Game-used bats fuel Heritage Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction

Sports collectors’ most anticipated auction event of the season will offer an elite lineup of game-used lumber, including important bats from Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Josh Gibson, Mel Ott and Joe DiMaggio, in Heritage Auctions’ Feb. 24-25 Platinum Night Auction, which is now open for bidding.

“This is really the best of the best,” said Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage. “We have the only documented Josh Gibson bat in existence and a 1941 DiMaggio gamer that is attributed with a high degree of probability to his celebrated 56-game hitting streak.”

The greatest slugging triumvirate of the pre-war game also supplies Hillerich & Bradsbys to the event, with a Ruth bat from his earliest Yankees years (est. $600,000+), a late-career gamer from Gehrig (est. $300,000+) and a Jimmie Foxx representation sourced directly from his family (est. $50,000+). Also on offer is the earliest known Major League bat from Mickey Mantle (est. $200,000+) and another rookie model from fellow 500 Home Run Club member Mel Ott (est. $200,000+).

“There are dozens of significant lots making their hobby debut in the event,” Ivy added.

Highlights include a rookie era Bobby Hull Jersey (est. $80,000+), a Johnny Unitas jersey that is photo-matched to the 1959 NFL Championship Game (est. $80,000+), the finest condition known 1903 World Series program (est. $150,000+), and a fresh Babe Ruth uniform worn as a coach for the 1945 Esquire Baseball Game (est. $200,000+).

Trading card collectors will discover a PSA NM-MT 8 example of the 1952 Topps Mantle (est. $400,000+), and Mint 9 rookies from Stan Musial (est. $250,000+), Hank Aaron (est. $200,000+) and Joe Namath (est. $200,000+). The tobacco age is well-represented by some of most coveted rarities in cardboard, including the T206 Ty Cobb with Cobb back (est. $500,000+) and high-grade tributes to Cy Young (est. $120,000+) and Walter Johnson (est. $120,000+).

Other highlights include:

• A 1923 New York Yankees team-signed baseball with Lou Gehrig. This is the earliest pinstriped appearance of the Iron Horse (est. $100,000+)

• A 1939 Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Class-signed First Day Cover, PSA/DNA Mint 9 (est. $100,000+)

• Jackie Robinson’s 1949 signed Brooklyn Dodgers contract, National League MVP Season – the only Dodgers/Robinson contract ever to appear at auction (est. $200,000+)

• Billy Casper’s 1959 U.S. Open Championship trophy from his first major championship (est. $100,000+)

• Dallas Cowboys running back Doug Dennison’s 1977 Super Bowl XII Championship Ring (est. $30,000+)

• The 1978 Affirmed Triple Crown trophy presented to trainer Laz Barrera – an extraordinary rarity in racing history (est. $250,000+)

To see all the lots in the auction visit www.ha.com.