Interest in sports collectibles knows no generational boundary. When the dust settle early Saturday morning, items from three different eras of sports stood atop the list of biggest sellers in the Lelands Spring Classic Auction.
Weeks after the final episode of The Last Dance, Michael Jordan memorabilia is still a force. A pair of game-worn, double-signed shoes from his 1992 stint on the U.S. Olympic basketball team topped bidding at $190,373.
Obtained by a Dream Team support staff member immediately after the Tournament of the Americas prior to the Barcelona games, the Size 13 Nike Air Jordan 7s drew 30 bids after opening at $10,000.
The same consignment included pairs of signed, game-worn shoes from Scottie Pippen ($29,557) and Magic Johnson ($26,820).
A pair of Jordan-signed Converse shoes from his North Carolina days sold for $95,177. Originally purchased at a late 1980s charity auction, the shoes had been residing in a private collection before being consigned to the Lelands auction.
The second highest-selling item in the auction was a Joe DiMaggio game-used bat, photo-matched and likely used not only during the 1949 and ’50 regular season, but the 1949 World Series as well. The bat, which also carried a DiMaggio autograph, soared to $157,333.
Lelands set a record for the most expensive modern hockey card ever sold at auction when the 2015-16 The Cup Connor McDavid rookie numbered 97 of 99 closed at $135,811. Carrying the serial number matching McDavid’s jersey number helped push bidding into six figures for the card, which was famously pulled from a Jaspy’s case break several months ago.
Lelands offered more Pittsburgh Steelers game-worn items through its partnership with the franchise including a 1977 Jack Lambert road jersey that went for $50,131. A 1976 Mel Blount road gamer tallied $22,784.
Vintage cards were plentiful in the auction with bidding topped by a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded 5.5 by SGC 9 ($55,145). Collectors also chased a high grade signed 1948 Bowman George Mikan rookie card ($43,273) and hoards of 1964 Topps Giants including a lot of 891 Mickey Mantle cards ($34,615) and a group of more than 25,000 other cards from the set ($33,715).
A 1915 Red Sox World Champions pendant given to Dick Hoblitzell, who spent the latter part of his career as Babe Ruth’s road roommate, sold for $55,145.
Other items included:
- Circa 1908 Reach Cather’s Mitts Tin Litho Advertising Sign ($46,072)
- Mel Ott high-grade single-signed baseball ($44,401)
- 1970 Baltimore Colts Super Bowl V ring presented to assistant trainer Dick Spassoff ($38,011)
- 2005-06 UD Exquisite Dual Number Pieces Michael Jordan & LeBron James Patch Auto /23 BGS MINT 9 with 10 Auto ($35,764)
Complete results can be found here.
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