You could win a lot by bidding.
That Yogi Berra-type philosophy was useful during the Steiner Sports Memorabilia Fall Classic Auction, which ended Monday. Winning bids of more than $1.2 million were placed on nearly 2,000 items, with $493,855 of it going toward the 81 lots that comprised the Yogi Berra Collection.
Berra, the beloved Hall of Fame catcher who appeared in 14 World Series for the New York Yankees as a player and once as a manager, died September 22, 2015.
The top-selling item in the online auction was Berra’s 1953 World Series championship ring, which had a winning bid of $159,720. The ring signified the Yankees’ fifth consecutive World Series title.
Berra’s Hall of Fame induction ring from his 1972 enshrinement at Cooperstown was the second-highest item to sell, fetching a $90,000 price. Yogi’s game-worn jersey from the 1961 World Series sold for $71,874. Berra went 3-for-11 with a homer and three RBI in the five-game Series victory against the Cincinnati Reds. The uniform was photo-matched from Game 1, when Berra batted sixth and went 0-for-2 in the Ya
nkees’ 2-0 victory at Yankee Stadium.
Berra’s 1972 HOF induction plaque sold for $36,300.
Some of the odd auction items included Berra’s Social Security card with his signature (sold for $2,772), an expired New Jersey driver’s license ($2,520), and a personal check for $10,000 written to his son, Dale Berra ($726).
The Steiner Auction also included103 items from pitcher Don Larsen’s collection, including his personal 50th anniversary ring that commemorated his perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. That item sold for $12,545.
Outside of baseball, a Vince Lombardi Trophy given to New York Giants running back Ottis Anderson fetched $60,000. Anderson was the MVP in Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium, a game won 20-19 by the Giants against the Buffalo Bills.
And the Stanley Cup trophy Mike Keenan received after the Rangers won hockey’s biggest prize in 1994 sold for $20,724.
Complete results can be found here.