Mastro Auctions Historic Live Sports Auction To Blow Into Chicago This August

Mastro Auctions to conduct world’s most concentrated auction of high-end Sports memorabilia, many items never before publicly offered, including Griffey’s 600 home run ball; portion of event to benefit the Derrek Lee 1st Touch Foundation. Mastro Auctions, the world’s leading Sports and Americana auction house, has announced that it will bring its second Live Sports Auction to the Second City on Friday, August 1st at 8:30 p.m. at the ESPN Zone in Chicago. The historic auction will include more than 90 items of the world’s most coveted pieces of current and vintage sports memorabilia including several that have never before been available to the public.Â

The auction will also feature Ken Griffey, Jr.’s 600th home run ball. In addition, proceeds from a portion of the auction will benefit the 1st Touch Foundation, a charity founded by Chicago Cubs’ first baseman, Derrek Lee. A main focus of Lee’s Foundation is to assist those affected by Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) an extremely rare disease which causes severe vision loss and blindness. Collectively, the auction represents one of the most unprecedented assemblies of valuable, high-end sports memorabilia ever offered in one sale. A few of the items available include:

• A 1909 T206 White Border Honus Wagner, magnificent “Jumbo” example – PSA EX 5 ;
• A Lou Gehrig 1938 New York Yankees road jersey from his last season;
• A Babe Ruth 1920 H&B signed game used bat personally obtained by Buck Weaver;
• Wilt Chamberlain’s 1959/60 Rookie season NBA MVP Award – The President’s Trophy;
• A 1960 Topps Baseball complete set – #2 on the PSA Set Registry;
• The 600th Home Run ball hit by Ken Griffey, Jr.;
• An 1888 N321 S.F. Hess California League SGC-graded near set (39/40);
• A Lou Gehrig 1938 H&B small signature game used bat from his last full season;
• A Hank Aaron 1974 Atlanta Braves home uniform;
• A 1903 World Series program at Boston;
• A Babe Ruth single signed baseball – PSA/DNA NM-MT+ 8.5 ;

Other baseball items include:
Baseball Bats

• A Lefty Grove 1931 H&B game used bat;
• A Tris Speaker 1925-28 H&B side-written game used bat;
• A Miller Huggins 1905-1910 game used bat – earliest known example;
• A Jim Bottomley 1921-31 side-written H&B game used bat;
• A Grover Cleveland Alexander 1922 H&B side-written game used bat;
• A Mickey Mantle 1961 H&B World Series game used bat;
• A Hank Greenberg 1930-1931 H&B game used bat – earliest known example;
• A Bill Mazeroski 1960 All-Star Adirondack signed game used bat;
• A Buck Weaver 1911-1915 J.F. Hillerich & Son side-written game used bat – only known example;
• A 1960 Hank Aaron All-Star H&B signed game used bat;
• A 1945-47 Mel Ott H&B game used bat – rarest of 500 Home Run Club bats;
• A “Black Betsy” 1916-17 H&B Pro Model game used bat attributed to Joe Jackson;
• A 1947 Ted Williams “Triple Crown” season H&B game used bat.

Baseballs – Signed and Multi-Signed
• A Lou Gehrig single signed ball – PSA/DNA EX-MT+ 6.5;
• A Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig signed ball;
• A Babe Ruth circa 1918 single signed ball – one of earliest Ruth single signed balls;
• An inscribed ball from Don Larsen’s 1956 World Series Perfect Game signed that day by the last victim Dale Mitchell;
• A Ruth, Gehrig, Huggins signed baseball.

