Collecting 101
“Called Shot” pants go for $117,000 in Historic Au
Historic Auctions' second major catalog auction ended June 22 with its headlining piece, Babe Ruth's game-worn pants from the "Called Shot" game, fetching just shy of $117,000. The pants carried extensive authentication and had sold for roughly $100,000 a year ago.
Along with the Ruth pants, Historic Auctions procured a pair of 1937 Joe DiMaggio game-used pants from the DiMaggio family. They reached $15,749. Company VP Joe White said the pants show great game use.
"There are marks all over the front, dirt marks on both pant legs and some team repairs on both the front and the back," White said. A Joe DiMaggio game-used signature model Hillerich and Bradsby bat from the 1936-1940 era finished at $14,700. Another pair of pants, game-worn by Jackie Robinson and consigned by his former teammate Lou Dials, closed at $7,408.
A pair of signed Babe Ruth baseballs drew big interest as well. A single-signed baseball reached $16,800 while the dual-signed ball with Ruth and Gehrig made it to $8,532.
There was also a 1970s Joe Namath Jets jersey that closed at $13,650.
There was a key Mickey Mantle game-used bat in this auction. A 1965-1968 Hillerich and Bradsby era bat that also had Mantle's signature closed just $50 short of $20,000. Another interesting Mantle item finished at $16,000. Its description: "This is possibly one of the rarest pieces to ever reach the market, Mickey Mantle's home run 518 game used baseball. This Offical game used Cronin American League Baseball was signed beautifully on the side pannel by Mantle. Mantle added the inscription of 'Home Run 518 Best Wishes Mickey Mantle.' Home run 518 was his last during the 1967 season, being number 22." The autograph had a James Spence Authentication COA.
Global Authentication provided the authenticity for a game-used Ken Griffey Jr. fielding glove that finished at an impressive $10,000. Global also provided the COA for a Hank Aaron game-used fielder's glove, and given that Griffey price, it seemed a relative bargain at $2,640.
A Roberto Clemente game-used helmet, circa late 1960s or early 1970s, sold for $5,555.
There were more than 1,000 items in the auction. Some of the other interesting highlights:
Mickey Mantle/Joe DiMaggio Signed Bat $2,178.
Tiger Woods Signed Gicle'e Stephen Holland Artist Proof 10/15 $3,327.
Carl Yastrzemski 1976 Home Bicentennial Jersey $4,950.
Roger Clemens 2004 Houston Astros Game Used Jersey $3,080.
Roger Clemens 2003 Signed Game Used World Series Jersey $5,649.
Barry Bonds 2001 Game Used Jersey $5,000.
Tom Seaver Game Used Jersey $4,180.
Tommy Henrich Game Used Jersey $4,070.
David Wright 2004 Game Used Jersey $3,410.
Barry Bonds Game Used Helmet $3,267.
Three Tyrus Cobb Signed Checks $2,795.
1996 World Series Trophy, submitted by a Yankees coach $5,880.
Michael Vick 2005 Game Used Falcons Helmet $1,626.
Ben Roethlisberger 2004 Game Used Rookie Jersey $2,805.
Earl Campbell Early 1980s Game Used Home Jersey $1,600.
Tom Brady 2004 Game Used Home Jersey $4,924.
LeBron James Game Used Rookie Jersey $2,820.
1983 Eric Dickerson Game Used Rams Rookie Jersey $2,090.
1991 Emmitt Smith Game Used Cowboys Jersey $2,197.
Carson Palmer 2004 Game Used Home Jersey $2,928.
Corey Dillon 2004 Game Used Jersey $3,080.
Steve Smith 2003 Game Used Jersey $2,310.
Tiki Barber 2005 Game Used Road Jersey $2,500.
Larry Johnson 2003 Game Used Jersey $2,344.
Curtis Martin 2001 Game Used Home Jersey $5,500.
Matt Leinart Game Used USC Jersey $2,640
- Rocky Landsverk
