What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

[joelsabi]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

Joel and Steve -

I'll have to look - and I'll scan the pages if I remember it right - but I believe the 'collector' they were referring to in the Smithsonian article is the late Barry Halper. I have the Auction Catalogs from the Halper Collection Auction and if memory serves, I believe Barry actually owned that Maris jersey for a time.

I'll check and get back to you.

- Chris

Hi Chris,

I did a quick 2-minute pass on the catalog and found photos of vintage Yankee pinstripes but could not locate it. Maybe I just missed it.

Anyways it would not surprise me if many, if not most, of the the early years items from collectors featured in the the book Smithsonian Baseball came from the Barry Halper's Collection. There are so many photos that would pop out at you if you looked at both the Smithsonian Baseball book as belonging formerly to the Halper Collection. Mr. Halper was an amazing collector.


Tell me if you have better luck.

Joel

[legaleagle92481]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

Shoeless Joe Jackson's game used black Betsy bat. It has since made its way to Ebay where it was for sale for a small fortune by Mitchell Marketing the Philly company that used to have Ryan Howard's exclusive autograph rights.

[yanks12025]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

I would say for the biggest item to go up for sale was the jersey Lou Gehrig used during his famous speech.

[xpress34]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

A few years back, there was a discovery in the hobby that I was really excited about.

For years, no one knew what the fait was of the jersey Roger Maris wore when he broke Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in a season record in '61. The few '61 jerseys known of Roger's had been checked over and over but none matched any of the ample photographs of the occasion. Remember, there were tons of pictures taken of Roger Maris hitting the home run, rounding the bases, celebrating on the field, in the locker room, etc.

Then one day, a collector who happened to have a 1960 Maris jersey decided it was time to part with it. Long story short, the sleeves appeared "short", kind of like the ones on the jersey Maris was wearing when he hit the monstrously historic 61st homer. After comtemplating the possibilities, subsequent photo checks produced an exact match. The jersey Roger Maris was wearing the day he hit that famous bomb in 1961 was in fact a 1960 jersey held over to the next year as a "back-up" jersey, an "extra" so to speak, by the equipment manager.

That always struck me as being one of the greatest finds in our hobby, and one of the greatest items I have ever seen in auction. If I recall correctly, it sold somewhere in the mid $300,000's before the buyers juice was added. Nice discovery.

Joel and Steve -

I'll have to look - and I'll scan the pages if I remember it right - but I believe the 'collector' they were referring to in the Smithsonian article is the late Barry Halper. I have the Auction Catalogs from the Halper Collection Auction and if memory serves, I believe Barry actually owned that Maris jersey for a time.

I'll check and get back to you.

- Chris

[joelsabi]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

Rudy,

I couldn't respond when you posted this thread, but one item immediately popped into my head when I read this.

A few years back, there was a discovery in the hobby that I was really excited about.

For years, no one knew what the fait was of the jersey Roger Maris wore when he broke Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in a season record in '61. The few '61 jerseys known of Roger's had been checked over and over but none matched any of the ample photographs of the occasion. Remember, there were tons of pictures taken of Roger Maris hitting the home run, rounding the bases, celebrating on the field, in the locker room, etc.

Then one day, a collector who happened to have a 1960 Maris jersey decided it was time to part with it. Long story short, the sleeves appeared "short", kind of like the ones on the jersey Maris was wearing when he hit the monstrously historic 61st homer. After comtemplating the possibilities, subsequent photo checks produced an exact match. The jersey Roger Maris was wearing the day he hit that famous bomb in 1961 was in fact a 1960 jersey held over to the next year as a "back-up" jersey, an "extra" so to speak, by the equipment manager.

That always struck me as being one of the greatest finds in our hobby, and one of the greatest items I have ever seen in auction. If I recall correctly, it sold somewhere in the mid $300,000's before the buyers juice was added. Nice discovery.

good memory. here it is online. easier to read if you have the book smithsonian baseball.

http://books.google.com/books?id=_ZZxXG89PAIC&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=%22in+fact+all+pinstripe+uniforms,+are+unique%22&source=bl&ots=A5L6wdTDUM&sig=X3NdObAhl9hd8D9_SS3BO5thDNA&hl=en&ei=8TivSo-uIIb0sgOu2rDHCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

Back at a 2007 auction at Shea Stadium they had a GU Lastings Milledge "Los Mets" jersey with a huge grass stain on it. The opening bid was a fortune because it was back when he still had potential. I have no idea if or how much it sold for, lucky me walked away with a Guillermo Mota half zip jacket.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

Rudy,

I couldn't respond when you posted this thread, but one item immediately popped into my head when I read this.

A few years back, there was a discovery in the hobby that I was really excited about.

