Basketball was invented to be played indoors in a limited space as a winter activity by James Naismith. Naismith wrote the original 13 rules of the game and posted them on the YMCA Gymnasium Bulletin Board on December 21, 1891 and divided the 18 participants into two teams of 9 players and the Game was on!

(LOT 1025)
Basketball Hall of Fame First Day Covers Group of (2) Signed
First Day Covers: Raymond Kaighn, Ernest Hildner: Ultra RARE!
ERNEST HILDNER (HOF 1959) A member of the 1st Basketball Team of December 1891.
The International YMCA Training School (later called Springfield College) Springfield, Massachusetts.
This First Day cover is a real piece of basketball history!
Hildner played the First Game of Basketball on December 21, 1891 at the age of 18 and was the youngest player on the first team. This Cover is dated Nov 6, 1961. Hildner was inducted into the Basketball HOF in 1959. He died on 7/15/68 at the age of 95. Hildner later recalled "Nailing the first Peach baskets to the railing of the balcony of the gymnasium's indoor running track."
Ultra RARE!
RAYMOND P. KAIGHN (HOF 1959) A Member of the 1st Basketball Team, December 1891
The International YMCA Training School (later called Springfield College)
Springfield, Massachusetts.
This first day cover is a real piece of basketball history! Kaighn played the First Game of Basketball on December 21, 1891 at the age 21. This Cover is dated Nov 6, 1961. Kaighn was inducted into the Basketball HOF in 1959.
He died on 8/17/62 at the age of 92.

MIN BID $300