Goldin Auctions has opened bidding on its Spring Premium Live Auction with 70 high value lots on the block including Paul Hornung’s 1956 Heisman Trophy, a 1939 All-Star Game pin given to Lou Gehrig and the complete ensemble used by Barry Bonds to hit his 716th career home run in 2006.
Bidding is underway online now but the auction will close with a live segment on May 20 at the NYY Steakhouse in New York City. Two thousand additional lots are in the online portion which closes June 3.
Hornung’s trophy was once on display inside his Louisville home. It’s one of four that were made for him. Besides the original which was crafted in 1956, one is on display at Notre Dame while another is in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Goldin Auctions has a $250,000 pre-sale estimate on the trophy, which has been bid up to $75,000 so far.
The 1939 All-Star pin was presented to Gehrig, who had been diagnosed with ALS and retired from baseball earlier in the season. It was originally given to one of the nurses who took care of the Yankee legend as he succumbed to the disease which now bears his name and is the only piece of jewelry ever awarded to Gehrig that is in private hands. The pin had remained in the nurse’s family until her nephew sold it in 1989. Since then it has been featured at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the subject of an article in USA Today. It carries a $35,000 minimum bid.
The jersey Yogi Berra was wearing during the 1961 World Series, when he belted the last of his 12 Fall Classic home runs and his Hall of Fame induction plaque are also among the highlights in the auction, as is Don Larsen’s 1956 World Series MVP award.
Bonds consigned his own “716” memorabilia, which includes the complete jersey, pants, socks, bat, cleats, wrist bands and batting gloves he used on June 5, 2006, when he homered off Marlins pitcher Brian Moe
hler to join Hank Aaron as the only players in history to reach 716 homers.
This collection represents the highest “home run total” uniform and bat ever offered for public sale by any baseball player. In fact, it is the only certified game used bat attributed to a home run 700 or higher has ever been offered for sale. The lot comes with personally signed letters of authenticity from Barry Bonds as well as MLB Authenticated and Barry Bonds holograms to ensure its provenance.
The key item in the lot is the bat Bonds used to hit his historic 716th home run. The model 25BONDS2K1 Sam Bat has several distinct ball marks with visible white leather ball scuffs. Bonds signed the barrel in silver pen adding “6-5-06 #716”.
Bonds also set aside everything he wore that night including his home cream Giants uniform with his name signed in silver pen with the inscription “6-5-06 #716” in the number 5.
Jim Leyland, a three-time Manger of the Year who managed Bonds for several seasons and won a World Series ring with the Marlins in 1997, has consigned 59 lots of memorabilia. Among them are All-Star, World Series and regular season game worn and signed jerseys from the Pirates, Marlins, Tigers and Rockies, awards, seven All-Star Game rings and numerous autographed baseballs.
Severak vintage game-used bats are also among the highlights including a 1928 Jimmie Foxx model expected to sell for at least $65,000.
For more information, visit GoldinAuctions.com.
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