$249.99 USD
In 1990, after the restoration of their independence, Lithuania reformed their national basketball team. Earlier in the 20th century, the team was quite successful, winning two EuroBasket championships. However, the team had no money to support themselves as they were gearing up for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. And so an odd donor stepped in to offer some financial funding: the Bay Area rock band The Grateful Dead. The Dead, who had formed a charitable organization called Rex Foundation a few years prior, read a story about the team's needs in the newspaper and immediately reached out to offer help. In addition to lending money, the band also gave something more: shirts. Greg Speirs, artist and Dead collaborator, drew an amazing slam-dunking skeleton nicknamed "skully" for jerseys. Lithuania went on to win the Bronze Medal that year. At the award ceremony, the entire team was wearing tie dye shirts with Spiers's skully on it. The shirt has since become an iconic design, being sought after by sports fans and Deadheads alike. This original Lithuania national team shirt, in great condition, features the Greg Speirs art from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Dimensions: 23.50" Wide by 28.25" Long
Tag Size: XL
Country of Origin: Made in U.S.A.
Brand: Fruit Of Loom