Have Dinner With Mookie and Buckner

Undoubtedly, as a sports fan, you have some questions you'd love to pose to Bill Buckner and Mookie Wilson regarding one of more memorable plays in World Series history.

Of course, this is in reference to Game 6 of the 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, where a grounder went through Buckner's legs leading to a Mets win and eventual World Series championship in seven games.

Here’s your chance to ask those questions. Gotta Have It is offering the chance to have dinner with Buckner and Wilson at Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant in New York City in a special one-lot, one-week auction that runs Oct. 12-19. The opportunity is done in conjunction with Jack Berke Sports and has a minimum bid of $5,000 (www.gottahaveit.com).

Piggy-backing that auction is Gotta Have It’s 2011 World Series auction that features 100 lots covering all sports that runs from Oct. 19-28.

“It’s a very unique and exciting auction,” said Peter Siegel, CEO of Gotta Have It. “There are many items for the advanced collector.”

A main attraction is one of three game-used baseballs known to exist from Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The Official World Series baseball is signed and inscribed by Buckner and Wilson. 

Another gem is Roger Maris’ 1961 MVP Award – not the one he was presented, but a second one that hung in the Dieges & Clust office. Dieges & Clust was the manufacturer of the award, and the company produced two awards from the onset.

“We think it’s amazing,” Siegel said. “Naturally, if the original Maris MVP award would come on the market, it would command a half-a-million dollars.”

Sticking with the Yankees, the auction will also include a ticket stub from Derek Jeter’s first hit in the major leagues in Seattle on May 30, 1995. Also look for a photo-matched, game-worn batting helmet of Brett Gardner from the clinching Game 6 of the 2009 World Series.

Another baseball highlight is an original photo of the starting infield for the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, signed at the time by all four including Jackie Robinson, who was appearing in his first MLB game, breaking baseball’s color barrier.

In other sports, look for game-worn hockey gloves from Miracle On Ice and Hall of Famer Herb Brooks from his amateur playing days.

One of earliest known billiards trophies will also be available. Also made by Dieges & Clust, the 1926 Poggenburg Memorial Cup billiards trophy was awarded by the National Association of Amateur Billiard Players to the champion of this annual tournament. Herbert Hammer, who first won a major tournament at age 12, captured this award.

Another championship relic is the 2006 Nextel championship ring that belonged to a crew member of Jimmie Johnson.

Much more is available in the auction, including signed items from Babe Ruth, Rocky Marciano, Bobby Jones, Ty Cobb and others. “I think it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to find something that’s really unique,” Siegel said.

Many of the items will be on display at Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant. For more information on this auction, call (212) 750-7900 or visit www.gottahaveit.com.

Gotta Have It has been a memorabilia institution in New York City for 17 years, with two retail locations – 153 East 57th Street and Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant.