Dallas, TX – A baseball cap worn by Babe Ruth during a 1920’s barnstorming tour will be one of the highlights when Heritage Auction Galleries’ Sports Collectibles division presents a stunning array of vintage sports memorabilia and trading cards in their upcoming October 17th and 18th, 2008 Signature Auction to be held in Dallas, Texas. ‘Not only is this our largest auction to date,’ said Chris Ivy, Director of Heritage Auction Galleries’ Sports Collectibles division (HSC), ‘I’d also have to characterize it as our most intriguing. We’ve located quite a few artifacts and trading cards never before encountered in the hobby that should surprise even the most experienced collectors.’Â
Ivy points to the cap worn by Babe Ruth during the famous ‘Bustin’ Babes vs. Larrupin’ Lous’ tours of the late 1920’s as one example of the auction’s fresh rarities. ‘This is the only uniform piece we’ve ever encountered from the historic barnstorming tour. Obviously, when a Ruth artifact of this magnitude surfaces, the buzz is tremendous.’
Also entering the hobby for the first time is an incredible consignment from the family of Charles ‘Gabby’ Street, an early twentieth century Washington Senators catcher and manager of the early 1930’s St. Louis Cardinals. ‘The family provided us with the baseball Street caught from the top of the Washington Monument in 1908,’ noted Ivy, ‘as well as his 1931 Championship ring and a ball signed for him by Herbert Hoover, one of the toughest of all possible Presidential singles.’
Other highlights of the memorabilia session of the auction, sold in a Live format on Saturday October 18th, are the original Heisman Trophy maquette and last bronze, a fantastic Bobby Orr game worn jersey, and the finest assortment of pre-war NHL sweaters ever presented in a single sale.
Not to be outdone, the trading card portion of the auction, presented in an Extended Bidding format on Friday October 17th, is anchored by the spectacular Jeff Hull Collection of Early Boxing Cards, widely considered to be the largest privately held compilation of late 19th and early 20th century boxing cards on earth. In this first installment from the Hull Collection, highlights include an N167 Old Judge Jem Smith and E125 American Caramel James Jeffries, each the only example known.
Other noteworthy offerings from the trading card portion of the auction include a high-grade selection of 1950’s Topps Hockey cards plus high-grade cards of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe Jackson and a 1952 Bowman Willie Mays in Mint condition.
“Sports fans around the world are going to want to participate in this auction,” Ivy said, “and I’d encourage everyone to visit our homepage at www.HA.com/Sports, where they’ll see enlargeable, full-color images of each and every lot, complete with our thorough and informative catalog descriptions. They’ll even have an opportunity to place bids online.”
The trading card portion of the auction will end on Friday, October 17th in an Extended Bidding format, each lot closing individually after thirty minutes of bidding inactivity following the 10 PM CT cut-off. The memorabilia will be sold October 18th in a Live auction format beginning at 12 noon CT, with bidders able to participate in person, by telephone, or online at www.HA.com/Live.
1927-28 Babe Ruth Game Worn “Bustin’ Babes” Barnstorming Cap:
MINIMUM BID: $50,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-140001?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1974-75 Bobby Orr Game Worn and Signed Jersey:
MINIMUM BID: $70,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-221001?type=auctionreport-go022407c
The Original Plaster Cast Maquette Used to Cast the Heisman Trophy, and the Last Bronze Trophy Produced from the Maquette:
MINIMUM BID: $50,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-226001?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1908 Baseball Dropped from Top of Washington Monument Caught by Gabby Street:
MINIMUM BID: $2,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-90006?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1931 World Series Championship Ring Presented to Gabby Street:
MINIMUM BID: $2,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-90007?type=auctionreport-go022407c¼br /> ¼br /> 1939 Eddie Shore Game Worn Babe Siebert Memorial Jersey:
MINIMUM BID: $30,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-221002?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1941 Billy Conn Robe, Gloves & Shoes Used in Joe Louis Bout:
MINIMUM BID: $15,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-168004?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1955 National League Championship Certificate Presented to Brooklyn Dodgers by Warren Giles
MINIMUM BID: $7,500.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-132002?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1992 Brett Favre First Game-Winning Touchdown Football, 2nd Career Touchdown Reception
MINIMUM BID: $2,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-91001?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1886 N167 Old Judge Jem Smith, Horizontal Reverse SGC 30 Good 2. 202-003
MINIMUM BID: $5,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-202003?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1910 E125 American Caramel Jim Jeffries SGC Authentic.
MINIMUM BID: $5,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-202001?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1910 E93 Standard Caramel Honus Wagner SGC 88 NM/MT 8.
MINIMUM BID: $10,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-241006?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1909 E90-1 American Caramel Joe Jackson PSA VG+ 3.5.
MINIMUM BID: $5,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-245003?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1910 E93 Standard Caramel Honus Wagner SGC 88 NM/MT 8.
MINIMUM BID: $10,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-241006?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1933 R319 Goudey Babe Ruth #149 SGC 92 NM/MT+ 8.5.
MINIMUM BID: $10,000.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-241001?type=auctionreport-go022407c
1962-63 Parkhurst Hockey PSA-Graded Complete Set (56) – #14 on the PSA Set Registry.
MINIMUM BID: $1,400.
http://Sports.HA.com/710-21005?type=auctionreport-go022407c
HSC specializes in rare and collectible sports cards, as well as uniforms, equipment, and related vintage sports memorabilia. Consignments for future Signature Sports Auctions are currently being accepted. Prospective consignors or sellers of quality vintage sports cards and sports memorabilia are encouraged to contact:
Chris Ivy at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1319 or email: Civy@HA.com
Mike Gutierrez at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1183 or email: MikeG@HA.com
Lee Iskowitz at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1601 or email: LeeI@HA.com
Mark Jordan at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1187 or email: MarkJ@HA.com
Jonathan Scheier at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1314 or email: JonathanS@HA.com
Stephen Carlisle at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1292 or email: StephenC@HA.comÂ
Peter Calderon at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1789 or email: PeterC@HA.com
For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.
To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Client Services at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.
