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Notes: 1908 Game Ball; Mantle Rookie Soars; HBO Segment

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Notre Dame beat Miami (OH) on Saturday, 52-17.  It was the first time the two schools had met since 1908.  You might think the odds of anything still around from that first meeting—let alone any “game used” items—would be astronomical.

WNDU-TV discovered the actual game ball from that meeting.  It wasn’t in some trophy case on campus, though. 

Watch their story here.

Bidding began last week in Memory Lane’s Fall Classics Auction and bidding for the 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card graded PSA 9 is off to a flying start. The card was at $280,000 as of Sunday evening.  Tack on the buyer’s premium to be added in at the end and it’s well over $300,000 with the auction not scheduled to close until October 14.

Mickey Mantle rookie card mint condition PSA 9

A side-written Louisville Slugger Babe Ruth bat from the 1920s has a high bid of $180,000.

Meanwhile, a 1945 Mel Ott uniform up for grabs in the new Lelands auction has also topped six figures in the early going.  That same sale has an early Jackie Robinson cap and jacket and the bat Pete Rose used for his record-breaking 4,192nd hit back in the 1980s.

If you’re a long-time reader, you have probably read about Randy Kaplan, who collects autographed baseballs.  Not just any signed balls, though.  Kaplan’s specialty is world leaders.  He owns a remarkable collection of heads of state, many of whom are somewhat befuddled by the guy who’s looking to have their signature on a ball.  Big countries, small countries, leaders you’ve never heard of…it’s all the same to Kaplan who loves the thrill of the chase.

HBO’s Vice News Tonight followed him around for a special feature that ran late last week. Watch below.

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 40 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected].