Hoops Hobby

Next letter in the series only has 13 players, starting with Bill Garnett and ending with Dick Grubar.

My strategy, in less words that I’ve written up in previous posts, is that on-card Pacers autographed cards are preferred, but if that is not an option, or an on-card autographed card will not reasonably fit in a binder page, then a sticker certified auto, or cards of the player in another team’s uniform will work. I also prefer to get cards signed TTM or in person myself as opposed to purchasing, but often that is not an option, of course.

Autographs of Pacers with Last Name starting with ‘G’ – 7 of 13, 54% Complete

Up first, the Pacers I have autographs of so far.

Paul George

Luckily I picked all three of these PG autographs up early in his career, within the first few years. The Contenders and Classics in particular are worth way way more than what I paid years ago. My favorite by far is the Classics. The pairing with Luke Babbitt on the National Treasures Pen Pals didn’t hold up well, but it’s still a nice card /25. 

Eddie Gill

Gill undoubtedly had his best and longest stretch as an NBA pro with the Pacers during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. He’s now a part of the Pacers television broadcast crew and has been since 2016.

As far as cards, I like this 2000 SP Top Prospects auto, but I would rather have his 2004-05 Topps Total card signed where he is pictured as a Pacer.

Stephen Graham

Graham went undrafted out of Oklahoma State, while his brother Joey was drafted by the Raptors in the 2005 NBA draft. Stephen played for a number of teams before landing with the Pacers in 2007.

This 2009-10 Upper Deck Signature Collection autograph is the only Graham autograph on a Pacers card. I’ve had this one in my collection for a number of years.

Danny Granger

The Pacers lone All-Star during the late 2000s, Granger was a bright spot for the late 2000s Pacers squads. A smooth scorer, he averaged over 25 points per game during his All-Star season and was truly the face of the franchise for a handful of years post Jermaine O’Neal and pre Paul George.

Knee injuries ultimately derailed his career from 2012 on. We never got to see how a healthy Granger might have propelled the 2010s Pacers even further.

I own several Granger autographs, including some important rookies from SP Authentic and Finest in 2005-06, but I chose to add a personal favorite to my binder for the Pacers autograph project. I received it as a gift from my wife in 2022.

Sean Green

Sean Green was a second round pick of the Pacers in 1991, and ultimately played 48 games for the team in a minimal bench role. Based on the game logs I reviewed, Green could really score.

While Green has several Pacers cards from the 1991-92 season (Fleer, Upper Deck), his pack pulled autographed cards are from collegiate products.

Orien Greene

Greene started out of with the Celtics as a second round pick in 2005, and signed with the Pacers in the Summer of 2006.

I was able to have Orien Greene sign this index card before a game during the 2006-07 season.

His only certified Pacers autographs are from 2006-07 SP Signature Edition, which if they appear someday, I will attempt to acquire for the binder.

Dick Grubar

Grubar played for North Carolina from 1966-69, averaging 13 points per game his season year. A knee injury in the ACC title game against Duke in 1969 left Tar Heel fans wondering what could have been, and it likely impacted his chances at a longer professional basketball career as well. The Heels lost to another former Pacer, Rick Mount, and Purdue, in the national semifinals that year.

A 6th round draft pick for the NBA’s Lakers, Grubar played in two games for the ABA Pacers during the 1969-70 season, scoring 4 points against the Pittsburgh Pipers in December of 1969.

Grubar only has Tar Heel cards, and he was nice enough to sign a 1989 Collegiate Collection card through the mail earlier this year. He also has a 2010-11 Upper Deck North Carolina certified autograph.

Certified Non-Pacers Autographs

Gerald Green – Plenty of Celtics certified autographs, many from his rookie year of 2005-06, where he was selected by the Celtics one pick after the Pacers took Danny Granger at 17. As far as Pacers, Green has a 2012-13 Shattered insert from Panini Past & Present that I’d love to have signed. Maybe one day that will be a possibility.

Players with Pacers cards

Bill Garnett – The 4th pick in the 1982 draft out of Wyoming, Garnett was traded to the Pacers in 1984, where he played 145 games during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons, which included 15 starts, playing between 15-20 minutes per game.

As far as cards, he is included in the 1984-85 and 1985-86 Star sets as a Pacer.

Stuart Gray – Gray is included in 1984-85 Star, and his rookie card is 1989-90 Hoops and is his only other Pacers card from a major manufacturer.

He’s another Pacers/UCLA connection, picked 29th overall in the 1984 NBA draft as a 7 foot center. He played over 10 minutes per game in his last two seasons with the Pacers before being traded to the Hornets in June of 1989.

Rickey Green – Green spent most of his long career starting at point guard for the Utah Jazz, making the All-Star team during the 1983-84 season. In his one season with Pacers during the 1989-90 season, he averaged a little over 13 minutes per game in a backup role. Green had a long, successful career.

His time with the Pacers is documented with two cards- 1990-91 Hoops, and 1990-91 Skybox, both series 1. While I’m unsure if Green still signs through the mail, last he did he was asking $25 per card signed.

Players with Non-Pacers cards

Travis Grant – Started his career in the early 1970s with the LA Lakers, but played most of his career in the ABA. Indiana was the last stop of his ABA career, where he averaged 9.6 points per game in only 16.7 minutes per game over 34 games.

Grant’s standout season came in 1974-75 when he averaged over 25 points per game, shooting over 54% from the floor.

He’s in the 1974-75 and 1975-76 Topps sets, both with San Diego, one as the Conquistadors, the next with the Sails, both fantastic team names.

Steve Green – Green played for the Pacers in the late 70s, just after the Pacers moved over to the NBA. His only trading cards picture him in his IU gear, from an IU Greats set from the 80s.