The 1992 Dream Team was the greatest basketball team ever assembled and a global phenomenon. Now Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Scottie Pippen signed, game-worn shoes from the team’s historic run to the gold medal are up for bid in the Lelands 2020 Spring Classic Auction, which runs through June 19.
Offered publicly for the first time, the shoes were worn by the NBA legends during the Tournament of Americas qualifying event for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The consignor was a Dream Team support staff member who received the sneakers directly from the players in the locker room after the tournament championship game. A portion of the proceeds will benefit COVID-19 relief efforts.
The auction also features a collection of Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James photo-matched, game-used gear and rare high-end autographed cards.
Headlining the offerings is a 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite Dual Number Pieces Jordan/James autograph card, a 2004-05 SP Authentic Dual Signatures #JJ Jordan/James Auto 2/25, a 2003-04 LeBron James Rookie Collection, and a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card graded PSA Mint 9.
Among the additional Jordan game-used gear up for sale is a pair of 1981-82 University of North Carolina signed sneakers and a 1994 Chicago White Sox warmup jersey and Sox wristbands.
The auction also boasts one of the earliest game-used autographed Bryant items ever to hit the auction block: a signed t-shirt worn by the late NBA great during the 1996 Magic Johnson Roundball Classic high school all-star game. Additional Bryant items up for sale include three pairs of signed game-worn shoes (from a 2008 Western Conference Finals game, a 2007 playoff game and a 2006 regular season game), his 2001 All-Star Game photo-matched practice jersey and a 2017-18 Panini Impeccable All-Stars autographed card.
Another auction centerpiece is a Joe DiMaggio Yankees signed, game-used bat. The Hillerich & Bradsby model D29L was photo-matched to Sept. 28, 1949, one week prior to the World Series.
Also featured in the auction is a collection of Babe Ruth items led by the finest known Ruth autographed photo, multiple Type 1 photos, several single-signed baseballs, a 1940s Ruth signed Hillerich & Bradsby bat, a 1933 Goudey autographed card and a 2019 Topps Transcendent Babe Ruth Bat Knob & Cut Signature 1/1.
Lelands’ partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers has produced another group of game-worn jerseys direct from the team’s archive. Among those in the current auction are those once donned by Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, John Stallworth, Troy Polamalu (photo-matched to four games), Rod Woodson (photo-matched to three games) and Jerome Bettis (photo-matched to seven games including his 10,000th yard rushing game). A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Steelers Archive Jerseys will be donated to the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research.
Additional auction highlights include:
- 1915 and 1916 Boston Red Sox championship awards (a pendant and pocket watch, respectively) presented to Babe Ruth’s Sox roommate, Dick Hoblitzell
- Two Lou Gehrig single signed baseballs and a Gehrig signed photo
- 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded SGC 5.5
- Complete run of race programs (21) from the career of iconic racehorse Secretariat
- Jeffrey Maier’s glove used to catch Derek Jeter’s 1996 ALCS Game 1 home run
- 2018-19 National Treasures Luka Doncic RPA Rookie Auto Logo Patch
- 2015-16 The Cup Connor McDavid NHL Rookie Patch Auto.
The auction also includes numerous items from history and pop culture including Tom Hanks’ full baseball uniform worn in the movie “A League of Their Own.”
Bidding is now underway at Lelands.com.
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