One of the hobby’s best known examples of the rare T206 Eddie Plank card has hit the auction block. Hunt Auctions is leading off its year-ending Premier Internet Auction with an SGC 5 (EX) example of one of the hobby’s most sought after pre-War cards with a pre-sale estimate of $250,000-$400,000. SGC has graded only one Plank at a higher level (a 5.5) while … [Read more...]
Vintage Sports Photography Auction Includes Early Ruth, Mantle, Jordan
Heritage Auctions has added a new sale to its summer roster, a high-end assembly of more than 200 lots featuring elite photographs from 20th century American sports. Now open for bidding, the auction is expected to garner more than $400,000 in sales when the gavel drops Aug. 23 in extended bidding format. “Vintage photography might be the most dynamic subset of the sports … [Read more...]
1948 Jersey from Ruth’s Farewell Day Has Deeper History
Seventy years ago Wednesday, Babe Ruth made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium. His voice was weak and raspy from the cancer that would take his life in a matter of weeks, but he managed to don a uniform as part of the ceremony at which his number 3 was retired. That uniform is the centerpiece of a Ruth display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, but we now … [Read more...]
Babe Ruth Bat, PSA 9 Mantle Rookie Headline Upcoming MLI Auction
Babe Ruth wasn’t a leadoff hitter, but one of his old weapons is serving in that capacity in Memory Lane Inc.’s power-packed Fall Classic Auction catalog. A 1922 game-used Ruth bat—with important side-writing from the Louisville Slugger Factory—is being offered in the sale, which is set to open September 30. The bat, sent by Ruth to Kentucky during spring … [Read more...]
2 Ruth Rookies; “Several” 1952 Mantles Part of 2,500 Lot REA Auction
Robert Edward Auctions has peeled back the curtain on some of the items slated to hit the auction block as part of the company’s annual Spring Auction set to open April 7. Typically among the most anticipated catalogs of the year, REA’s offerings will span all areas of sport, non-sport, and Americana from the 19th century to the present. At more than 2,500 lots, it … [Read more...]
Bidding Opens for Babe’s Last Gift from Yanks
The auction for a one-of-a-kind piece of Babe Ruth memorabilia opened Wednesday. A gold pocket watch owned by the legendary slugger has been consigned to the auction by his grandson and has been generating a lot of mainstream media attention. SCP Auctions is selling the watch, which dates from the 1948 celebration of the 25th anniversary of the opening of “The House That … [Read more...]
Watch Given to Babe Ruth at Last Stadium Appearance Coming to Auction
The pocket watch given to Babe Ruth during his last public appearance at Yankee Stadium in 1948 has been consigned to auction by surviving family members. SCP Auctions will offer the watch as part of its Spring Premier Auction and estimates it could fetch as much as $500,000. Culminating the June 13, 1948 event, the Yankees ceremoniously retired Ruth's number three and … [Read more...]
Famous Babe Ruth Photo Stands Test of Time
Nat Fein described himself as “just a human interest photographer”, but on June 13, 1948, the young New Yorker captured one of the greatest images of all time as Babe Ruth made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium. Entitled “The Babe Bows Out”, the original image won a Pulitzer Prize, the first sports photograph ever to earn the prestigious honor. In 1999, LIFE magazine … [Read more...]