Robinson World Series Bat, Ali Robe, MLK Speech Tops at Auction

A Jackie Robinson game bat dating to the Brooklyn Dodgers’ only World Series title and the robe worn by Muhammad Ali in his first fight with Sonny Liston were among the top sports items sold by Goldin Auctions early Sunday morning.

Held in conjunction with the 70^th anniversary of Robinson’s historic major league debut, the event raised more than $125,000 for the Jackie Robinson Foundation through a partnership agreement. The funds will be used to help complete the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City.

The 1955 World Series bat carrying Robinson’s name graded A9 by Mears sold for $255,000, tops among the sports pieces offered in the auction, which also included various Civil Rights-oriented items.  A 1955-56 era Robinson game-used cap sold for $65,025.

The robe donned by Ali (then Cassius Clay) in the 1964 bout with Liston, one that essentially launched his reign as king of the heavyweight fighters, soared to $255,000. 

All prices include a 20% buyer’s premium.

The highest realized price in the auction was $382,500 for the typewritten speech and hand-written notes from Martin Luther King’s 1965 “We Shall Overcome” speech.  The acceptance speech from former President Barack Obama’s 2008 address to the Democratic National Convention sold for $153,000.

Other notable sports items sold included:

• Large 1950 three-sheet lobby poster for The Jackie Robinson Story ($20,400)
• 1949 Bowman Satchel Paige rookie card SGC 96 mint ($16,575)
• 1969 Hank Aaron autographed, game-used bat ($16,575)
• Puck from Willie O’Ree’s first goal (NHL’s first black player) $12,112

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for more than 30 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]