A large collection of Muhammad Ali memorabilia along with the official Baltimore Orioles line-up card from Game #1 of Cal Ripken Jr’s historic 2,632 consecutive playing streak are among the highlights in Julien’s Auctions’ Icons and Idols sale that got underway Monday.
Additional highlights for the sports fan include Don Newcombe’s game worn 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers home flannel jersey, and game worn and personally owned memorabilia from some of the world’s most most famous athletes including Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Jerry Rice, Wayne Gretzky, Pele and the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt.
The Ali memorabilia comes from the collection of Harlan Werner, who worked for the Ali family as their agent for almost 20 years. It’s the first time they have been offered at auction.
Werner helped in raising money to build the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, has donated items from his personal collection to the Ali Center, provided items from his collection that were used to create props for the film Ali starring Will Smith and has been covered in numerous news articles around the world and was a guest on 60 Minutes.
Highlights include Ali’s bronze “Fists Of Greatness”, a limited edition bronze casting of Ali’s legendary fists, Ali’s signed Hollywood Walk of Fame Star plaque, presented to Ali upon receiving his star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in January of 2002, a complete suite of Ali’s “The Greatest Series” hand embellished screen prints by artist Steve Kaufman with each of the four pieces in the suite signed by both Ali and Kaufman, and a Cassius Clay signed original 1960 Olympic Torch and signed original torch canister display. Werner’s Ali collection also features an extensive collection of original Ali wire photos, as well as signed boxing gloves, trunks and multiple signed issues of Sports Illustrated magazine featuring Ali on the cover.
The lineup card from the beginning of Ripken’s streak is filled out in then-manager Earl Weaver’s handwriting, and signed by Weaver. It display’s the Orioles line-up for their May 30, 1982 game versus the Toronto Blue Jays, featuring Ripken playing third base in the game and batting eighth. The game would be the first of 2,632 consecutive games played by Ripken Jr., a streak which would last more than 16 years and eventually end on September 20, 1998. Along the way, Ripken eclipsed Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games played.
Newcombe was a groundbreaking player for the Dodgers, becoming the first African American to start a World Series game, and the first African American to win 20 games in one season. Newcombe was named the 1949 National League Rookie of the Year, and the 1956 National League MVP and Cy Young Award winner, becoming the very first winner of the Cy Young award. The jersey offered by Juliens comes from the Dodgers’ last season in Brooklyn.
Also offered is a series of life cast bronze “Hitter’s Hands” from artist Raelee Frazier. A self-categorized “three-dimensional bronze biographer of legendary individuals’ hands”, Frazier created “Hitter’s Hands” when meeting some of Major League Baseball’s greatest hitters and actually molding their hands holding the model of bat that they used during their playing careers to make their life cast bronze hands. Bronze “Hitter’s Hands” of some of Major League Baseball’s greatest hitters including Ted Williams, Duke Snider, Stan Musial, Eddie Mathews, Brooks Robinson and Tony Gwynn will be included in the auction.
Also up for bid: Michael Jordan’s 1997-98 game worn road Bulls jersey and Air Jordan shoes; LeBron James’ 2002-03 Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School game worn uniform and Jerry Rice’s 1994 San Francisco 49ers game worn jersey.
The Icons & Idols: Sports auction will also include an array of game worn soccer jerseys from legendary players including Pele’s 1972-73 Santos F.C. game worn and signed jersey, Diego Maradonna’s 1986 Argentina National Team game worn jersey, Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2010-11 Real Madrid game worn jersey and Lionel Messi’s 2011-12 FC Barcelona game worn jersey.
Other highlights include Usain Bolt’s race worn and signed sprint spikes from the 2013 Diamond League Final, Emile Griffith’s fight worn robe from his April 25, 1966 fight versus Dick Tiger, and Billy Conn’s fight worn robe, gloves and boots for his bout versus Joe Louis on June 16, 1946, a “Babe” Ruth Special League baseball owned and signed by Ruth, a 1929 game used American League baseball signed by Ruth and Lou Gehrig, Ray Knight’s 1986 World Series attributed game used bat and a program from the 1952 Baseball All-Star game signed-on-site and in person by 48 players and coaches at the 1952 All-Star Game.
All of the property in the auction will be featured in a full color limited edition catalog available for purchase at www.juliensauctions.com for $75.
Items in the auction will be on display at Julien’s offices in Beverly Hills Monday, December 2 through Thursday, December 5, culminating with the live portion of the auction Friday, December 6 at 10 a.m. PST. For more information, visit Juliens.com.
Nelles talked with ESPN about the auction:
