Onitsuka Tiger ‘Mexico’ Track Spikes | Size 11.5

Offered in this lot is a vintage pair of Onitsuka Tiger track spikes, finished in white leather and preserved in deadstock condition with the original Onitsuka Tiger bag. Key features include long four-pin spike plates designed for cinder tracks, perforated insoles, and “Mexico” across the upper in reference to the 1968 Olympic Games. The tongues and plates are stamped “Onitsuka Tiger Made in Japan,” while a manufacturer’s tag noting “20 years” of innovation dates the pair to 1969 or shortly thereafter.

Founded in Japan in 1949, Onitsuka Tiger quickly established itself as a pioneering force in athletic footwear. The brand’s designs played a pivotal role in the early history of Nike, as Blue Ribbon Sports, cofounded in 1964 by Phil Knight, a University of Oregon runner, and his coach Bill Bowerman, began by importing and distributing Onitsuka Tiger sneakers in the United States. This partnership laid the foundation for Nike’s eventual formation, marking Onitsuka Tiger as an important chapter in the origin story of one of the world’s most influential sportswear companies.