It had been handed down through family members since the first Masters Champion’s death nearly 50 years ago, finally resting in a closet. Early Sunday morning, a Green Jacket awarded to Horton Smith for his 1934 and 1936 wins at Augusta became the most expensive piece of golf memorabilia ever sold at auction. The jacket, which was 
actually awarded in retroactive fashion once it became tradition years later, sold for $682,229. The winning bid included a 15% buyer’s premium.
The name of the company which sold the jacket was, fittingly enough, it was Green Jacket Auctions, which specializes in golf memorabilia. The opening bid on August 21 was $1,000. Bidding more than doubled during the final day of the auction.
Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, a live auction of vintage basketball memorabilia was held in conjunction with the Basketball Hall of Fame inductions. Grey Flannel Auctions offered the collection of former college and NBA great Jerry Lucas, headlined by his 1960 Olympic Gold Medal. However, the medal did not reach its $250,000 starting bid.
Several of Lucas’ awards and jerseys did sell, though, including his 1973 New York Knicks NBA Championship ring, which went for $72,000. Lucas’ Hall of Fame Induction ring brought $60,000, his ’50 Greatest Players’ ring sold for $42,000 and his jersey from the 1960 Olympics sold for $60,000. Winning bids on the Lucas collection totaled more than $433,000.
A 1963-64 Wilt Chamberlain San Francisco Warriors jersey topped bidding at $78,000 including the buyer’s premium.
A 1962 Oscar Robertson Cincinnati Royals road jersey brought over $42,000.
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