Hunt Auctions will offer a program from the first World Series in 1903 as part of the 8th Annual Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Live Auction and Appraisal Fair on Saturday, November 12. The program is expected to fetch upwards of $100,00
0. The three-day auction event will begin on Thursday, November 10 with the auction preview and complimentary appraisal fair.
“Hunt Auctions is thrilled to present this amazing program from baseball’s first World Series. We are aware of only one other copy of this 1903 World Series program, and that copy resides in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. We believe this is one of baseball’s most significant publications ever offered,” said David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions. “The program remains in well-preserved condition with the bound edge fully intact. The inside features pictures of Pittsburgh Pirates stars such as Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner.”
In addition to the 1903 program, the Hunt Auctions live auction event will also feature an early World Series program collection from 1905-1930 estimated at $100,000+. The scarce collection of about 50 programs is a near perfect run of programs from that era. Some are the only World Series program known to exist from that particular year.
Other World Series and championship items included in the sale are a Boston Red Sox World Series Ring from the 2004 “curse ending” season and one from the 2007 season estimated at $20,000-$30,000 each. A group of Philadelphia Phillies World Series and National League Championship Rings from 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008 & 2009 should realize $50,000+.
Additional main attractions in the auction include a pristine Cy Young signed baseball estimated at $15,000-$25,000 and a Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig dual signed baseball estimated at $20,000-$30,000, Pete Rose’s 4,000 hit baseball (Est. $25,000-$50,000), a Roberto Clemente professional model Pittsburgh Pirates hat (Est. $10,000-$15,000), a Yogi Berra professional model catcher’s mitt (Est. $30,000-$40,000), and a Babe Ruth autographed baseball attributed to his 54th home run of the 1927 season (Est. $40,000-$60,000). The auction will also feature a set of AL and NL All-Star autographed workout jerseys which will benefit the MLB Assistance Team (Est. $200-$2,000 each).
The auction is open for online pre-bidding until Thursday, November 10 at 10pm EST. High bids and ceiling bids placed during the pre-bidding period will be executed competitively during the Live Auction. Bids for the live auction may be made in person at the auction, via phone at 610.524.0822 or online at www.HuntAuctions.com.
PREVIEW EXHIBITION AND APPRAISAL FAIR
Hunt Auctions will be holding a preview exhibition and free appraisal fair at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory on Thursday, November 10 from 9am-5pm EST and Friday, November 11 from 9am-4pm. Bidders will be able to view live all items on sale at the auction and have their own items appraised during this time. On Friday evening November 11, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory will present the Living Legend Award to Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench. Live bidding for the auction will on Saturday, November 12, at 10am EST. Information for the auction festivities is available online at http://www.HuntAuctions.com