Baseball Jerseys/Uniforms/Game Gear
• A Roberto Clemente 1958 Pittsburgh Pirates game worn road jersey – great unrestored condition;
• An Eddie Matthews 1966 Atlanta Braves game worn road jersey – from inaugural season;
• A Stan Musial 1956 St. Louis Cardinals game worn road jersey – rare one season style;
• A matched pair of late 1870s/early 1880s fingerless baseball gloves (both hands);
• A Reggie Jackson 1977 New York Yankees signed game worn road jersey – from his “Mr. October” season ;
• Baseball Cards and Sets;
• A 1915 E145-2 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson – PSA NM 7;
• A 1923 Walter Mails Playing Card complete set (57) with box and instructions – #1 on the PSA Set Registry;
• A 1908 E102 “Set of 25” Ty Cobb from the Lionel Carter Collection – SGC 80 EX/MT 6;
• A 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy #147 Babe Ruth – SGC 88 NM/MT 8 “1 of 1”;
• A 1914 H813 Boston Garter (Color) Tris Speaker – SGC Authentic;
• A 1933 Goudey Sports Kings complete uncut sheet (24 cards) featuring Ruth, Cobb, Thorpe and Grange;
• A 1962 Gehl’s Ice Cream Roger Maris “Gold Mine Pal” complete set;
• A 1950-51 “Toleteros” Josh Gibson – SGC 80 EX/NM 6;
• A 1933 Goudey complete uncut sheet (24 cards) featuring five Hall of Famers;
• A 1911 E137 Zeenut PCL Buck Weaver Rookie card – SGC 88 NM/MT 8 “1 of 1”;
• Collection of 1902-11 W600 Sporitng Life New York Yankees cabinets (16 different) including Chesbro, Keeler, Griffith and Chase;
• A 1911 D310 Pacific Coast Biscuit Buck Weaver Rookie card – SGC 60 EX 5 “1 of 1”;
• A 1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays – SGC 96 MINT 9 “1 of 1”;
• A 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle – SGC 92 NM/MT+ 8.5;
• A 1933/34 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie – PSA EX-MT 6;
• A 1937 O-Pee-Chee #118 Joe DiMaggio – PSA NM-MT 8;
• A 1910 D322 Tip Top Bread Honus Wagner – SGC 70 EX+ 5.5 “1 of 2”;
• A 1909-11 T206 White Border Ty Cobb, red portrait with “Ty Cobb” reverse – SGC 30 GD 2;
• A 1910 E90-2 American Caramel Pittsburgh Pirates – SGC-graded complete set (11);
• A 1911 T205 Gold Border R. Hoblitzell “No Stats” variation – PSA EX-MT 6 “1 of 3”;
• A 1909-11 T206 White Border framed near set (521) including “Magie” variation;
• A 1910 E125 American Caramel Die-Cuts Honus Wagner throwing – PSA EX-MT 6 “1 of 1”;
• A high grade 1953-1969 Topps baseball unopened wax packs run (17 different) – all GAI graded.

Baseball Photographs
• A Joe Jackson circa 1915 original Charles Conlon photo – one of the earliest known photos of “Shoeless Joe” Jackson in a White Sox uniform;
• A 1909 “Washington Park” Brooklyn baseball field panoramic photograph – from the estate of Nap Rucker;
• A Walter Johnson oversized photograph – hung in Griffith Stadium;
• Babe Ruth original “The Sporting News” portrait cover art for “Daguerreotypes of Great Stars of Baseball” by Jack Havey;
• A 1912 New York Giants N.L. Champions team panoramic photograph.

Baseball Autographs
• A copy of Christy Mathewson’s 1911 signed “Won in the Ninth” Limited Edition hardcover book – PSA NM-MT 8;
• Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig signed Christmas cards;
• A John McGraw signed letter protesting a game in 1911;
• A Honus Wagner 1930s handwritten signed letter – great baseball content describing his “hardest play”;
• A 1939 Hall of Fame “Inaugural Class” cut signatures (11 signatures) display;
• A Babe Ruth 1926 triple signed questionnaire given to Christy Walsh after the birth of Walsh’s son;
• A Lou Gehrig signed 1938 News Service photograph – autograph grade PSA/DNA 8;
• A Ned Hanlon 1876 signed photograph – earliest known image;
• A Babe Ruth 1931 signed and inscribed studio photo;
• A June 27, 1930 Babe Ruth signed New York Yankees payroll check – autograph grade 8 PSA/DNA;
• A Joe Tinker letter to the Hall of Fame thanking them for his plaque;
• A Joe Kelley 1915 signed New York Yankees contract – extremely rare Hall of Fame signature.

Baseball Memorabilia
• A 1921 New York Yankees World Series pennant;
• Christy Mathewson’s favorite trophy from his best season – 1908;
• Christy Mathewson’s 1911 New York Giants Championship trophy;
• A 1925 Hilldale Daisies vs. Kansas City Monarchs complete Game 6 World Series ticket;
• A 1939 New York Yankees World Series Championship ring – awarded to Coach John Schulte;
• A Bob Gibson 1972 Gold Glove award;
• A Boston Red Sox 2004 World Series trophy;
• A 1998 New York Yankees World Champions Commissioner’s trophy;
• A 1916 Ferguson Bakery BF2 “Photo Prize” premium pennant – Miller Huggins;
• One of the earliest known Trophy Bats – 1868 “Creeper Tournament” in Groton, New York
• A 1930s Babe Ruth tri-fold “Old Gold Cigarettes” advertising display;
• An 1899 Cincinnati Reds Sterling Silver season pass;
• A 1960 Williams “Official Baseball” pinball machine.

