Not long after the big leaguers put away their bats for the season, the company that makes most of them will host one of the year’s top annual baseball memorabilia events. The 15th annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Auction will take place on November 9.
“It has been an amazing journey over the last 15 years to have the privilege of being associated with the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory for this annual auction event.” said David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions, which has conducted it each year. “The 2018 auction will include an amazing grouping of materials most notably a nearly complete run of World Series tickets and programs from 1905 to 1960s era. There is no finer venue in the country for bidders to enjoy the historic museum setting while competing for high quality vintage baseball memorabilia.”
The auction is conducted live at the museum with internet and phone bidding available.
Over 500 lots of historic baseball memorabilia will be featured, highlighted by the remarkable run of historic World Series programs and full tickets dating from 1905 to the 1960s era. A collector living in the Mid-Atlantic pieced the items together over many years. Hunt Auctions says it includes “countless scarcities many of which are the lone surviving exemplar with special note to the full tickets” and “one of the most significant collections ever to come to public auction.”
Highlights from the World Series Collection will include:
-1905 World Series program (Est. $10,000-$15,000)
-1906 World Series program and ticket (Est. $20,000-$30,000 ea.)
-1907 World Series full ticket (Est. $15,000-$25,000)
-1908 World Series full ticket (Est. $15,000-$25,000)
-1915 World Series program (Est. $20,000-$30,000)
Two New York Giants related icons will be also be featured within the auction in the form of the personal collections from Mel Ott and the Feeney Family (Chub Feeney and Katy Feeney).
The Ott collection is the second installment being offered directly by the family and will include a selection of autographed materials and two single signed historic home run baseballs.
The Feeney Family collection consists of materials relating to the former New York Giants executive and NL President Chub Feeney along with former MLB Vice President Katy Feeney. Portions of the proceeds from both collections will benefit related charities.
Highlights from the Ott and Feeney Collections will include:
-Mel Ott autographed professional model bat c.1946-48 (Est. $50,000-$100,000)
-Chub Feeney 1977 LA Dodgers NL Championship ring (Est. $5,000-$7,500)
-Chub Feeney 1986 New York Mets World Series ring (Est. $7,500-$15,000)
-Mel Ott single signed 1933 World Series Home Run baseball (Est. $10,000-$15,000
-Mel Ott single signed 1929 42nd Home Run baseball (Est. $10,000-$15,000)
Numerous other collections and items of significance will be offered within the live auction to include a rare Joe Jackson autographed baseball. With his reluctance to sign his name because of literacy issues, authentic Jackson autographed baseballs are scarce. Jackson’s name is alone on one of the side panels, a portion of the ink lost to time. Three other signatures of 1930s Detroit Tigers players are on the ball but legible only under magnification. The ball has been authenticated by PSA/DNA and displays as a single-signed ball. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $75,000-$100,000.
A Ted Williams autographed rookie era professional model glove will also be hammered down during the one day auction having originated from a lifetime friend of the Hall of Famer. Wilbert Wiley grew up with Williams in the San Diego area and the two remained friends for life. Upon a meeting of the two friend after Williams broke in with the Red Sox Williams gave Wiley one of his game worn gloves. It carries an estimate of $50,000-$100,000. There’s also a Williams photo Williams signed for Wiley.
Other items in the auction include Dick Groat’s 1960 NL MVP award (est. $40,000-$60,000) and 1960 Silver Bat (est. $20,000-$40,000), a 1966 Roberto Clemente All-Star bat (est. $15,000-$25,000); a 1951 Joe DiMaggio World Series bat ($25,000-$50,000) and a pair of signed Michael Jordan shoes from North Carolina’s 1981-82 championship season (est. $25,000-$50,000).
The auction will be available for preview at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory on Thursday November 8 and Friday November 9 with the live auction beginning at 10 AM on Saturday November 10.
Hunt Auctions will once again conduct a complimentary appraisal fair during preview hours at the museum. Items may be brought to the museum for a complimentary evaluation with a select few eligible for inclusion in the live auction. For questions or appointments regarding the appraisal fair contact Carolyn McCann at [email protected].
Hunt Auctions’ next live auction event will take place at the Super Bowl LIII NFL Experience in Atlanta,GA. Consignments are currently being accepted.
For more details about the auction or the appraisal fair, please visit Hunt Auctions at www.huntauctions.com or call 610.524.0822.