Babe Ruth Autographed Model Baseball Bat Sells for $458,250 at FanFest Auction
MEDIA CONTACT
Jennifer Sherlock
(609) 369-3482
jsherlock@jennacommunications.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PROMINENT MIDWESTERN COLLECTION SOLD AT THE 13TH ANNUAL LIVE AUCTION AT ALL-STAR FANFEST® DURING 2017 MLB® ALL-STAR WEEK™
Hundreds of pieces sold including record-breaking prices at the All-Star FanFest
LOCATION: Miami Beach, FL Convention Center
(MIAMI, July 10, 2017) Hundreds of bidders packed the Hunt Auctions exhibit at MLB All-Star FanFest today battling thousands of online/phone bidders for more than 400 lots.
“The first session of our annual MLB All-Star FanFest live auction event exceeded every expectation,“ said David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions. “The incredible quality level and rarity of the materials drew national interest with astounding results nearly across the board. We expect the bidding to peak during the Tuesday Session #2 with the important offering of the personal collection of Roberto Clemente.”
The auction company has announced the top fifteen items that sold today at All-Star FanFest.
Babe Ruth professional model baseball bat signed by Ruth and Lou Gehrig c. 1933-34 sold for $458,250
Lou Gehrig 1934 All-Star Team Pendant sold for $146,875
1931 Babe Ruth autographed professional model baseball bat (Breslow Collection) sold for $317,250
Joe DiMaggio professional model bat c. 1940s (Rizzuto Collection, PSA/DNA 10) sold for $141,000
1914 Ty Cobb autographed professional model bat (Ed Maier Collection provenance, PSA/DNA 10) sold for $182,125
1949 Jackie Robinson All-Star Game professional model baseball bat (PSA/DNA 10) sold for $223,250
Walter Johnson professional model baseball bat c.1920s sold for $111,625
Walter Johnson single signed baseball (1924 World Series Final Out/Walter Johnson Collection provenance) sold for $135,125
5/24/1931 Babe Ruth autographed baseball attributed to 571st Home Run sold for $141,000
Thurman Munson 1975 Gold Glove award sold for $111,625
In addition to vintage memorabilia, the collection included a superb assemblage of high-grade baseball trading cards, many of which were among the finest grade of their type. Notable examples included:
1952 Topps Baseball card near set with all cards graded either PSA 8 NM/MT included Mickey Mantle #311 (PSA 8NM-MT) sold for $282,000
Jackie Robinson #312 (PSA 9 MT) sold for $58,750
Willie Mays #261 (PSA 8 NM-MT) sold for $23,500
1909-11 T-206 Eddie Plank (PSA 3 VG) sold for $64,625
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 (SGC 45 VG+) sold for $17,625
Session Two of MLB All-Star FanFest auction will continue tomorrow on Tuesday, July 11th at 12 p.m. with the personal collection of iconic Hall of Fame member and Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder, Roberto Clemente. The Clemente Collection is one of the most significant player collections to have ever been offered at public auction and has been consigned directly to the event by the Clemente family.
“Our father stands as a pillar for all that is good within the game of baseball and life. He was committed to standing up for equality and fair treatment for young people who endured the same challenges as he did during his youth,” said Roberto Jr., Luis and Ricky Clemente, Sons of Roberto Clemente. “It is truly a blessing for our family to have been able to meet, motivate and encourage many to achieve their dreams through our father’s legacy! We will continue to expand the Clemente Family’s goodwill throughout the world and are very excited for this auction event to assist with that goal.”
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 25 years. Numerous former players and their families have trusted their collections with Hunt Auctions including Roberto Clemente (HOF), 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), Gale Sayers (HOF), Tony Dorsett (HOF), Tony Gwynn (HOF), Brett Favre (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 Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest®. Hunt Auctions has worked with numerous institutions to include 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.