The latest auction of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar memorabilia netted $2.9 million early Sunday morning, highlighted by the sale of four of his NBA championship rings, which combined to bring over $1.2 million including the buyer’s premium.
Goldin Auctions offered 234 items from the basketball life of the Hall of Fame center who is selling the items in part to raise money for his Skyhook Foundation.
In all, the auction included more than 2,000 lots with sales of nearly $6 million.
Abdul-Jabbar’s 1987 Lakers NBA championship ring went for $398,937, a record for any NBA title ring ever sold and the most ever paid for a Lakers item at public auction, according to company founder Ken Goldin.
Abdul-Jabbar’s three NBA MVP Awards brought a combined $366,000 and eight NBA All-Star jerseys sold for $400,000.
The most remarkable result of the night for collectors, though, was the $186,580 sale price for the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects #BDPP89 Mike Trout (Orange Refractor), making it the most valuable Trout item ever sold at auction. It joins two other historic record-setting modern cards sold by the company in the past few years including a 1979-80 Wayne Gretzky rookie card selling for $465,000 and the 2003-04 LeBron James Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Logoman Rookie Card at $312,000.
Among the top auction highlights from Abdul-Jabbar’s collection:
- 1987 NBA championship ring: $398,937
- 1985 NBA championship ring: $343,700
Game-used, signed and inscribed Spalding basketball from final NBA points (still standing record of 38,387): $270,050- 1980 NBA championship ring: $245,500
- 1988 NBA championship ring: $245,500
- 1971-72 NBA MVP Trophy: $123,977
- 1975-76 NBA MVP Trophy: $122,750
- 1973-74 NBA MVP Trophy: $122,750
- Game-used and signed Milwaukee Bucks jersey: $62,602
- Game-used, signed and inscribed ball from last playoff game (also Pistons first NBA championship in 1989): $55,237
- 1971 NBA All-Star Game ring: $51,555
The complete collection and final prices can be seen here.
Other items sold in the auction included a PSA 1 T206 Cobb with Cobb Tobacco back. One of fewer than 20 ever graded by PSA, the card sold for $148,527.
A 1968 Willie Mays game-used and autographed Giants home jersey rated A9.5 by MEARS netted $88,380—the same price attained by a 1923-25 Hillerich & Bradsby Babe Ruth bat (PSA/DNA GU 8).
Other vintage and modern sports cards sold included an SGC 82 (EX/MT+) 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle ($76,105); a PSA 8 Mays rookie card ($44,190), a 2007-08 Exquisite Collection #94 Kevin Durant autographed jersey card (#12/35) PSA Authentic/Auto 10 ($34,370) and a 1907-09 H.M. Taylor Detroit Tigers Postcard “Ty Cobb at Bat” PSA 3 ($13,502).
“The opportunity to offer the historic Kareem Abdul-Collection was a true honor and we’re thrilled that collectors and Lakers fans responded,” said Ken Goldin Founder of Goldin Auctions. “There is no doubt that the attention this collection generated, coupled with our long history of offering rare and historic items, was the perfect storm for the perfect auction. We congratulate our bidders for securing these amazing items and our consignors for their success.”
The company is currently accepting consignments for all 2019 auctions. To consign an item, visit GoldinAuctions.com or call 856- 767-8550 or email [email protected].
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Notes: T206 Cobb Back Find; Mathis Talks ’52 Mantle Sale; Ohtani Atomic Refractor
