July 23, 1968
Abe Pollin, 43, announces at a press conference that he is the sole owner of the NBA's Baltimore Bullets. Pollin, a Washington area builder, said of his wife, Irene, "She's my only partner now." He bought out Earl Foreman and Arnold Heft to assume sole ownership and promised a winning team.
UPI
Nov. 11, 1972
Pollin lifts the top from the model of his sports arena. In 1973, he moved the Bullets to Landover and the Capital Centre, which he built for $16 million. The arena featured luxury suites and instant-replay screens.
James K.W. Atherton-The Washington Post
June 7, 1978
Bullets owner Abe Pollin embraces center Wes Unseld after the team won the NBA title by beating the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 7.
Richard Darcey-The Washington Post
June 7, 1978
Abe Pollin holds the NBA Championship trophy after the Bullets' win.
The Washington Post
June 19, 1984
Abe Pollin keeps an eye on the TV monitor as team executive Bob Ferry confers via telephone during the NBA Draft.
Joel Richardson-The Washington Post
Oct. 18, 1995
During the groundbreaking ceremony for the MCI Center, Abe Pollin addresses the crowd.
Dudley M. Brooks-The Washington Post
Oct. 18, 1995
Abe Pollin and former Washington mayor Marion Barry break ground for the MCI Center in Chinatown.
Dudley M. Brooks-The Washington Post
April 3, 1996
Abe Pollin shows media members the prototype for the luxury suites that will be built in the MCI Center.
Tom Allen-The Washington Post
May 15, 1997
Abe Pollin sports the cap of his newly renamed NBA team: the Washington Wizards. He changed the name from the Bullets as part of an anti-violence campaign.
Larry Morris-The Washington Post
July 22, 1997
Abe Pollin looks in on the building of the MCI Center.
Frank Johnston-The Washington Post
Oct. 1, 1997
Abe Pollin, his wife, Irene, and WNBA President Val Ackerman announce that a new franchise, the Mystics, is coming to Washington.
Joel Richardson-The Washington Post
Nov. 29, 1997
Bullets legend Earl Monroe is greeted by Abe Pollin and his wife, Irene, before the final game at USAir Arena.
Bill O'Leary-The Washington Post
Dec. 2, 1997
Abe Pollin (right) watches the opening ceremony at MCI Center with (from the left) his wife Irene, daughter Hannah and daughter-in-law Sigrid Miller-Pollin.
James A. Parcell-The Washington Post
Dec. 2, 1997
Abe Pollin thanks the opening-night crowd at MCI Center.
Gary Cameron-Reuters
June 19, 1998
Abe Pollin is joined by (from the left) Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, WNBA president Val Ackerman, his wife Irene and Tipper Gore at the Mystics' first game.
Rich Lipski-The Washington Post
Oct. 15, 1998
Abe Pollin and Magic Johnson joke as they announce that Johnson will build a multiplex theater here.
James A. Parcell-The Washington Post
Dec. 2, 1998
Abe Pollin leads the crowd and Capitals players in the singing of carols at the team's annual holiday party.
Frank Johnston-The Washington Post
May 12, 1999
Abe Pollin (second from the left), AOL executive Ted Leonsis (second from right), Jon Ledecky (far right), and Dick Patrick hold up Washington Capitals jerseys at a news conference to announce that Leonsis' investment group had purchased the team from Pollin.
Dayna Smith-The Washington Post
Jan. 19, 2000
Ted Leonsis (from the left), Michael Jordan and Abe Pollin shake hands after their press conference announcing that Jordan would become the Wizards' president of basketball operations.
Dudley M. Brooks-The Washington Post
Feb. 8, 2001
D.C. mayor Anthony Williams sits next to Abe Pollin and Nikki McCray of the Mystics at the opening ceremonies of All-Star weekend in 2001.
John McDonnell-The Washington Post
Dec. 18, 2001
Abe Pollin presents gifts to Loretta Thomas and her son Joshua, 7, in 2001. Members of the Wizards organization delivered gifts to six families.
Jonathan Newton-The Washington Post
Feb. 28, 2007
Wes Unseld (from the left), sportscaster George Michael, Abe Pollin and Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken share the Verizon Center owner's box on the night of Michael's last remote broadcast.
John McDonnell-The Washington Post
July 1, 2008
Abe Pollin talks with newly-signed Wizard Antawn Jamison during a 2008 news conference at Verizon Center.
Susan Walsh-AP
Gallery Credits:
Producer, Photo Editor Stephen Cook
Text Editor Lindsay Applebaum
