Hunt Auctions is announcing an historic live auction event featuring the personal collection of Baseball Hall of Fame member Ted Williams. The live public auction will consist of a large quantity of Williams’ personal items including his 1949 Most Valuable Player Award and his 1957 American League Batting Champion Silver Slugger Award.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the auction will be donated to The Jimmy Fund, a prestigious Boston charity which has long been affiliated with Williams, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Boston Red Sox.
Hunt Auctions is planning the live public auction for Spring 2012 at a Boston, area location.
“The time has come in my life to let go of some of my father’s awards and personal memorabilia. I have struggled with this decision for the past 10 years, but the reality is, these items have remained locked away in a storage unit where his deserving fans and esteemed collectors are denied the right to enjoy them and share in a piece of American history. So many people have asked to view these items or obtain them for their own personal collection. It is for these reasons that I felt it best to conduct an auction in a fashion that will share the history of my father’s accomplishments with all the many fans he so appreciated. It is very important to me to ensure that there will be several public viewings so that everyone will have a better opportunity to enjoy the pieces that chronicle the life of my dad from his baseball career to his fishing exploits to his military service. So many people know my father as a baseball-hitting great, but few know and appreciate his loyalty and allegiance to our great country while serving twice in the U.S. Marine Corps, during World War II and the Korean War. I would like to bring to light and share with his fans the incredible military stories made while serving to protect our nation. It is also dearly important to me to include The Jimmy Fund in this event as it was at the center of my father’s heart for so many years. I am proud to say, a portion of all proceeds will be given to The Jimmy Fund in memory of my father and my brother. The accomplishments of The Jimmy Fund and the hope it continues to offer thousands of young people stricken with cancer will always be appreciated and supported by my family.”
~ Claudia Williams, daughter of Ted Williams
Williams is widely regarded as the greatest hitter in Major League history. He made 18 All-Star Game appearances, won six AL batting Championships, was named Most Valuable Player for 1946 and 1949, Player of the Decade from 1951-60, holds a .344 Career Batting Average, and hit .406 in 1941. He is also arguably the greatest professional sports athlete in the storied history of the city of Boston playing his entire 22 year career with the Red Sox (1939-1960).
“As a baseball historian and fan of the game there are few names within the history of the game that evoke such excitement and reverence as that of Ted Williams. His reign of excellence during the Golden Age of baseball is nothing short of superlative and we are deeply honored to have been chosen by the Williams ‘ family to represent his distinguished name in this historic offering,” remarked David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions.
Several of the notable highlights include:
• 1949 Ted Williams Most Valuable Award plaque
• Ted Williams Hall of Fame Induction presentational ring
• Ted Williams game used baseball bat with provenance to teammate Bobby Doerr
• 1960 Ted Williams All-Star Game used baseball bat
• 1957 Ted Williams American League Batting Champion Silver Bat award
• 1957 Ted Williams “Sultan of Swat” presentational crown award
• Pristine Babe Ruth single signed baseball personalized to Ted Williams
• Ted Williams 1946 Boston Red Sox AL Championship ring
All of the items in the collection are being offered for the first time to the public. There are numerous pieces of historic significance that have not previously have been displayed or known. The auction will take place during the celebration of the 100th Anniversary season of Fenway Park, in which Ted Williams played for his entire career.
Auction Preview Tour
The auction event itself will be preceded by an exclusive set of public exhibitions at prominent venues across the country. The inaugural launch of the auction preview events will take place on September 30 at the San Diego Sports Hall of Champions. Williams was a San Diego native who also enjoyed a long standing relationship with the museum serving as an ideal launch site for the project. A private preview party will take place on the evening of September 30 and is by invitation only. A press conference and initial unveiling of the items will also take place at the San Diego Sports Hall of Champions on Sept. 30. The preview will then remain on display to the general public at the museum for an undetermined period of time. Future preview sites will be announced at a later date.
Auction Information
More information about the auction and bidding instructions can be found online at www.HuntAuctions.com. A very exclusive selection of third party consignments of historic Boston baseball related items will be considered for inclusion within the auction. Please contact Hunt Auctions for further details and parameters.
