A scout’s handwritten report on a young Derek Jeter sold for more than double the pre-sale estimate as Heritage Auctions closed out its Yankee Legends memorabilia auction, the company’s final major catalog sale of 2017.
The report, written when Jeter was a Kalamazoo, Michigan high school student, sold for $102,000 including the buyer’s premium. It was penned by Yankees scout Dick Groch in April of 1992. Groch had been following Jeter and strongly encouraged the front office to select him in the first round that year.
In all, the auction of over 300 items, mostly chronicling the team’s history sold for nearly $3.8 million. Much of it was the work of a single collector who focused on historic items before consigning them to Heritage.
Lou Gehrig’s 1931 player’s contract, signed after the slugger’s holdout for a raise didn’t work, netted $216,000 while a 1951 Mickey Mantle Louisville Slugger bat from his first order as a Yankees rookie soared to $168,000.
The highest price in the auction was for an Eddie Plank autographed baseball, which sold for $228,000.
Team-signed balls from the 1927 and ’28 Yankees each brought $120,000, while a high-grade single-signed Ruth ball was acquired for $108,000.
Other results included:
- Joe Jackson signed baseball $171,478
- Mickey Mantle 1965 fielder’s glove $144,000
- 1960 Mantle game-used bat $108,000
- Single-signed Jackie Robinson baseball $96,000
Related Stories:
Bazooka Changed Things Up In 1964 Release
Rally Rd. Helps Collectors Take Stock In Valuable Sports Memorabilia
No Leverage: Gehrig’s 1931 Contract at Auction
Mantle Game-Worn Batting Helmet at Auction Could Date to 500th Homer
25th Anniversary of Some Great 1991 Rarities
1986 Donruss 30th Anniversary: 5 Memorable Cards
eBay Card of the Day: 2007 Topps Derek Jeter-George Bush-Mickey Mantle
