A cap worn early in Jackie Robinson’s career sold for $590,994 early Saturday morning in a Lelands
.com auction. The blue Brooklyn Dodgers wool cap included three protective plates sewn into the lining to aid the first African-American big leaguer as he faced pitches thrown near his head.
The price, which included a 20% buyer’s premium tacked onto the winning bid, was the 
most ever paid for a cap at public auction.
In all, seven lots sold for over $100,000, which began earlier this month. A 1945 New York Giants uniform donned by Hall of Famer Mel Ott sold for $342,373; the bat swung by Pete Rose when he collected his record-breaking 4,192nd career hit went for $257,231; a Dodgers jacket, believed to be the last one Jackie Robinson wore as a Dodger in 1956, sold for $159,442; a Ted Williams bat used to hit his 517th career home run soared to $125,317; Muhammad Ali’s title belt from the 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ heavyweight fight against George Foreman netted $125,317 and an unopened 1962 Topps baseball cello box of 24 packs rocketed to $113,924.
Other top-selling items included:
- Circa 1955 Ted Williams game-used glove $85,592
- 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle SGC 84 $85,592
- Frank Robinson’s 500th home run bat $82,853
- 1964 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 10 $37,594
Related Stories:
Vintage Set Break of the Month: 1964 Topps Baseball
Clemente Jersey, Rare Ruth Card Among Hunt Auction Highlights
Six Items Bring $300,000 and Up in Clemente Auction
1952 Topps Jackie Robinson Among Set’s Gems
7 Must-Have Baseball Cards from the 1940s
15 Most Valuable Baseball Cards of the 50s
15 Baseball Cards of Players Who Met Tragic Endings
Roberto Clemente Rookie Card Values Rising
5 Underrated 1981 Donruss Baseball Cards
Signing Session Turns into Chase After Kids Grab Rose Bat
