Grey Flannel has kicked off its Summer Games Auction, with some top-level game-worn jerseys, major championship rings and autographed memorabilia among the 1,100 lots available for bid.
The centerpiece of the auction is the New York Yankees pinstriped uniform Yogi Berra wore as catcher during the World Series perfect game pitched by Don Larsen on Oct. 8, 1956.
“This is the same uniform Yogi was wearing when that famous photograph was taken of him running out toward the pitcher’s mound to hug Don Larsen after the final pitch,” said Grey Flannel’s president, Richard Russek. “The photo is so iconic, we put it on the front of the catalog for this sale.”
Another vintage Hall of Fame jersey in the sale is a 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates home model that was worn by Roberto Clemente during the last season before his tragic death. Accompanied by a team letter of authenticity, the jersey has the now-retired number “21” and “Pirates” emblazoned on the front and requires a minimum bid of $5,000.
Perhaps no other player has seen his baseball cards and memorabilia grow as much as Derek Jeter. Grey Flannel has a $9,000 minimum bid on a 2008 Jeter game-worn jersey. The #2 shirt includes the “Yankee Stadium Final Season” patch on its left sleeve and “2008 All-Star Game patch” on its right sleeve. It includes a Yankees-Steiner letter of authenticity.
Hockey collectors will have the chance to bid on a circa-1986 Edmonton Oilers gamer from Mark Messier. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Rich Ellis, Spirit of The Game, its minimum bid is $2,500.
A mid-1970s Dallas Cowboys jersey game-used by star quarterback Roger Staubach includes a MEARS letter of authenticity and is graded A10.
One of the most important jewelry lots in the sale is Ben Kelly’s 2001 New England Patriots Super bowl Championship ring with original wooden presentation box. A big, solid 14K white gold ring weighing 2-1/2 ounces, it features a total of 145 diamonds plus a red and blue Patriots logo and the words “SUPER BOWL” and “WORLD CHAMPIONS.” The minimum bid is $10,000.
Two more major championship rings are also in the auction including Dennis Johnson’s 1986 Boston Celtics Championship player’s ring with presentation box and family letter of authenticity. The 14K gold ring with a Celtics logo, 16 inlaid diamonds and one large central diamond representing a basketball was given to Johnson for playing in what would be his third and final career World Championship (minimum bid: $5,000).
Former Yankees’ front office executive Rey Quinones’ 1996 New York Yankees World Series ring is also on the block. The ring’s design includes 23 diamonds, a large “NY” Yankees logo and the words “WORLD CHAMPIONS 1996,” “COURAGE,” “HEART,” “TRADITION,” and “QUINONES.” With its original felt-lined presentation box, it requires a minimum bid of $5,000.
A 2007 Boston Red Sox World Series trophy is offered, measuring over 2 feet in height, with a 14K yellow gold base surmounting a chrome base that measures 10½ inches across. Featuring a two-tone chrome baseball “stitched” in 14K yellow gold and with 30 flags representing all of the Major League Baseball teams, the trophy is engraved: “2007 BOSTON RED SOX WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS” alongside the MLB logo (minimum bid: $5,000).
As a follow-up to her original artwork titled “NBA Fifty Greatest Players,” artist Erika King created a follow-up collage titled “LEGENDS OF BASKETBALL – WE MADE THIS GAME.” The limited edition, which was unveiled during the 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, incorporates personally autographed action photos of 60 of the NBA’s greatest players, including many superstars of the last decade such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. Numbered 1/60, the 40-inch by 60-inch photographic collage offered by Grey Flannel comes with a JSA letter of authenticity and carries a $10,000 minimum.
Bidding in Grey Flannel’s Summer Games Auction will close on April 14. All forms of absentee bids will be accepted during the auction, including by phone and online through Grey Flannel’s Web site at www.GreyFlannel.com. Printed catalogs are free to all registered bidders. The fully illustrated electronic version of the catalog is available to view online
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