Hunt Auctions 2015 All-Star FanFest

MEDIA CONTACT
Jennifer Sherlock
(609) 369-3482
jsherlock@jennacommunications.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ITEMS FROM JOHNNY BENCH COLLECTION TO BE SOLD AT THE 11TH ANNUAL LIVE AUCTION & APPRAISAL FAIR AT T-MOBILE ALL-STAR FANFEST® DURING 2015 MLB® ALL-STAR WEEK™

Hunt Auctions Appraisal Fair & Live Auction Display runs Friday, July 10-13

Bidding for the Live Auction at T-Mobile All Star FanFest® begins Tuesday, July 14 at 10AM

LOCATION: Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati, OH

(Exton, PA, June 29, 2015) Hunt Auctions, the official auction company of T-Mobile All-Star FanFest®, will present the 11th Annual Live Auction at T-Mobile All-Star FanFest® during the Major League Baseball® All-Star Game® events in Cincinnati, from July 10th to14th.  A select grouping of items from Johnny Bench Collection will headline the live auction on July 14th. In addition to this collection, a 1960 Ted Williams MLB® All-Star Game® bat, a collection of Negro League bronzes, numerous items related to the Cincinnati Reds® franchise and a variety of other valuable MLB memorabilia will all be offered to the collecting public.  Hunt Auctions will also offer fans visiting T-Mobile All-Star FanFest® the opportunity to have their sports memorabilia appraised for free at the Hunt Auctions Appraisal Fair.

Johnny Bench Collection:

• Original Johnny Bench painting done by Leroy Neiman (Est. $50,000-$100,000)
• Johnny Bench game used bat from his 1970 three home run game (Est: $10,000-$15,000)
• Johnny Bench’s 1978 1979, 1980 and 1983 MLB® All-Star Game® Rings (Est. $5,000-$7,500 each)
• Johnny Bench 2000th hit baseball (Est. $4,000-$6,000)
• Johnny Bench game used fielders glove (Est. $5,000-$7,500)

The Johnny Bench Collection consists of a fine group of personal items owned and collected by the Reds® Hall of Fame catcher; such as his game used bat from his 1970 three home run game and the original Johnny Bench painting “The Catcher” by Leroy Neiman. A portion of the proceeds from the Bench collection items will go to the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund through the Cincinnati Scholarship Fund. This fund benefits those college undergraduate students who demonstrated academic and athletic credentials in high school and are in need of financial support to continue their education at the college or university level.

“All of my trophies and awards hold special meanings. I am including some very special ones in the All Star Auction.  The sale of some these items will benefit my Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund that was created in 1984.  Since that time more than 500 kids have graduated because of the fund. I hope you take pride and enjoy my treasures with your bidding,” stated Johnny Bench.

“Johnny Bench quite literally epitomizes the meaning of baseball to the city of Cincinnati,” said David Hunt, President, Hunt Auctions. “Johnny’s importance to the fans of Cincinnati is immeasurable with career accomplishments that may never again be equaled within the game of baseball. We are completely honored to be working with Johnny to share some of his treasured pieces with his many fans and feel proud to contribute, in some small fashion, to his worthy endeavor to support the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund.”

A variety of exciting items will be available to bidders, including pieces related to the career of star players and legendary teams from the Cincinnati Reds® franchise. These items include: Pete Rose’s “Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Award” which is estimated to sell for between $50,000-$75,000, the 1914 Buck Herzog Cincinnati Reds® Presentational Bat which is valued between $25,000-$50,000,  a 1971 Pete Rose Professional Road Model Jersey that is estimated to sell for $20,000-$30,000, a 1975 Cesar Geronimo Cincinnati Reds World Series trophy valued between $7,500-$10,000, a 1990 Cincinnati Reds® World Series® estimated to go for between $5,000-$10,000 along with  a 1972 Cincinnati Reds® National League® Championship Ring estimated to sell for between $4,000-$6,000.

Collection of Cincinnati Reds Related Items:

• 1914 Buck Herzog Cincinnati Reds® Presentational Bat (Est. $25,000-$50,000)
• 1971 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds Professional Road Model Jersey (Est. $20,000-$30,000)
• Pete Rose “Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat” Presentational Award (Est. $50,000-$75,000)
• 1939 Bucky Walters NL® Most Valuable Player Award pocket watch (Est. $30,000-$40,000)
• 1975 Cesar Geronimo Cincinnati Reds® World Series® trophy (Est. $7,500-$10,000)
• 1990 Cincinnati Reds® World Series® Ring (Est. $5,000-$10,000)
• 1972 Cincinnati Reds National League® Championship Ring (Est. $4,000-$6,000)

This year’s auction will also feature a 1960 Ted Williams All-Star Game bat which he used for his final base hit in an MLB® All-Star Game® play as documented by a handwritten note from Williams himself which accompanies the bat. The bat was recently discovered in the Williams home and is being offered for the first time publicly by his family. This item is estimated to sell for between $100,000-$150,000.  “This bat was the final bat used by my father in his final MLB All-Star Game. The discovery of this bat was a complete thrill; especially given the related note handwritten by Dad which we found with the bat.” Remarked Claudia Williams, daughter of Ted Williams, “I am delighted to present this historic bat to the public during the 2015 MLB All-Star Game, the 55th anniversary of Dad’s final All-Star Game. I hope baseball fans from around the globe appreciate its significance to Dad and baseball history.”

