Heritage Auctions recently hosted its Spring Sports Catalog sale, an event that captured the attention of sports memorabilia enthusiasts worldwide. With a particular focus on historic jerseys and bats from baseball legends, the auction garnered significant interest and impressive sales numbers.
At the forefront of the auction was a 1920 Walter Johnson Washington Senators jersey, which stole the show by fetching just over $2 million. This flannel jersey was carefully authenticated through photo matching, confirming that it was worn by Johnson during a momentous game—the debut of Babe Ruth as a member of the New York Yankees. Originally belonging to Johnson’s teammate, Eric “Swat” Erickson, the jersey had been preserved by Erickson’s family in Jamestown, New York, before making its way into the collecting world in the early 2000s. Remarkably, the last known transaction for this jersey was in June 2006, where it changed hands for $352,000.
Following closely in the footsteps of the Walter Johnson jersey was a 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers jersey worn by the legendary Sandy Koufax during his rookie season, which commanded an impressive $1.8 million. This particular piece stands out as one of the most iconic baseball memorabilia items to have been sold in recent years.
Among the other notable sales at the auction were Carl Hubbell’s New York Giants jersey from his MVP seasons of 1936-1939, which fetched $87,000, and a St. Louis Cardinals jersey worn by Stan Musial during his 1943 MVP season, selling for $180,147. Additionally, Warren Spahn’s Milwaukee Braves jersey from the 1954 season found a new owner for $102,000, while a Reggie Jackson Oakland A’s uniform from his record-breaking 57-home run season in 1969 went for $99,000.
The auction also showcased various memorabilia pieces, such as a Ty Cobb Louisville Slugger bat from the early 1920s that was sold for an impressive $630,000. This bat, weighing 40.7 ounces and measuring 34 1/2 inches, is believed to have been used by Cobb during the last season he achieved a batting average of over .400.
Another highlight was a Mickey Mantle bat dating back to 1953, which was gifted to a fan in Oklahoma before the 1954 season and fetched $324,000. Furthermore, a Hank Aaron glove, photomatched to 1973 and previously owned by a Milwaukee Brewers executive, was sold for $210,000, reflecting the growing interest in game-used fielder’s gloves among collectors.
Chris Ivy, the Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage, expressed satisfaction with the auction’s success, particularly emphasizing the strong performance of game-worn items, especially fielder’s gloves, which are increasingly sought after by collectors. The three-day event garnered a global audience of 3,650 bidders and achieved over $21 million in sales, with nearly every lot finding a new owner.
Additionally, the auction set new records in the card collecting world, with highlights including a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card graded SGC 7.5 selling for $564,000, a complete 1952 Topps master set with a PSA 6 Mantle fetching $264,000, a 1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb card setting a record at $63,000, and a George Brett rookie card graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA selling for $150,000.
The auction also featured valuable unopened items, such as a 1961-62 Fleer Basketball box that closed at $372,000 and a PSA 9 graded Wilt Chamberlain rookie card from the same set that brought in $198,000. Additionally, a 1948 Bowman Baseball unopened wax pack graded PSA 7 sold for $138,000, and a 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card graded PSA 8 fetched $186,000.
In conclusion, Heritage Auctions’ Spring Sports Catalog sale not only reflected the deep-rooted passion and investment in sports memorabilia but also highlighted the historical significance and financial value of these rare collectibles.
