A cap attributed to use by Babe Ruth during the historic 1934 Tour of Japan is among the items set to go on the block beginning today via Grey Flannel Auctions.
The company says the cap was sourced from the Ruth family more than 30 years ago and “is the only example known to have been worn by the Bambino during his 1934 Tour of Japan, which took place only weeks after his departure from the Yankees”.
It’s the first time the cap has been offered at auction. Minimum bid is $50,000.
Another cap Grey Flannel says was used by Joe DiMaggio during his 1937 rookie season with the Yankees will also be up for bid with a $25,000 open.
The auction also includes a baseball signed by 10 of the 1932 NY Yankees, including Ruth and Lou Gehrig; a circa-1980s NBA 76ers Julius Erving jersey and Michael Jordan’s University of North Carolina Tar Heels ‘Freshman Year’ game-used and autographed sneakers.
The auction closes December 17.
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Julien’s Auctions is offering a game-issued 1961 Willie Mays uniform that once appeared on the History Channel show Pawn Stars.
Other items up for bid and also emanating from the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas include a collection of four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Pat McCormick — including her 1952 and 1956 gold medals, a Pele signed and game worn jersey and fire suits from Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Bidding runs through December 1 at JuliensAuctions.com.
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The Bob Feller Museum in Van Meter, IA is closed.
The Des Moines Register reports that the museum, which is home to numerous items from the late Hall of Famer’s career, has been having trouble sustaining itself financially. Don’t look for anything to show up at auction, though.
The city is negotiating a real estate deal to turn part of the building into city offices with the other half holding Feller memorabilia. The rest of the items would head to Cleveland and become part of an exhibit in the city where Feller spent his career.
WHO-TV also reported on the deal.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ new general manager is one of those 1980s kids who fell in love with baseball cards.
There was only one 
problem.
He grew up in the Philippines and cards weren’t always easy to find.
Farhan Zaidi says his family would visit family in the U.S. and Canada during the summer and when the 1989 Upper Deck packs came out, he was beyond hooked.
“I really remember the sensation around that card,” Zaidi, 38, said. “I would say 90 per cent of the attraction of coming to the United States in those days was the ease with which you could get baseball cards.”
David Waldstein discussed that and other baseball topics with Zaidi for this story.
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For the San Francisco Giants fan who has everything…how about some signed Madison Bumgarner underwear?
The World Series MVP has signed several pair of special ‘Mad Bum’ Jockey shorts with proceeds going to charity.
Check them out here.
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