In 1964, Geoff Hollister was a star athlete on the University of Oregon track team, specializing in the steeplechase under storied coach Bill Bowerman. That same year, Bowerman partnered with Phil Knight, one of his former athletes, to form Blue Ribbon Sports to distribute Onitsuka Tiger shoes in the U.S. Hollister was hired in 1967 — on Bowerman’s recommendation — to help sell the company’s shoes.
His first job was to sell the Tigers around Oregon from the trunk of his silver Moretti car. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, he returned to Blue Ribbon Sports, which lost the Tiger license and regrouped under the name Nike in 1972.
Now officially the third employee of the upstart company, Hollister was tasked with spending time with Steve Prefontaine, the first runner signed by Nike. Together they embarked on a regional tour, selling Nike shoes from a blue Volkswagen van with the vanity license plate “Nike 1.”
Now Tracy Hollister, Geoff Hollister’s son, has brought the famous plate to Sotheby’s, which will sell it as part of its Emergence online auction this month. The plate is believed to be one of only two in existence and is expected to achieve bids in excess of $10,000. The bidding process is open through Dec. 18.
Emergence will also feature other sought-after collectibles and sneakers, including signed Nike Air Jordan 4 Retro Eminem sneakers in size 10.5, estimated at $40,000 to $60,000; an Adidas Kobe 2 USA Flag sample shoe in size 15, estimated at $8,000 to $12,000, and a Virgil Abloh signed Louis Vuitton LV Trainer size 10.5, estimated at $10,000 to $15,000.
