Hunt Auctions will offer a high quality Babe Ruth Autographed Professional Model Bat and Joe DiMaggio’s 1951 World Series Ring as part of the 9th Annual Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Live Auction and Appraisal Fair on Saturday, November 10th in Louisville, KY. The three-day auction event will begin on Thursday, November 8th with the auction preview and complimentary appraisal fair. The festivities will culminate with the live auction on Saturday, November 10th for visitors of the Museum.
The DiMaggio ring is expected to fetch between $50,000-$100,000. After a number of DiMaggio’s World Series rings were believed to be stolen in 1960, this remaining ring is from the 1951 season, his final season and 9th World Series year. Dieges & Clust, a prominent jeweler and silversmith firm in the first part of the 20th century, manufactured the ring to be presented to DiMaggio. The ring originates from the descendants of a former Dieges & Clust senior employee and according to family history was given to the employee by DiMaggio. The Dieges & Clust employee retained the ring wearing it over the years and it remained within his family until its current offering. The executive’s family will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the ring to the Joe DiMaggio Hospital in Florida.
“The offering of this particular ring allows collectors a truly unique opportunity given, with the exception of Joe’s 1936 ring which was retained by the family, the remainder of his World Series rings were reported stolen in 1960 from the Lexington Hotel in New York. While it is possible that an additional 1951 ring was made for Joe and in turn could have been stolen with the other examples the offered 1951 ring within the auction represents the lone surviving vintage exemplar to be offered at public auction,” remarked David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions. “The value of this particular ring takes into consideration the fact that at least nine of his other rings were reported stolen and have never been found. We are thankful that the family of the original recipient preserved the ring and we applaud their involvement of the Joe DiMaggio Hospital with a donation of a portion of the auction proceeds”.
The other main attraction in the live auction will be the Ruth bat which was given to a close friend and restaurant owner in the New York area. The bat’s inscription has a date of December 25th, 1924 and carries a pre-sale estimate of $200,000-$300,000.
“The Babe Ruth autographed bat is an outstanding piece of baseball history. This particular bat dates to the absolute prime of Ruth’s career, placing it solidly within the finest primary sourced Ruth game bats of its type,” said David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions.
WORLD SERIES RELATED ITEMS
The auction will include many World Series and championship items. In the sale is the late Harry Kalas’ 1980 Philadelphia Phillies World Series Trophy, complete with his autograph on the underside of the piece estimated at $10,000-$20,000 and Kalas’ Philadelphia Phillies 2009 National League Championship Ring estimated at $15,000-$25,000.
Additionally, a rare baseball autographed by the 1927 World Series Champion New York Yankees, one of less than five ever handled by Hunt Auctions, is included, estimated at $15,000-$25,000.
A 1954 New York Giants World Series Ring presented to Fred Fleig as well as a Baltimore Orioles World Series Ring from the 1970 Dynasty Period will both sell for $7,500-$10,000. An illustrious 1996 New York Yankees World Series Ring hailing from their dynasty period is also for sale, estimated 
at $10,000-$15,000.
Finally, a pair of incredibly rare 1915 Philadelphia World Series Programs from Games 1 and 2, the only two to have surfaced from this game, are both available and estimated at $10,000-$15,000.
UNIQUE COLLECTIONS
The autograph collection of the general manager of the famed Jefferson Hotel in St. Louis, MO from the early part of the 1900’s will be sold featuring baseballs signed by Miller Huggins, Cy Young, Nap Lojoie, and RJ Wallace. The 26 piece collection is valued close to $100,000.
A first of its kind offering by Hunt Auctions is the personal collection of Eddie “The King” Feigner. Feigner endeared himself to fans during his famed “King and his Court” traveling four man softball team beginning in 1946 and continuing up until the year 2000. Feigner is widely regarded as the greatest pitcher in softball history with pitch speeds noted above 100 miles per hour. His collection is estimated at $12,200.
The auction is open for online pre-bidding until Friday, November 9 at 2pm EST. High bids and ceiling bids placed during the pre-bidding period will be executed competitively during the live auction. Bids for the live auction may be made in person at the auction. Additional arrangements for phone and absentee bidding are being accepted at 610-524-0822. More information, photos, and a complete listing of items available can be found online as well.
PREVIEW EXHIBITION AND APPRAISAL FAIR
Hunt Auctions will be holding a preview exhibition and free appraisal fair at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory on Thursday, November 8 from 9am-5pm EST and Friday, November 9 from 9am-4pm. Bidders will be able to view live all items on sale at the auction and have their own items appraised for free during this time. Friday, November 9th, the Living Legend Award will be presented to Tony Gwynn as part of a private auction preview reception. Live bidding for the auction will on Saturday, November 10, at 10am EST. Information for the auction festivities is available online at http://www.HuntAuctions.com.
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[…] Fresh Items November 9, 2012 By Editor Hunt Auctions is back in Kentucky for the Ninth Annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Auction, set for Saturday. Hundreds of vintage baseball cards, bats and memorabilia are up for grabs […]