He auctioned off most of the items from his career a few years ago for more than $3 million, but there’s one memento from his career that Julius Erving won’t part with.
“My Hall of Fame ring,” he told me during a recent chat session on behalf of Chase VISA that also featured fellow icon Bill Walton. Both were in the same class that entered Springfield in 1993. Dr. J averaged over 24 points, more than eight rebounds and over four assists per game in his pro career.
Erving won two ABA titles in the 1970s and an NBA ring with the Sixers in 1983 but it’s the ring that certified his greatness over the long haul that he cherishes most. “I’ll put it on when I really get dressed up. It’s really more meaningful to me than the championship rings.”
Erving’s Sixers met Walton’s Blazers in the 1977 Finals, with Portland winning the title. The two shared good-natured stories and good-natured jabs throughout the two-hour session.
Walton didn’t admit to collecting much of anything but does have an original piece of art that’s pretty valuable. “LeRoy Neiman came and he painted this big, huge picture during the Finals of Dr. J coming at the basket. He’s up in the air and ready to throw it down and LeRoy Neiman was able to paint me in there. I’m up, jumping above the crowd and I’m sending it back.”
MeiGray Auctions has launched an auction of NHL practice-worn jerseys with a roster of current and former stars.
Among the group of 20 jerseys from the last decade are those donned by Alex Ovechkin (2011-12 Capitals); Jaromir Jagr (2012-13 Stars); Vincent Lecavalier (2013-14 Flyers); Drew Doughty (2011-12 Kings); Tyler Seguin (2013-14 Stars); Taylor Hall (2010-11 Oilers); Simone Gagne (2012-13 Flyres); John Carlson (2010-11 Capitals) and Ryan Nugent (2013-14 Oilers).
The jerseys may have been worn by other players as well.
The auctions will run through December 22 on MeiGray’s website.
Certified Guaranty Company, which plans to launch its trading card division sometime in the coming weeks, says it has now certified more than seven million collectibles. The company specializes in comic books, which made up the largest share of those item but they also authenticate and grade magazines, concert posters and other items.
Based in Sarasota, Florida, CGC has graded over one million collectibles in the past year alone.
DJ Skee, a well-known DJ, entrepreneur and the co-owner of a new sports card shop in Hollywood, is launching a new online show about trading cards.
It’s a longer form podcast than the Skee Sportscard Minute syndicated radio segment he recently launched.
According to publicists, each episode of the longer show “breaks down the sports card market for both beginners and experts backed by data points and the latest market trends.”
The podcasts also feature “special guests, including baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and hockey stars, sports card analysts, breakers, and influencers.”
TNT & Bleacher Report’s Adam Lefkoe, an avid collector, was a guest on the show’s first episode.
Topps has partnered with Skee to create the “Topps Project 2020 Artist Interview Series,” which will be available in full on audio under the Skee Sports Card Show brand. Interviews with the artists are also available now. Listeners will also be able to win cards and limited edition prints from Topps’ Project 2020 collection.
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