Chip Hilton Series Books - Clair Bee

This is where vintage basketball collecting all began for me. I walked into an antique store and saw two Chip Hilton books. The rest is history! Within the "original" 23 book series written by Clair Bee between 1948 and 1966, there are 8 basketball-themed books. Championship Ball #2 was the first book from 1948. Other basketball books in the series include Hoops Crazy #5 - 1950, Backboard Fever #10 - 1953, Tournament Crisis #14 - 1957, HardCourt Upset #15 - 1957, Backcourt Ace #19 - 1961, Buzzer Basket #20 - 1962, and Comeback Cagers #21 - 1963. The slogan for the series was "Clair Bee, he knows what makes boys tick". Clair Bee was a Hall of Fame coach who spent much of his career coaching for Long Island University. The first six Chip Hilton titles were originally issued in bright red, smooth textured bindings, with blank outer covers and full color picture dust jackets. These first six titles were later re-issued with blank rougher tweed cover bindings and picture dust jackets, as were the first editions of issues #7 through #19. In terms of the basketball editions, #2 and #5 first editions were of the smooth red binding variety.

1 - View all Chip Hilton - Clair Bee

1948 - Championship Ball #2

1950 - Hoop Crazy #5

1953 - Backboard Fever #10

1957 - Hardcourt Upset #15

1957 - Tournament Crisis #14

1961 - Backcourt Ace #19

1962 - Buzzer Basket #20

1963 - Comeback Cagers