Sports Detectives Season 1 Episode 5 100-Point Game Ball, War Admiral Trophy

In Sports Detectives season 1 episode 5, the team of sports experts delve into the mystery surrounding two legendary sports artifacts - the 100-Point Game Ball and the War Admiral Trophy. The episode kicks off with the story of Wilt Chamberlain, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, who became the first and only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game. The game took place on March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and the ball used in that game became a priceless collector's item.

The Sports Detectives team travels to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, where they meet with John Doleva, the President and CEO of the Hall of Fame. Doleva explains that the 100-point game ball is one of the most sought-after basketball artifacts in the world and that it has been missing for years. The team then interviews experts and collectors who have dedicated their lives to tracking down sports memorabilia, including Josh Evans, the founder of Lelands, one of the largest sports auction houses in the world.

In their quest to find the missing ball, the Sports Detectives team visits an old arena in Pennsylvania, where they meet with Earl Smith, a former ball boy who claims to have seen the famous ball up close. Smith tells the team that he saw Chamberlain shoot the ball into the stands after the game and that a man who was sitting near him caught the ball and left the arena with it. The team then sets out to find the man and track down the elusive ball.

The second part of the episode focuses on the War Admiral Trophy, a priceless horse racing artifact that was lost for decades. The trophy was awarded to War Admiral, one of the most successful racehorses in history, after he won the Triple Crown in 1937. The trophy was thought to have been lost for years until it resurfaced in 2007, when it was put up for auction.

The Sports Detectives team travels to the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, where they meet with Lynn Ashton, the Director of Collections. Lynn explains that the War Admiral Trophy is one of the most important horse racing artifacts in existence and that its disappearance was a mystery for many years. The team interviews experts and collectors who are familiar with the trophy's history, including Doug Cauthen, the son of the jockey who rode War Admiral to victory.

The Sports Detectives team also visits the home of Ed Kelly, a collector who purchased the trophy at auction in 2007. Kelly tells the team about the excitement he felt when he acquired the trophy and about the many offers he has received from potential buyers over the years. The team then sets out to investigate the trophy's past and to determine how it ended up missing for so many years.

Overall, Sports Detectives season 1 episode 5 is a captivating exploration of two of the most famous sports artifacts in history. The episode is filled with suspense as the team tries to track down the missing ball and solve the mystery surrounding the War Admiral Trophy. It's a must-watch for sports fans and anyone who loves a good mystery.