Hunt Auctions will be offering the personal collections of Hall of Fame Orioles Manager Earl Weaver and Billiards legend Willie Mosconi as the main attraction of the live public auction on Saturday, May 14.
The event will feature Weaver’s 1966 Orioles World Series Championship ring (Est. $15,000-$20,000) and Willie Mosconi’s famed Balabushka pool cue (Est. $50,000-$100,000).
In addition to the Masconi and Weaver collections, the live auction will include over 400 lots of historical sports memorabilia. The auction will begin with a preview exhibition and free appraisal fair on Wednesday, May 11 and culminate with the live auction three days later at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago.
“Hunt Auctions is honored to have been selected to present the personal collections of both Earl Weaver and Willie Mosconi to the collecting public,” said David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions. “Without question, Earl Weaver is one of the most beloved figures in baseball history and intends to share these memorable pieces with the fans who followed his career and his team for so many years. Willie Mosconi was the finest billiards player in the history of the sport and we are proud to bring a selection of items from the game’s greatest name.”
Hall of Fame Manager Earl Weaver coached the Baltimore Orioles for 17 years, leading them to six American League East championships, four AL Championships, and one World Series title in 1970. His career record stands at an impressive 1,480-1,060 with five (100+) win seasons and his jersey #4 has been retired by the Orioles. The offered materials reflect his success in baseball and are being presented to the collecting public for the first time directly from Mr. Weaver.
Among the headliners at the live auction will be Earl Weaver’s 1966 Orioles World Series Championship ring (Est. $15,000-$20,000), Weaver’s Baseball Hall of Fame Induction ring (Est. $15,000-$20,000), Weaver’s 1969 Manager of the Year award (Est. $2,000-$3,000), Cal Ripken Jr. first pitch baseball from 1995 record tying game (Est. $2,000-$4,000).
Willie Mosconi was the greatest Billiards player in the history of the sport and helped popularize pool as a national recreational activity. The records held by Mosconi are
numerous and legendary inclusive of an unmatched 15 straight World Straight Pool Championships and his most noted mark of a run of 526 straight pool consecutive balls made which is regarded universally as a feat that will never be matched. In 1968, he was inducted into the Billiards Congress of America Hall of Fame. Hunt Auctions is offering his personal collection on behalf of the Mosconi family.
Featured items include the Balabushka pool cue (Est. $50,000-$100,000), Mosconi’s personal Brunswick pool table (Est. $10,000-$15,000), Mosconi’s personal Helmstetter pool cue (Est. $2,000-$3,000).
In addition to the Weaver and Mosconi collections, Hunt will offer a Joe DiMaggio professional model baseball bat c.1946—47 (Est. $20,000-$30,000), 1962-63 Jean Ratelle Baltimore Clippers professional model hockey jersey (Est. $4,000-$6,000), Meadowlark Lemon Harlem Globetrotters professional model jersey c.1960s (Est. $3,000-$5,000), 2004 Detroit Pistons NBA Championship ring (Est. $15,000-$20,000), 1978 Jack Ham Pittsburgh Steelers professional 
model jersey (Est. $10,000-$20,000), 1976 NY Yankees AL Championship ring (Est. $12,500-$15,000), 1975 Cincinnati Reds World Series ring (Est. $5,000-$7,500), 2003 NY Yankees AL Championship ring (Est. $20,000-$25,000) and a 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series presentational trophy (Est. $20,000-$30,000).
An Auction Preview Exhibition and Free Appraisal Fair will be open to the public on Wednesday, May 11th, Thursday, May 12, and Friday, May 13 from 9:00am until 5:00pm CT daily. The Live Auction will begin at 4:00pm CT on Saturday, May 14 at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago, Illinois. Bidders participating live and in person may register upon arrival.
Bids for the live auction may be made in person at the auction, via phone at 610.524.0822 or online at www.HuntAuctions.com. The Auction is open for online pre-bidding until Thursday, May 12 at 10pm ET. High Bids & Ceiling Bids placed during the pre-bidding period will be executed competitively during the Live Auction. It is not possible to bid online during the auction itself.
Additional arrangements for phone & absentee bidding are being accepted at 610.524.0822 or [email protected]. A complete list of the items being sold with descriptions is available online at www.huntauctions.com.
