A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant on his way to the 2009 NBA Finals MVP award, a Michael Jordan gamer from the “Last Dance” season and a game-worn Willie Mays uniform once given to Hall of Fame teammate Willie McCovey are on the block through Grey Flannel Auctions this month.
The jerseys are among several hundred items in GFA’s Winter Games Auction, which has opened for bidding.
The Bryant jersey was worn on June 9, 2009 when the late Lakers superstar scored 31 points and dished out eight assists in a Game 3 win over the Magic in Orlando. Bryant went on to earn his first Finals MVP after the five-game series victory.
The jersey is being offered for the first time. It comes with an NBA letter of authenticity and been authenticated by Photo-Match.com. The current high bid is over $81,000.
“This is the most historically significant Kobe uniform to hit the market since his unfortunate passing,” stated Michael Russek, Grey Flannel Auctions’ Director of Operations. We are excited to see how the market will react to a piece of this magnitude.”
The Jordan jersey dates to a 105-97 regular season win over Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers on February 17, 1998, a year in which Jordan won his sixth and final MVP award and the Bulls captured their sixth NBA title. It comes with a team LOA along with the tent card and entry ticket to the FestaBulls fundraiser where it was originally sold. A Photo-Match.com LOA confirms the match to the game. Bidding has already surpassed $108,000.
Lot #229 features what could be the last flannel uniform associated with Mays. The San Francisco Giants started the 1972 season wearing flannels and then switched to a double knit-style uniform. Mays was traded to the Mets 19 games into the 1972 season and never wore a knit as a Giant. The road flannel uniform was originally donated by Mays to McCovey and was on display at McCovey’s restaurant in Walnut Creek, California.
Other auction highlights include a 1978 Triple Crown trophy issued to Hall of Fame trainer Lazaro Barrera and autographed by jockey Steve Cauthen, who piloted Affirmed to wins in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont at age 18.
The trophy comes with the original velvet bag in which it was issued and the white gloves for handling.
The auction runs through Wednesday, January 20.
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