He spent 67 years calling baseball games, football games and other sporting events, accumulating hundreds of items along the way, even though he wasn’t a collector of material things at heart. Fans and those who do like to own memorabilia were happy to help Vin Scully empty part of his house on Wednesday, as the legendary broadcaster’s collection was sold at auction, piece by piece.
The 300+ items consigned by the 92-year-old Scully were the centerpiece of the 16th Annual All-Star Live Auction conducted by Hunt Auctions. When it was over, bidders had spent over $2 million to own a little piece of his life.
The top selling items were rings presented to the Hall of Fame announcer following his seasons covering Dodgers championship teams. His 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Series ring was among the first items sold Wednesday, soaring to $188,000. That figure was later matched by his 1988 World Series ring. A personal World Series trophy from the ’88 victory over the Oakland A’s went for $64,625.
A 1950s presentational ring netted $184,475. His 1981 World Series ring from the strike-shortened season settled at $83,425; his 1963 ring sold for $76,375, his 2017 NL championship ring netted $70,500, his 1974 NL Championship ring went for $26,437 and his 1977 and ’78 NL title rings reached $17,625 and $16,450, respectively.
Scully’s scorebook, kept in the booth during his final season as Dodgers play-by-play man in 2016, was the subject of a bidding war before finally ending at $82,250.
In preparation for the auction, Scully came across an item he’d obtained as a youngster but thought was lost: a plain white card bearing the autograph of Babe Ruth that he’d obtained in person.
Now authenticated and encapsulated, the signed card sold for $18,800.
“The results of today’s auction were stunning. There was never a question as to the importance of Vin Scully to his legions of fans but the participation and final results emphatically reinforced that point with record setting participation and pricing.” said David Hunt, President, Hunt Auctions. “Vin’s ability to make you feel as part of the game itself, part of a family, and with an uncommon humility was his unique genius. The honor to associate with Vin Scully for this very special offering is without question one of the most significant in our 30-year company history.”
A portion of the Scully Collection proceeds will benefit Neuromuscular Research at UCLA.
Items from the career of Barry Larkin were also scheduled to be sold in the auction, which continued into the evening.
All prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium added to each winning bid.
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