One week before Jackie Robinson’s original professional baseball contracts with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Montreal Royals were to be sold at auction, Goldin Auctions has announced a temporary postponement of the auction to negotiate a deal to put the contracts on permanent public display.
They had been scheduled to hit the auction block as a pair, with a minimum bid of $5 million.
“As we’ve stated throughout this process, our preferred outcome is to find a buyer interested in purchasing the documents prior to the auction who would guarantee a permanent public display of the contracts,” said Ken Goldin, Founder of Goldin Auctions. “Following the opening of the auction, we were contacted by an interested party who shares our goal of a permanent public display of the documents. Rather than using the auction as a deadline, we felt it was in everyone’s best interest to postpone the auction during the negotiations.”
The two contracts, which are being offered as a single lot, were signed by Robinson on October 23, 1945, with the Montreal Royals and on April 11, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The contracts have been authenticated by James Spence Authentication (JSA), Beckett Authentication Services and John Reznikoff of University Archives. They are currently insured and appraised by Chubb for $36 million.
The Ty Cobb Museum is selling replicas of the Louisville Slugger bat Cobb used during his career. The fundraising initiative is aimed at “keeping the Ty Cobb legacy alive and thriving,” according to officials.
The Museum decided to release both ovals that were used during Cobb’s playing days. Oval #1 was used from 1906 – 1911 and oval #2 was used between 1916 – 1929. The first oval has J. F. Hillerich & Son engraved at the center of the bat and Louisville, KY beneath that. The second oval sported the company’s new name, Hillerich & Bradsby Co. with Louisville, KY beneath it. Both ovals contained Cobb’s famous signature on the barrel.
“We are thinking forward for ways to build the Ty Cobb Museum brand into a unique experience,” said Wesley Fricks, executive director of the museum, located in Cobb’s hometown of Royston, GA. “We want to offer to everyone a personal piece of Ty Cobb history that they can cherish and hold in their hands.”
The bats are on order and will be sold through the museum’s gift shop and its online store.
Each replica bat will sell for $129.95.
The Boston Bruins honored one of their all time greats on Thursday, November 29 when they retired the Number 16 jersey of Rick Middleton prior to their 2-1 shootout victory over the New York Islanders at TD Garden.
The night began with the Bruins retiring No. 16 for Rick Middleton, who played 12 NHL seasons with the Bruins from 1976-88, compiling 402 goals and 496 assists. Now, the Bruins jerseys with the special Middleton Night patch worn that night are being offered at MeiGray Auctions. The sale runs through February 6 and includes gamers worn by David Pastrnak, Tuukka Rask and 22 others.
Middleton is the 11th player to have his sweater honored by the Boston Bruins in franchise history.
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