Astros Demand World Series Ring Be Pulled from Auction

A 2017 Houston Astros World Series ring has been pulled from a fundraising auction over legal claims.

 

Goldin Auctions says the team demanded they pull the ring from their current catalog because the original owner of the ring, scout David Brito, signed an agreement that allegedly provided the Astros the right to buy the ring back for $1. 

 

The ring had changed hands once before and both the new owner/consignor and Goldin Auctions pledged to donate their net procceds to COVID-related causes. 

 

That didn’t sway the Astros, according to Goldin Auctions’ founder Ken Goldin, who says the Astros insisted he stop the auction, which had been set to run through May 16.  

 

The company stated it was unaware of the “alleged restriction” when it listed the ring for auction, but has agreed to end the auction and return the ring to the consignor, who will now have to deal with the Astros.

 

The team’s championship season has been called into question over a sign stealing investigation and the ring was to be the first ever offered at public auction.

 

Proceeds were to go to the CAMCare Foundation at New Jersey’s Cooper Hospital and PPE at CAMCare health centers.  All was not lost, however. On Wednesday night, Goldin tweeted “I am going to write a check for the amount the charity would have gotten had the ring sold. Can’t believe some people especially billionaire teams.”