Other sports items:

• A 2001 New England Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI front office Championship ring – awarded to Bob Denham;
• A 2004 New England Patriots Super Bowl XXXIX player’s Championship ring – awarded to Cedric Cobbs;
• The very first football card – 1888 N162 Goodwin “Champions” Ed Beecher, Yale – PSA NM-MT 8;
• A 1900 Cope Bros. & Co. “Golfers” complete set (50) – #3 on the PSA Set Registry;
• The finest collection of Jesse Owens 1936 Berlin Olympics memorabilia ever presented at public auction;
• An 1887 N28 Allen & Ginter “World’s Champions – 1st Series” complete set;
• Historic fully executed and signed 1976 “Fight Agreements” for the Ali vs. Norton third World Championship (2 complete 11 page contracts).

Doug Allen, president of Mastro Auctions expects that the bidding on a number of the auction items will go well into the six-figure range. More importantly, Allen anticipates that the average selling price per lot will approach the $50,000 mark, ten times the average per lot price experienced in other premier sports auction events. Drama promises to reach new and higher levels than experienced at last year’s Live Sports auction, culminating with the sale of what is destined to be the second most valuable baseball card ever sold publicly. “Clearly, this is a sports event, not just another sports auction,” said Allen.Â

Allen says that while every lot in the auction is exceptional a few to watch include the T206 Honus Wagner card, the Ken Griffey, Jr. 600th home run ball and the items donated by Chicago Cubs Derrek Lee to benefit his 1st Touch Foundation. According to Allen, the Wagner card will likely sell for well over $500,000 and take its place as one of the top T206 Wagners known to exist. Also interesting will be the final price of Ken Griffey, Jr.’s 600th home run ball. “Griffey is currently untouched by the current negative issues in baseball,” says Allen. “It will be significant to see if the ball that represents his untainted milestone translates to a higher selling price compared to similar balls from players who have encountered suspicion.”

In addition to the opportunity for collectors to own some of the best sports memorabilia in existence, the Mastro Auctions’ Live Sports sale will support efforts spearheaded by Derrek Lee’s 1st Touch Foundation to assist individuals diagnosed with the Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). Lee began 1st Touch because he wanted to help the community in his hometown of Sacramento, CA by building a youth center and providing an environment that fosters learning. In addition to its educational efforts, 1st Touch also supports Project 3000, a national effort to identify and offer genetic testing to every person affected by Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). LCA is an extremely rare disease that causes severe vision loss and blindness. In 2006, Lee’s daughter, Jada, was diagnosed with the disorder but because there is still a lot unknown about LCA, doctors are looking at other causes for her visual impairment. Information gathered through Project 3000 continues to minimize the ambiguity surrounding LCA, and aids scientists in their search for a cure.

Mastro Auctions is teaming up with Derrek Lee to benefit this worthwhile cause. The Live Sports auction will feature several game worn and autographed items donated by Mr. Lee. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this portion of the auction as well as 100% of the $100 Live Sports Auction entrance fee will be donated to the 1st Touch Foundation. Mastro Auctions is underwriting the entire event so that all admission fees and prices realized for the Derrek Lee items will directly benefit the 1st Touch Foundation.

Derrek Lee is enthusiastic about the charitable contribution and awareness the auction will generate for the 1st Touch Foundation. “We are thrilled to be working with Mastro Auctions and grateful for all the good our combined efforts will generate,” Lee said. “We appreciate the extra mile that Mastro Auctions is willing to go for us,” added Heather Scherber, Director of Outreach for the 1st Touch Foundation. “We are certain the auction will be a resounding success and feel honored to be part of such a prestigious sports auction event.”

Allen is confident the 1st Touch Foundations donation will reach at least $20,000. “Our bidders have always responded generously for items earmarked for charity,” says Allen. “The fact that Derrek Lee is such a popular player is an added plus.”

Prior to the auction on the evening of Friday, August 1, all items to be auctioned will be on display at the Mastro Auctions booth at the National Sports Convention at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. For more information or to purchase the advance charity admission to the event, call Mastro Auctions at 630-472-1200 or go to http://www.mastroauctions.com/ for additional details.

About Mastro Auctions
Mastro Auctions, Burr Ridge, Ill., is part of the Silkroad Equity family of companies. It is the leading high value collectibles auction company. The company has involved in the sale of many of the most famous and valuable Sports and Americana collectibles ever publicly offered, including the most expensive baseball card, the T206 Honus Wagner, the most expensive baseball card set that went for $960,000, the bat Babe Ruth used to hit his first home run in Yankee Stadium that sold for $1.2 million, Norman Rockwell’s “The Dugout” for $355,000, Roger Maris’ 1961 jersey he wore when he hit home run #61 for $302,000, the bus Rosa Parks rode on when she refused to stand for segregation that sold for nearly $500,000 and the famous Steve Bartman Cubs foul ball for over $100,000.