jersey collection to the Albany Institute of History and Art, which they appreciated – but they said that they would really only need one jersey, not the entire set.
So last week, I brought the 2005-2007 Patroons jersey that was worn during the 2006-07 season by future NBA star Jamario Moon.
Specifically – this jersey.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, it still has the name plate on the back.
Jamario Moon played for the Albany Patroons in the 2005-06 season (where he wore #10) and 2006-07 season, where he wore the jersey that was originally used by another player. He returned to the Patroons in the 2017-18 NAPB season, where he played alongside his nephew (and future NBA player) Xavier Moon.
And yeah, I was there when J-Moon returned to the gold and kelly green.
Super fun stuff.
My feeling about this donation is as such. The Albany Patroons are part of Capital District sports history. And it’s a long, fruitful history with plenty of stories and plenty of memories. To be able to add to the Capital Region’s tapestry of sports and culture – that means a lot to me.
And I’m totally fine with that.
I’ve donated other objects and collections to the Institute. They currently hold the Street Academy / Harriet Gibbons High School archive, a collection of yearbooks and pictures and graduation videotapes that I and other alumni rescued before the Albany City School District tossed the school and its contents into the dumpster. There’s also a collection of Civil War-era store tokens, bank scrip and tradesman tokens that I originally acquired for a photo project, and instead decided to donate so that they too can be preserved.
Trust me, there is a ton of local culture here, and I don’t want it to disappear. And if I can add a small chunk of history to the Institute’s holdings, then that makes me a happy man.
And I’ll take that any day of the week.
And that feels good.
Chuck The Writer 