When it comes to the World Series rings they handed out to staff members, the Chicago Cubs are being as protective as a momma bear. A 2016 ring that had been consigned to Lelands’ current auction has been pulled after conversations between the team and the auction company.
Bidding for the ring had surpassed $65,000 before it was removed from the auction catalog late last week. It was the first Cubs World Series ring to have been listed for sale since they were handed out to players, coaches and staff members throughout the organization.
After distributing the valuable jewelry earlier this year, the Cubs made recipients sign an agreement that essentially forced them to sell their ring back to the ball club for $1 before offering it to anyone else through a sale or auction.
The ring offered by Lelands was listed as belonging to a longtime scout. That scout, according to Cubs representatives who emailed statements to the Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune, has been identified and is no longer employed by the team. The Cubs won’t say whether he was fired.
“We appreciate Lelands’ cooperation in removing a ring that was not authorized for sale per the contract with associates,” team spokesman Julian Green stated in the Tribune story. The ring will be returned to the Cubs, who if agreement is enforced, will have to cough up a buck to their former employee.
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