It’s an armoire full of championship spoils. A diamond studded stack of accomplishment.
With over 100 rings up for grabs in its newly launched catalog auction, Heritage Auctions has, at least for the moment, become the king of sports bling.
From Hall of Fame rings to minor league championship rings, Super Bowl rings to player-made models, collectors who prefer the kind of memorabilia that fits on a finger will have plenty of options. It’s believed to be the largest assemblage of rings in a single sports memorabilia auction event.
Among the highlights are a few dozen Super Bowl rings, most of them once in the possession of players. There’s the massive 2016 New England Patriots Super Bowl LI ring once presented to tight end Michael Williams. The ring has 283 diamonds, representing the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, from a 28-3 deficit.
Jamaal Lewis’ 2000 Baltimore Ravens ring is being offered. The Super Bowl III New York Jets ring given to Verlon Biggs is here. So are those presented to Dallas Cowboys great Ralph Neely after Super Bowl VI, 49ers great Fred Dean following Super Bowl XVI, Steelers safety Jimmy Allen for Super Bowl IX and Bernardo Harris after the Packers won Super Bowl XXI.
Rings from victories by the Broncos (Super Bowl 50), Patriots (XXXVI), Cowboys (XXX), Seahawks (XLVIII), Giants (XXV) and Raiders (XVIII) are among the others.
Other sports are represented, too like Robert Horry’s 2007 Spurs NBA Championship ring, the last of Horry’s seven rings and the second of two earned as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
There are others from victories by the 2016 Cavs and 1995 Rockets and one of the rings Tony Gwynn created for friends and associates after he won the National League batting title in 1987. All Star Game rings from Hall of Famer Ted Simmons plus several from his days as a baseball executive and a few consigned by the family of the late Joe Garagiola.
A 2015 Duke NCAA basketball championship ring given to Jahlil Okafor was consigned by someone who bought his abandoned storage locker. There are bowl game rings as well.
At least seven rings are expected to sell for $50,000 or more. Williams’ Super Bowl LI ring has a pre-sale estimate of $100,000 or more with a current high bid of $28,000.
The rings are part of a two-catalog auction with thousands of lots set to close over three nights, May 12-14.
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