For years, no one knew what the fait was of the jersey Roger Maris wore when he broke Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in a season record in '61. The few '61 jerseys known of Roger's had been checked over and over but none matched any of the ample photographs of the occasion. Remember, there were tons of pictures taken of Roger Maris hitting the home run, rounding the bases, celebrating on the field, in the locker room, etc.

Then one day, a collector who happened to have a 1960 Maris jersey decided it was time to part with it. Long story short, the sleeves appeared "short", kind of like the ones on the jersey Maris was wearing when he hit the monstrously historic 61st homer. After comtemplating the possibilities, subsequent photo checks produced an exact match. The jersey Roger Maris was wearing the day he hit that famous bomb in 1961 was in fact a 1960 jersey held over to the next year as a "back-up" jersey, an "extra" so to speak, by the equipment manager.

That always struck me as being one of the greatest finds in our hobby, and one of the greatest items I have ever seen in auction. If I recall correctly, it sold somewhere in the mid $300,000's before the buyers juice was added. Nice discovery.

[jobathenut]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

Hey tjm-I am with you as i don't speak "text".I guess i am old school.Because if i agree with someone i just say i agree with you.I know,thats a great story grandpa.Now what does "lol" mean? Just kidding.Or should i just type "j/k".

Ok, thanks, I figured it was something positive at least. And it literally was. lol

[jobathenut]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

IRONMANFAN-Seriously,man i am pissed i missed that.I was told that series 30 for 30 did a good show about him.But i forgot to watch it.I would have loved to have heard what the owner got for it.And the story behind it.And who ended up getting it.As me and my brother assummed a auction house would buy that for themselves.Would you have bought something like that? I know it sounds morbid but if i had the money i would have.

I remember that..In fact in the the ESPN "30 for 30" series, there is a documentary about Bias and they actually interview the Liquor Store owner and show the signed receipt.

[tjm5711]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

+1 is internet shorthand. It means that you agree with whatever was said previously or what you quote from a previous post.

For example, If I said that I like the Yankees and you like the Yankees too, you could quote my post and say +1

Ok, thanks, I figured it was something positive at least. And it literally was. lol

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

What does "+1" mean ?

+1 is internet shorthand. It means that you agree with whatever was said previously or what you quote from a previous post.

For example, If I said that I like the Yankees and you like the Yankees too, you could quote my post and say +1

[ironmanfan]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

I don't know if anyone else said this item.As i did'nt read all the post on here.So forgive me if it's been mentioned.I would'nt call it the greatest but i would call it the most unique rare strange item i have seen offered in auction.And that would have to be for sure this auction house (don't remember which one as it's been years).But they advertised in the old scd.Which by the way used to be the greatest as it was me and my brothers favorite magazine to read.But anyway,they were auctioning off a liqueur store receipt signed by len bias the night he passed away.It was date stamped and signed on the back of it.I don't remember any details of the price or anything.But me and my brother still to this day still talk about that item.

I remember that..In fact in the the ESPN "30 for 30" series, there is a documentary about Bias and they actually interview the Liquor Store owner and show the signed receipt.

[jobathenut]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

I don't know if anyone else said this item.As i did'nt read all the post on here.So forgive me if it's been mentioned.I would'nt call it the greatest but i would call it the most unique rare strange item i have seen offered in auction.And that would have to be for sure this auction house (don't remember which one as it's been years).But they advertised in the old scd.Which by the way used to be the greatest as it was me and my brothers favorite magazine to read.But anyway,they were auctioning off a liqueur store receipt signed by len bias the night he passed away.It was date stamped and signed on the back of it.I don't remember any details of the price or anything.But me and my brother still to this day still talk about that item.

[xpress34]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

A piece that will forever haunt me - especially since I had the money at the time...

I was in St Louis for Christmas (visiting the parents who were living in St Charles at the time) in 1993.

I had just won $2,500 on the River Boat Queen and the (now ex) wife and I were going around checking out the Sports Card shops.

I don't remember which store it was, but he had an Original COMPLETE (Jersey, Hat, Pants, Belt and Stirrups) Cuban X Giants NEGRO LEAGUE Uni that had been seigned by the entire team. Could have been mine for a song - $750. A lot of money in 93, but just a drop in the bucket with what authentic Negro League stuff brings now...

- Chris

[tjm5711]

Re: What's the greatest item you've ever seen for sale/at auction?

Man, I'll tell you. He was a reliever from the early 90's and you'd know his name if you're a Cub fan like me. Can't remember it. The glove was legit, I just didn't want to drop that kind of dough. It was tough, because Mark Grace was my favorite player growing up. If you have any Grace stuff let me know. I only deal in Bears/Cubs stuff, so I know what's on the Bay that's worth mentioning.

Bob Patterson! That's his name ! I'm about 80 percent sure ! He sells used cars somewhere now, and said it was a gift from Grace to him after the '95 season. He was hurting for bread, that's why he sold it !