The Orlando Magic will pay tribute to the late Pat Williams, the team's co-founder, with a commemorative patch on their uniforms for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Renowned as the driving force behind the inception of the Orlando Magic in the '80s, Williams passed away on July 17 at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy that spanned baseball and basketball. According to WFTV, all Magic jerseys will bear a black stripe and the white initials "PW" to honor the sports legend.
Williams' profound impact on Orlando basketball took shape in 1986 when he, alongside local entrepreneur Jimmy Hewitt, initiated efforts to establish an NBA team in the city. The NBA granted their wish on April 22, 1987, leading to a successful campaign that culminated with the sale of the Magic's 10,000th season ticket on December 22, 1988, as NBA reports. They effectively sealed the city's place in the league's expansive landscape. Williams had the rare ability to seamlessly transition from a catcher in baseball to wielding considerable influence in the NBA, having been the general manager for multiple teams before co-founding Orlando's beloved basketball franchise.
Before breaking ground in basketball, Williams played baseball for the Miami Marlins, a minor league team, and earned accolades in sports management on his way up. This trajectory demonstrates his versatile passion for sports, which went as far as authoring over 100 books and advocating for cancer research following his diagnosis in 2011. His community impact extended beyond the court with his involvement in several cancer-related organizations, such as joining the Board of Directors for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
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