Lelands.comA rare, Sandy Koufax Brooklyn Dodgers jersey signed by the Hall of Famer—one of only two known game worns to exist—sold for $80,393 in Lelands.com’s winter auction, which closed early Saturday morning. The jersey was part of The Sal LaRocca Collection, tens of thousands of pieces of Dodgers memorabilia, collected by the renowned Dodger collector over 65 years. So voluminous is the collection, called “hands down, the finest Brooklyn Dodgers collection in the world,” by Lelands.com chairman Joshua Evans and one that “no individual sports collection rivals” by Dodgers team historian Mark Langill, that it is being offered for sale by Lelands.com in 3 or 4 different auctions. Lelands.com’s winter auction contained 933 lots, totaling nearly $2 million. Prices and full item descriptions are available at www.lelands.com.
Another notable highlight is the sale of a 1969 Thurman Munson Game Used Rookie Glove, sold to Dr. Richard C. Angrist for $54,909. Dr. Angrist’s collection is widely considered to be one of—if the not THE—best baseball collections in the world.
As the main lender to the Yankee Hall of Fame Museum, located on the 2nd tier of the new stadium between 1st base and right field, a sizable majority of the artifacts in the Museum are on loan from the longtime collector of baseball memorabilia. The purchase of the glove—one of only two known to exist–completes a Thurman Munson display, consisting of the former Yankee captain’s game worn rookie jersey, game worn hat, and autographed game used bat, all of which are displayed in Munson’s locker, preserved by the Yankees after the catcher was killed in a plane crash in 1979.
Generating the most bids (38) was a 1913 Nap Rucker Signed Brooklyn Ball Club Contract from the Brooklyn Dodger Collection of Sal LaRocca. Final price for the framed, vintage contract, signed by Charles H. Ebbets and G. Napoleon Rucker in black ink, was $12,190. The contract called for lefty Nap Rucker, who holds the Brooklyn Dodger record for the most shutouts in the National League, among other records, to be paid $4,000 for the season. Rucker later served as mayor of Roswell, Georgia and then the city’s water commissioner.
Second highest bidding action was for a collection of more than 75 “special” Minnesota Twins pennants from the Fred Budde Collection, ultimately selling for $15,264. Included were photo pennants with several 1965 World Series variations, 1985 All Star Game banner (attractive and rare), unusually shaped picture pennants such as the very rare felt banner pennants with Killebrew (MVP) and Carew (Batting Champion). Plus, picture pennants of Zoilo as MVP, and Oliva with original header card.
Despite a less-than-stellar economy, a number of auction items realized prices higher than projected. (SEE LIST BELOW)
Lelands.com, America’s first sports memorabilia auction house, has handled such landmark collections as The Mickey Mantle Auction of the Greer Johnson Collection ($1.3M), The Harry M. Stevens Auction ($1.8M), and the famed Boston Garden Auction ($2M total sales), along with individual pieces like The Babe Ruth Sale Document ($99,000), Mickey Mantle’s 1960 Jersey ($111,100) and the sale of the infamous “Mookie Ball” to actor Charlie Sheen for $93,500. Over the past ten years, Lelands.com has sold over $100 million worth of vintage sports memorabilia and cards.
Joshua Leland Evans is the company’s chairman and founder; Mike Heffner is president. For more information, visit www.Lelands.com. To speak with someone directly, contact Suzan French, FlackShack, 917-284-8523, sfrench@flackshack.com
List of Notable Auction Items and Prices Realized:
BASEBALL
· Harmon Killebrew 1971 Home Uniform (All Star Game, 500th Home Run?): $39,166
· 2009 and 1999 New York Yankees World Championship Rings: $33,220 and $22,690, respectively
· 1957 Topps Complete Set – All Cards Graded NM-MT 8 by PSA (407/407): $30,940
· 1937-40 Hank Greenberg Game Used Bat: $21,925.50
· 1962 Mickey Mantle Vintage Signed Game Used Bat: $20,627
· 2005 Raul Casanova Chicago White Sox World Championship Ring and Presentation Box
· High Grade Ty Cobb Single Signed Baseball: $15,497.60
· Baseball From Mickey Mantle’s Last Game: $15,497.60
· 1902-11 W600 Sporting Life Honus Wagner (Uniform) SGC Graded: $13,269.58
· 1934 Hack Wilson Signed Brooklyn Dodgers Contract: $12,533.23
· 1909-11 T206 White Border Collection of 71 (all PSA Graded): $12,376.38
· 1913 Nap Rucker Signed Brooklyn Ball Club Contract: $12,190.37
· Ebbets Field Ushers Cap: $10,426.18
· 1965 A.L. Champion Minnesota Twins Game Used Bats (29): $9,727.61
· 1975 Cesar Geronimo Cincinnati Reds World Series Trophy: $9,060.13
· 1956 Jim Gilliam Brooklyn Dodgers Game Worn Jersey: $8,843.29
· 1930 Wilbert Robinson Signed Brooklyn Dodgers Contract: $7,569.26
· 1968 Tony Oliva Road Uniform with Centennial Patch: $7,308.50
· Harvey Haddix 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates World Championship Trophy: $7,308.50
· 1932 Max Carey Single Signed Baseball: $7,121.22
· Original 1920’s-30’s Hillerich & Bradsby Bat Rack: $7,121.22
· Kirby Puckett 1991 World Series Champions Game Worn Uniform: $7,121.22
· Zack Wheat Game Used Bat: $6,644.09
· Ty Cobb Full Size Decal Bat: $6,644.09
· 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers Team Signed Baseball: $6,473.84
· Mike Piazza 2000 World Series Bat Used To Make The Last Out: $6,040.08
· 1961 Minnesota Twins Inaugural Season Game Used Bats (14): $5,885.32
· 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins Game Used Bats (23): $5,169.90
· Game Winning Glove Used in Twins First Ever Win by Pedro Ramos (1961): $5,169.90
· 1923 Letter “U” From Yankee Stadium: $4,863.90
· Win Twins Banner (Only One Known): $4,739.11
· Ebbets Field Collection Box: $4,421.73
· 1986 Bert Blyleven Signed Game Used Uniform: $4,421.73
· 1977 Rod Carew Game Used Home Jersey: $4,421.73
· 2006 Mariano Rivera New York Yankees Game Worn Jersey: $4,421.73
· Zoilo Versalles 1965 Minnesota Twins MVP Game Used Jersey: $4,421.73
· 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers Stock Certificate: $4,272.65
· Barry Bonds 713 Home Run Baseball MLB: $4,226.62
· 1880’s Allen & Ginter Baseball Advertising Poster: $4,125.45
· 1907 Detroit Tigers Mounted Team Photo: $3,654.32
· “Robinson Rounding Third” Original Painting by Arthur K. Miller: $3,322.11
· 1946 World Champions St. Louis Cardinals Team Signed Baseball: $3,322.11
· 1974 Topps Evel Knievel Unopened Cello Box: $2,192.54
· 2006 Albert Pujols Game Worn and Signed World Series Hat: $2,009.83
· 1968 St. Louis Cardinals Team Signed Baseball 28 Signatures with Roger Maris: $1,510.01
· Thurman Munson Presentational American League Most Valuable Player Presentational Golf Club with Diana Munson LOA: $640.39
BOXING
· 1941 Joe Louis Edward J. Neil Memorial Award $14,617.00
· Mike Tyson Fight Worn Trunks from the Bonecrusher Smith Bout: $9,727.61
· Floyd Patterson vs. Cassius Clay Fight Worn Robe : $9,416.41
· 1986 Mike Tyson Edward J. Neil Award: $9,076.01
· Fabulous Collection of Original 19th Century Boxing Illustrations (41 pieces: $7,684.76
· 1892 John L. Sullivan vs. James J. Corbett Collection (3): $7,248.11
· John L. Sullivan Bronze Statue by Waagen: $6,644.09
· Mike Tyson Fight Worn Gloves and Hand Wraps from the Tony Tubbs Bout: $6,644.09
· Jack Dempsey Plaster Fist: $4,832.10
· “James J. Corbett” Bronze Statue by Waagen: $4,019.75
· Stanley Ketchel Mounted Display Photo: $4,019.75
· Jack Johnson Signed Book to Nat Fleischer: $3,630.43
· Hart-Root Full Ticket: $3,409.47
· Cassius Clay Post Training Gloves: $3,403.53
· James Braddock Used Gloves Presented to J. Edgar Hoover: $2,886.83
· Circa 1900 Terry McCovern Boxing Poster: $2,269.04
FOOTBALL
· 1958 Baltimore Colts World Champions Team Signed Football From Championship Game: $1,924.56
· 1926 Rose Bowl Unused Ticket: $5,169.90
HOCKEY
· 2002 Steve Yzerman Team Canada Game Worn Photo-Matched Olympics Jersey: $4,991.80
· 1987-88 Paul Coffey Pittsburgh Penguins Game Worn Photo-Matched Jersey: $3,654.32
· 1973-74 Jim Johnson Minnesota Fighting Saints Game Worn Jersey: $2,745.55
· Terry Sawchuk Game Used Stick: $2,495.95
· 1997-98 Al McInnis St. Louis Blues Game Worn Jersey: $2,210.82
· Eddie Giacomin Game Used Stick: $1,812.01
BASKETBALL
· Circa 1959-60 Jack Twyman Game Worn All Star Uniform: $30,995.23
· 1964 Award Presented To Jim Loscutoff For Winning Seven NBA Championships: $18,956.38
· 1951 and 1952 NBA All Star Game Programs at Boston Garden: $8,326.19
· Circa 1964 Jim Loscutoff Boston Celtics Warm-Up Jacket: $7,833.34
PHOTOGRAPHY
· Superb Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx Photograph: $5,686.90
· Edward S. Curtis Photograph: $3,020.10
· 1963 Ruby Shoots Oswald: $1,510.01
ROCK N ROLL
· The Beatles Signed Parlophone Promotional Framed Photo Card: $9,076.01
· Stevie Nicks Custom Made Gown & Gloves: $2817.75
· Ultimate Led Zeppelin Psychedelic Poster: $1,237.63
AMERICANA
· 1910s Buster Brown Factory Cast Iron Factory Plaque in Original Paint: $4,125.45
· Mickey Mouse Phonograph: $3,099.52