Other extraordinary items in this year’s Live Auction include

• Roy Campanella’s 1953 NL™ Most Valuable Player Award (Est. $175,000-$200,000)
• Vida Blue’s 1971 AL™ Most Valuable Player Award (Est. $75,000-$100,000)
• 1953 Mickey Mantle All-Star Game professional model bat (Est. $75,000-$100,000)
• 1923 New York Yankees® World Championship Pocket Watch (Est. $40,000-$60,000)
• 1939 Bucky Walters NL™ Most Valuable Player Award pocket watch (Est. $30,000-$40,000)
• Charles “Kid” Nichols single signed baseball  (Est. $15,000-$25,000)
• Kansas City Monarchs professional model jersey c.1945-47 (Est. $15,000-25,000)

Negro League Bronzes from PNC Park™  and the Josh Gibson Foundation
Hunt Auctions is honored to be auctioning seven Negro League bronzes on behalf of the Josh Gibson Foundation. These bronzes have been on display at PNC Park™ in Pittsburgh since 2006 and were then donated to the Josh Gibson Foundation. The foundation has since given these bronzes to Hunt Auctions to sell. Proceeds from these bronzes will benefit the Josh Gibson Foundation in its effort to provide academic and athletic programs to brighten the future for our youth. The bronzes include seven Pittsburgh Negro League greats including catcher Josh Gibson and pitcher Satchel Paige.

HUNT AUCTIONS APPRAISAL FAIR AND DAILY SILENT AUCTIONS
Hunt Auctions and its team of nationally recognized experts will conduct its annual complimentary appraisal fair Friday, July 10th through Monday, July 13th for visitors of T-Mobile All-Star FanFest®. Select items from the appraisal fair may be consigned to the live auction.  Attendees can call ahead to schedule a private consultation at 610.524.0822 or email at info@huntauctions.com. Hunt Auctions will also hold daily silent auctions exclusively for visitors of T-Mobile All-Star FanFest® on Friday, July 10th – Monday, July 13th featuring vintage and modern era items for less than $1,000.

T-Mobile All-Star FanFest® at the Duke Energy Center, which opens on Friday, July 10th and runs through Tuesday, July 14th, is the world’s largest interactive baseball theme park with more than 40 baseball-related attractions for fans of all ages. Visitors can get free autographs and photos with former MLB and Reds legends and Hall of Famers with the price of admission, practice their baseball skills during clinics hosted by MLB® legends and current players; swing like their favorite Major Leaguers™ in the batting cages; view a collection of MLB® trophies and take a photo with the Commissioner’s Trophy, presented to the World Series Champions™; explore exhibits from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and much more.

All T-Mobile All-Star FanFest® attractions are included with the price of admission, and the only additional costs are for concessions and memorabilia. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for children ages 12 and under (children two and under are admitted free), senior citizens and military personnel. T-Mobile All-Star FanFest® tickets are sold on a timed-entry basis, so fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early to obtain preferred entry times.

For more MLB® All-Star Week™ information, please visit AllStarGame.com, the MLB All-Star Game® Twitter account (@AllStarGame) and MLB All-Star Game® Facebook account (Facebook.com/MLBAllStarGame).

ABOUT HUNT AUCTIONS:
Exton, Pennsylvania based Hunt Auctions has been a leader in the sports memorabilia auction industry for 23 years.  Numerous former players and their families have trusted their collections with Hunt Auctions including Ted Williams (HOF), Joe DiMaggio (HOF), Whitey Ford (HOF), Curt Flood, Leo Durocher (HOF), Robin Roberts (HOF), Earl Weaver (HOF), Commissioner Bowie Kuhn (HOF), Warren Spahn (HOF), Johnny Bench (HOF), Johnny Unitas (HOF), Clem Labine, Mickey Vernon, Jake Pitler, Thurman Munson, Roy Campanella (HOF),  Harmon Killebrew (HOF), Bill Mazeroski (HOF), Kent Tekulve, Steve Blass, Johnny Pesky, Charles “Kid” Nichols (HOF),  Jim Palmer (HOF),  Bucky Walters, Walter Johnson (HOF), Bill McKechnie (HOF), Willie Mosconi, Randall Cunningham, Joe Frazier and Norm Van Brocklin (HOF).  Hunt Auctions is also the Official Auction Company of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and the Official Auctioneer of the T-Mobile All-Star FanFest®. Hunt Auctions has worked with numerous institutions to include: The National Football League, Philadelphia Phillies®, Pittsburgh Pirates®, Baltimore Orioles®, Boston Red Sox®, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, National Baseball Hall of Fame, Chicago Bulls, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and Baseball Assistance Team.