Honus Wagner Bat Hits $250,000 to Lead Legendary Auction

In Baltimore on Aug. 3, an overflow crowd of more than 200 client-collectors attended Legendary's 4th Annual Live Auction, which showcased 62 extraordinary offerings and exceeded all expectations by generating more than $1.7 million in total revenue.

Fittingly for the Charm City, it was native Baltimorean Babe Ruth who stole the show. Several minutes of feverish bidding elevated the "Extremely Rare 1915 Studio Photograph of Babe Ruth and his Father in their Baltimore Tavern" (Lot No. 17) to a record price of $54,970, more than tripling the initial estimate of $10,000-$15,000.

Another milestone occurred when preeminent baseball artist Dick Perez (of Perez-Steele and Diamond King fame) received the highest price ever paid for his work. The "Monumental 'Cobb Sliding' Oil-on-Canvas Scene - Flagship Piece in the Conlon Collection by Dick Perez" (Lot No. 8) peaked at an all-time-high hammer price of $24,498. And as our special guest, Dick – whose towering hobby stature had been felt throughout his promotional appearance at Legendary's National Convention booth that day – received a rousing ovation on the auction floor. (Stay tuned for more of Perez's original Conlon artworks to come.)

In addition, the Kent Feddeman Washington Nationals/Senators Collection was extremely well-received, with nine lots surpassing their $150,000-$200,000 combined estimate to achieve more than $225,000 in sales Anchoring Kent's impressive assembly were the night's climactic final two items —Walter Johnson 1925-31 game-used bat ($66,920) and Walter Johnson 1939 Hall of Fame Induction gold watch ($56,763).

Other strong prices realized included: