This rare pair of early 1970?s Nike Waffle spike shoes, handmade by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, is going under the hammer at Sotheby?s. The shoes were exclusively made for and worn by the University of Oregon track athlete John Mays in the early 1970s. The track spikes are thought to be the first-ever shoes handmade by Bowerman to appear at auction. And Sotheby?s estimates that the shoes - to be sold as part of a lot that also includes a handwritten letter outlining Bowerman?s design and production process and a photo of him and Mays - will fetch between $130,000 and $150,000 USD. They are one of only a handful of pairs known to exist. Another known pair of Bowerman shoes are in the Special Collections and University Archives of the Knight Library at the University of Oregon. "The legendary Oregon runner, Phil Knight, and Bill Bowerman partnered together and started Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which was rebranded as Nike in 1971. Bowerman crafted the present shoes in the early 1970s during the Blue Ribbon Sports era, but later modified them in 1974 with Nike?s first major innovation, the waffle soles. As such, these shoes uniquely straddle the formation of the world?s largest athletic brand," Sotheby's said in a statement. the present shoes are among the most valuable pair ever offered at auction, following Sotheby?s record-breaking sale of Michael Jordan?s Game Worn Autographed Nike Air Jordan 1s from 1985 that achieved $560,000 USD at Sotheby?s last month. The Air Jordans established a new world auction record for any pair of sneakers ? surpassing the previous auction record of $437,500 USD, set at Sotheby?s in July 2019 by the Nike Waffle Racing Flat ?Moon Shoe?. John Mays said: ?Often times, Bill would talk to me about a new company he was involved with. I didn?t pay much attention to it at the time. One day, he asked me to help test a new sprint spike shoe he was designing. Of course, I agreed and was excited to be chosen. He took measurements of my feet and started building the shoe, and in about a week he had the shoes ready for me." Brahm Wachter, Sotheby?s Director of eCommerce Development, commented: ?Following our record-breaking results of Michael Jordan?s Air Jordan 1s, we felt the only appropriate way to follow up a sale of that magnitude was to offer something special that spoke to the history and legacy of Nike. Therefore, we?re thrilled to offer this Grail ? created by one of the greatest innovators in shoe ingenuity and design, made even more special by the fact that they are consigned by John Mays himself. The pair speaks volumes to Bill?s need to constantly innovate, showing multiple layers of modifications, including the addition of a waffle sole on the right shoe ? an elemental design that Nike still uses today.? Notably, the soles on these shoes do not match one another. The right shoe demonstrates a beautiful example of Bowerman?s need to innovate, displaying a design he thought might be effective for Mays ? incorporating a waffle sole that is absent on the left shoe. The waffles of course, represent an important moment in the history of footwear, as Bill invented the design after being inspired by his wife?s waffle iron. The dedicated, online-only auction is open for bidding today until 26 June. Editorial usage. Please credit Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA. 17 Jun 2020 Pictured: The waffle shoes. Photo credit: Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342

This rare pair of early 1970?s Nike Waffle spike shoes, handmade by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, is going under the hammer at Sotheby?s. The shoes were exclusively made for and worn by the University of Oregon track athlete John Mays in the early 1970s. The track spikes are thought to be the first-ever shoes handmade by Bowerman to appear at auction. And Sotheby?s estimates that the shoes - to be sold as part of a lot that also includes a handwritten letter outlining Bowerman?s design and production process and a photo of him and Mays - will fetch between $130,000 and $150,000 USD. They are one of only a handful of pairs known to exist. Another known pair of Bowerman shoes are in the Special Collections and University Archives of the Knight Library at the University of Oregon. "The legendary Oregon runner, Phil Knight, and Bill Bowerman partnered together and started Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which was rebranded as Nike in 1971. Bowerman crafted the present shoes in the early 1970s during the Blue Ribbon Sports era, but later modified them in 1974 with Nike?s first major innovation, the waffle soles. As such, these shoes uniquely straddle the formation of the world?s largest athletic brand," Sotheby's said in a statement. the present shoes are among the most valuable pair ever offered at auction, following Sotheby?s record-breaking sale of Michael Jordan?s Game Worn Autographed Nike Air Jordan 1s from 1985 that achieved $560,000 USD at Sotheby?s last month. The Air Jordans established a new world auction record for any pair of sneakers ? surpassing the previous auction record of $437,500 USD, set at Sotheby?s in July 2019 by the Nike Waffle Racing Flat ?Moon Shoe?. John Mays said: ?Often times, Bill would talk to me about a new company he was involved with. I didn?t pay much attention to it at the time. One day, he asked me to help test a new sprint spike shoe he was designing. Of course, I agreed and was excited to be chosen. He took measurements of my feet and started building the shoe, and in about a week he had the shoes ready for me." Brahm Wachter, Sotheby?s Director of eCommerce Development, commented: ?Following our record-breaking results of Michael Jordan?s Air Jordan 1s, we felt the only appropriate way to follow up a sale of that magnitude was to offer something special that spoke to the history and legacy of Nike. Therefore, we?re thrilled to offer this Grail ? created by one of the greatest innovators in shoe ingenuity and design, made even more special by the fact that they are consigned by John Mays himself. The pair speaks volumes to Bill?s need to constantly innovate, showing multiple layers of modifications, including the addition of a waffle sole on the right shoe ? an elemental design that Nike still uses today.? Notably, the soles on these shoes do not match one another. The right shoe demonstrates a beautiful example of Bowerman?s need to innovate, displaying a design he thought might be effective for Mays ? incorporating a waffle sole that is absent on the left shoe. The waffles of course, represent an important moment in the history of footwear, as Bill invented the design after being inspired by his wife?s waffle iron. The dedicated, online-only auction is open for bidding today until 26 June. Editorial usage. Please credit Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA. 17 Jun 2020 Pictured: The waffle shoes. Photo credit: Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342

This rare pair of early 1970?s Nike Waffle spike shoes, handmade by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, is going under the hammer at Sotheby?s. The shoes were exclusively made for and worn by the University of Oregon track athlete John Mays in the early 1970s. The track spikes are thought to be the first-ever shoes handmade by Bowerman to appear at auction. And Sotheby?s estimates that the shoes - to be sold as part of a lot that also includes a handwritten letter outlining Bowerman?s design and production process and a photo of him and Mays - will fetch between $130,000 and $150,000 USD. They are one of only a handful of pairs known to exist. Another known pair of Bowerman shoes are in the Special Collections and University Archives of the Knight Library at the University of Oregon. "The legendary Oregon runner, Phil Knight, and Bill Bowerman partnered together and started Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which was rebranded as Nike in 1971. Bowerman crafted the present shoes in the early 1970s during the Blue Ribbon Sports era, but later modified them in 1974 with Nike?s first major innovation, the waffle soles. As such, these shoes uniquely straddle the formation of the world?s largest athletic brand," Sotheby's said in a statement. the present shoes are among the most valuable pair ever offered at auction, following Sotheby?s record-breaking sale of Michael Jordan?s Game Worn Autographed Nike Air Jordan 1s from 1985 that achieved $560,000 USD at Sotheby?s last month. The Air Jordans established a new world auction record for any pair of sneakers ? surpassing the previous auction record of $437,500 USD, set at Sotheby?s in July 2019 by the Nike Waffle Racing Flat ?Moon Shoe?. John Mays said: ?Often times, Bill would talk to me about a new company he was involved with. I didn?t pay much attention to it at the time. One day, he asked me to help test a new sprint spike shoe he was designing. Of course, I agreed and was excited to be chosen. He took measurements of my feet and started building the shoe, and in about a week he had the shoes ready for me." Brahm Wachter, Sotheby?s Director of eCommerce Development, commented: ?Following our record-breaking results of Michael Jordan?s Air Jordan 1s, we felt the only appropriate way to follow up a sale of that magnitude was to offer something special that spoke to the history and legacy of Nike. Therefore, we?re thrilled to offer this Grail ? created by one of the greatest innovators in shoe ingenuity and design, made even more special by the fact that they are consigned by John Mays himself. The pair speaks volumes to Bill?s need to constantly innovate, showing multiple layers of modifications, including the addition of a waffle sole on the right shoe ? an elemental design that Nike still uses today.? Notably, the soles on these shoes do not match one another. The right shoe demonstrates a beautiful example of Bowerman?s need to innovate, displaying a design he thought might be effective for Mays ? incorporating a waffle sole that is absent on the left shoe. The waffles of course, represent an important moment in the history of footwear, as Bill invented the design after being inspired by his wife?s waffle iron. The dedicated, online-only auction is open for bidding today until 26 June. Editorial usage. Please credit Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA. 17 Jun 2020 Pictured: The waffle shoes. Photo credit: Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342

This rare pair of early 1970?s Nike Waffle spike shoes, handmade by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, is going under the hammer at Sotheby?s. The shoes were exclusively made for and worn by the University of Oregon track athlete John Mays in the early 1970s. The track spikes are thought to be the first-ever shoes handmade by Bowerman to appear at auction. And Sotheby?s estimates that the shoes - to be sold as part of a lot that also includes a handwritten letter outlining Bowerman?s design and production process and a photo of him and Mays - will fetch between $130,000 and $150,000 USD. They are one of only a handful of pairs known to exist. Another known pair of Bowerman shoes are in the Special Collections and University Archives of the Knight Library at the University of Oregon. "The legendary Oregon runner, Phil Knight, and Bill Bowerman partnered together and started Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which was rebranded as Nike in 1971. Bowerman crafted the present shoes in the early 1970s during the Blue Ribbon Sports era, but later modified them in 1974 with Nike?s first major innovation, the waffle soles. As such, these shoes uniquely straddle the formation of the world?s largest athletic brand," Sotheby's said in a statement. the present shoes are among the most valuable pair ever offered at auction, following Sotheby?s record-breaking sale of Michael Jordan?s Game Worn Autographed Nike Air Jordan 1s from 1985 that achieved $560,000 USD at Sotheby?s last month. The Air Jordans established a new world auction record for any pair of sneakers ? surpassing the previous auction record of $437,500 USD, set at Sotheby?s in July 2019 by the Nike Waffle Racing Flat ?Moon Shoe?. John Mays said: ?Often times, Bill would talk to me about a new company he was involved with. I didn?t pay much attention to it at the time. One day, he asked me to help test a new sprint spike shoe he was designing. Of course, I agreed and was excited to be chosen. He took measurements of my feet and started building the shoe, and in about a week he had the shoes ready for me." Brahm Wachter, Sotheby?s Director of eCommerce Development, commented: ?Following our record-breaking results of Michael Jordan?s Air Jordan 1s, we felt the only appropriate way to follow up a sale of that magnitude was to offer something special that spoke to the history and legacy of Nike. Therefore, we?re thrilled to offer this Grail ? created by one of the greatest innovators in shoe ingenuity and design, made even more special by the fact that they are consigned by John Mays himself. The pair speaks volumes to Bill?s need to constantly innovate, showing multiple layers of modifications, including the addition of a waffle sole on the right shoe ? an elemental design that Nike still uses today.? Notably, the soles on these shoes do not match one another. The right shoe demonstrates a beautiful example of Bowerman?s need to innovate, displaying a design he thought might be effective for Mays ? incorporating a waffle sole that is absent on the left shoe. The waffles of course, represent an important moment in the history of footwear, as Bill invented the design after being inspired by his wife?s waffle iron. The dedicated, online-only auction is open for bidding today until 26 June. Editorial usage. Please credit Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA. 17 Jun 2020 Pictured: The waffle shoes. Photo credit: Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342

This rare pair of early 1970?s Nike Waffle spike shoes, handmade by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, is going under the hammer at Sotheby?s. The shoes were exclusively made for and worn by the University of Oregon track athlete John Mays in the early 1970s. The track spikes are thought to be the first-ever shoes handmade by Bowerman to appear at auction. And Sotheby?s estimates that the shoes - to be sold as part of a lot that also includes a handwritten letter outlining Bowerman?s design and production process and a photo of him and Mays - will fetch between $130,000 and $150,000 USD. They are one of only a handful of pairs known to exist. Another known pair of Bowerman shoes are in the Special Collections and University Archives of the Knight Library at the University of Oregon. "The legendary Oregon runner, Phil Knight, and Bill Bowerman partnered together and started Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which was rebranded as Nike in 1971. Bowerman crafted the present shoes in the early 1970s during the Blue Ribbon Sports era, but later modified them in 1974 with Nike?s first major innovation, the waffle soles. As such, these shoes uniquely straddle the formation of the world?s largest athletic brand," Sotheby's said in a statement. the present shoes are among the most valuable pair ever offered at auction, following Sotheby?s record-breaking sale of Michael Jordan?s Game Worn Autographed Nike Air Jordan 1s from 1985 that achieved $560,000 USD at Sotheby?s last month. The Air Jordans established a new world auction record for any pair of sneakers ? surpassing the previous auction record of $437,500 USD, set at Sotheby?s in July 2019 by the Nike Waffle Racing Flat ?Moon Shoe?. John Mays said: ?Often times, Bill would talk to me about a new company he was involved with. I didn?t pay much attention to it at the time. One day, he asked me to help test a new sprint spike shoe he was designing. Of course, I agreed and was excited to be chosen. He took measurements of my feet and started building the shoe, and in about a week he had the shoes ready for me." Brahm Wachter, Sotheby?s Director of eCommerce Development, commented: ?Following our record-breaking results of Michael Jordan?s Air Jordan 1s, we felt the only appropriate way to follow up a sale of that magnitude was to offer something special that spoke to the history and legacy of Nike. Therefore, we?re thrilled to offer this Grail ? created by one of the greatest innovators in shoe ingenuity and design, made even more special by the fact that they are consigned by John Mays himself. The pair speaks volumes to Bill?s need to constantly innovate, showing multiple layers of modifications, including the addition of a waffle sole on the right shoe ? an elemental design that Nike still uses today.? Notably, the soles on these shoes do not match one another. The right shoe demonstrates a beautiful example of Bowerman?s need to innovate, displaying a design he thought might be effective for Mays ? incorporating a waffle sole that is absent on the left shoe. The waffles of course, represent an important moment in the history of footwear, as Bill invented the design after being inspired by his wife?s waffle iron. The dedicated, online-only auction is open for bidding today until 26 June. Editorial usage. Please credit Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA. 17 Jun 2020 Pictured: The waffle shoes. Photo credit: Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342

This rare pair of early 1970?s Nike Waffle spike shoes, handmade by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, is going under the hammer at Sotheby?s. The shoes were exclusively made for and worn by the University of Oregon track athlete John Mays in the early 1970s. The track spikes are thought to be the first-ever shoes handmade by Bowerman to appear at auction. And Sotheby?s estimates that the shoes - to be sold as part of a lot that also includes a handwritten letter outlining Bowerman?s design and production process and a photo of him and Mays - will fetch between $130,000 and $150,000 USD. They are one of only a handful of pairs known to exist. Another known pair of Bowerman shoes are in the Special Collections and University Archives of the Knight Library at the University of Oregon. "The legendary Oregon runner, Phil Knight, and Bill Bowerman partnered together and started Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which was rebranded as Nike in 1971. Bowerman crafted the present shoes in the early 1970s during the Blue Ribbon Sports era, but later modified them in 1974 with Nike?s first major innovation, the waffle soles. As such, these shoes uniquely straddle the formation of the world?s largest athletic brand," Sotheby's said in a statement. the present shoes are among the most valuable pair ever offered at auction, following Sotheby?s record-breaking sale of Michael Jordan?s Game Worn Autographed Nike Air Jordan 1s from 1985 that achieved $560,000 USD at Sotheby?s last month. The Air Jordans established a new world auction record for any pair of sneakers ? surpassing the previous auction record of $437,500 USD, set at Sotheby?s in July 2019 by the Nike Waffle Racing Flat ?Moon Shoe?. John Mays said: ?Often times, Bill would talk to me about a new company he was involved with. I didn?t pay much attention to it at the time. One day, he asked me to help test a new sprint spike shoe he was designing. Of course, I agreed and was excited to be chosen. He took measurements of my feet and started building the shoe, and in about a week he had the shoes ready for me." Brahm Wachter, Sotheby?s Director of eCommerce Development, commented: ?Following our record-breaking results of Michael Jordan?s Air Jordan 1s, we felt the only appropriate way to follow up a sale of that magnitude was to offer something special that spoke to the history and legacy of Nike. Therefore, we?re thrilled to offer this Grail ? created by one of the greatest innovators in shoe ingenuity and design, made even more special by the fact that they are consigned by John Mays himself. The pair speaks volumes to Bill?s need to constantly innovate, showing multiple layers of modifications, including the addition of a waffle sole on the right shoe ? an elemental design that Nike still uses today.? Notably, the soles on these shoes do not match one another. The right shoe demonstrates a beautiful example of Bowerman?s need to innovate, displaying a design he thought might be effective for Mays ? incorporating a waffle sole that is absent on the left shoe. The waffles of course, represent an important moment in the history of footwear, as Bill invented the design after being inspired by his wife?s waffle iron. The dedicated, online-only auction is open for bidding today until 26 June. Editorial usage. Please credit Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA. 17 Jun 2020 Pictured: A letter written by Bowerman to Mays. Photo credit: Courtesy of Sotheby's/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342