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Decades later, Pittsburgh Pipers finally got championship rings | TribLIVE.com
U.S./World Sports

Decades later, Pittsburgh Pipers finally got championship rings

Chuck Curti
Chuck Curti
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Submitted
Steve Vacendak, a reserve guard for the 1967-68 Pittsburgh Pipers, spearheaded the effort to get belated championship rings made.
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The Pittsburgh Pipers ABA championship ring.
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When they returned from their one-year hiatus in Minnesota, the Pittsburgh Pipers played before a lot of empty seats at Civic Arena.
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Connie Hawkins, right, signs a contract with Pittsburgh in the new American Basketball Association, April 27, 1967 in Pittsburgh. With him is General Manager of the team, Gabe Rubin. (AP Photo)
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Heinz History Center
The Pittsburgh Pipers were one of the ABA's original franchises when the league was founded in 1967.
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Steve Vacendak, a reserve guard for the 1967-68 Pittsburgh Pipers, spearheaded the effort to get belated championship rings made.
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Heinz History Center
A display at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at Heinz History Center commemorates the Pittsburgh Pipers' 1968 ABA championship.

The Pittsburgh Pipers won the ABA championship in the league's inaugural season of 1967-68 but had little tangible evidence.

“I think I got $4,000 and a plastic trophy,” said Jim Jarvis, a reserve guard, “and I have no idea where that trophy is.”

About 15 years ago, Steve Vacendak, another reserve from the Pipers title team, figured it was about time for the players to get championship rings. He contacted his former teammates and asked them if they were interested in having rings made.

The response was overwhelmingly positive, so Vacendak spearheaded the effort to get rings made. Several players, he said, purchased them as a belated memento of their championship season.

Chuck Curti is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at ccurti@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CCurti_Trib.