SCP Auctions will be featuring 217 items from the recently closed San Diego Hall of Champions Museum in their 2017 Fall Premier auction including items from the careers of Ted Williams, Tony Gwynn, Gaylord Perry and other notable sports figures.
The Hall was the brainchild of the late Bob Breitbard and its peak occupied a 68,000 square foot, multilevel structure in San Diego’s Balboa Park. The museum collection represents seven decades of passion that began with the Breitbard Athletic Foundation in 1946. Bob Breitbard died in 2010 at the age of 91.
“The museum simply wasn’t a sustainable model, and closing it allows all other Hall programs to continue,” said SDHOC Executive Director Drew Moser, who cited rising costs and lack of attendance for its closure.
The sale of the items will help sustain ongoing awards and recognition programs, community outreach initiatives, and the Breitbard Hall of Fame, which was recently relocated to Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Items that had been loaned to the Hall were given back to their owners, unless they didn’t want them, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
One of the most recognizable items in the auction will be a replica of the bronze statue of Rocky Balboa from “Rocky III”. The 13-foot tall, 2,000 pound statue is one of three that were created and is expected to fetch $500,000 or more.
Among the Gwynn items in the auction are his 1986 Gold Glove award, a signed and inscribed baseball from his 2,915th hit and a game worn and signed uniform from hit number 2,919.
Among some of the other top lots being offered are dozens of prestigious horse-racing trophies from the massive Eugene V. Klein Collection. Included in the vast assortment is the impressive 1985 Preakness Stakes Championship Trophy, which was won by “Tank’s Prospect,” a three-year-old stallion that was owned by the late Klein, who also was the former owner of the San Diego Chargers from 1966 to ‘84.
The history of the Bolts is captured as several pieces chronicling the team’s existence in San Diego are up for grabs including the team’s MVP award that covers more than three decades of play (1961 to ’92); its “Lineman of the Year” honors from 1971 to ’92; and its “Charger of the Year” trophy (1969 to ’75).
Ted Williams was a high school classmate of museum founder Bob Breitbard, which established a relationship that resulted in several items from his career being included in the auction. Other baseball items will include a 1927 Babe Ruth signed ball and Gaylord Perry’s 1978 Cy Young award, won while the crafty pitcher was with the Padres.
The Houston Rockets began in San Diego and several items from the franchise’s inception under Breitbard’s ownership will be available for bidding. Turn of the last century football trophies help round out the ecclectic selection of offerings.
Bidding in SCP Auctions’ fall catalog opens October 18 and ends November 4.
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