This summer, in conjunction with the All-Star Game, Hunt Auctions, Inc. will host the 2nd Annual MLB All-Star FanFest Live Auction. Scheduled for Tuesday, July 11, the auction will feature a variety of historical baseball memorabilia, headlined by a Babe Ruth bat from his 59th home run in 1921 and the ball struck by Ruth for the first home run in the inaugural All-Star Game in 1933, plus a significant array of high-profile items linked to Pittsburgh, the host city 2006 of this year's game.
The auction items will be on public display during MLB All-Star FanFest that runs from Friday, July 7 to Tuesday, July 11 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. As the official auctioneer of MLB All-Star FanFest, Hunt Auctions, Inc. is offering a number of auction-related activities during the five-day event, including an appraisal fair and collecting seminars hosted by nationally recognized experts. Selected items from the appraisal fair will be eligible for consignment to the live auction on Tuesday.
Scheduled to go across the block are two of the most important Ruth-related pieces to have emerged in recent years, one of which is appropriately steeped in All-Star Game history. In 1933, Ruth played in the inaugural Midsummer Classic and hit the first home run in an MLB All-Star Game.
That home run ball is now being offered after having been meticulously preserved by a devoted fan. Also up for auction is a Ruth professional model bat attributed to his record-setting 59th home run of the 1921 season.
The bat is accompanied by a letter from Ruth signed to the original recipient. In addition to these two items, nearly 600 pieces of baseball memorabilia from a number of categories will be offered.
Highlights include:
Pittsburgh Pirates related items circa 1950s-present: 1969 Roberto Clemente All-Star Game bat ($15,000-$20,000); Clemente autographed professional model bat circa 1971 ($10,000-$15,000); Bill Mazeroski 1960 All-Star Game bat ($5,000-$7,500); 1968 Mazeroski Pirates road jersey ($15,000-$20,000); 1971 Willie Stargell Pirates home jersey ($7,500-$10,000); Clemente single-signed baseball ($5,000-$7,500); 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series trophy ($7,500-$10,000); and the April 9, 2001, PNC Park first home run baseball hit by Sean Casey ($7,500-$10,000).
Vintage Pittsburgh Pirates related materials: Team photographs from 1901 ($2,000-$3,000); panoramic photos from 1905 ($2,000-$3,000), 1909 ($2,000-$3,000), 1922 ($1,500-$2,000) and 1925 ($1,500-$2,000); 1925 imperial size ($2,500-$3,500); Honus Wagner items, including an autographed photograph ($3,000-$4,000); 1904 W600 Sporting Life cabinet card ($3,000-$4,000), single-signed baseball ($3,500-$4,500) and "King of the Diamond" cigar box circa 1905-10 ($4,000-$5,000); and Forbes Field artifacts, including (16) original scoreboard numerals circa 1938 ($1,000-$2,000), (10) Forbes Field arched windows ($1,000-$2,000), a row of (5) stadium seats from the Allegheny Club ($2,000-$3,000), and a pitching rubber ($2,500-$3,500).
Game used memorabilia: 1954 Ted Williams Boston Red Sox home jersey ($40,000-$60,000); Duke Snider professional model baseball glove ($10,000-$15,000); Roy Campanella rookie-era professional model baseball bat circa 1948-49 ($10,000-$15,000); 1973 Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves road jersey ($10,000-$15,000); Ted Williams professional model baseball bat circa 1950-60 ($7,500-$10,000); and a circa 1925 Pie Traynor professional model bat with family provenance ($5,000-$7,500).
Vintage autographed materials: 1927 New York Yankees team-signed ball ($30,000-$40,000); Ruth and Lou Gehrig signed photograph ($25,000-$35,000) and baseball ($15,000-$20,000); 1933 American League All-Star team-signed ball ($10,000-$15,000); Ruth single-signed ball with photographic provenance, circa 1930 ($7,500-$10,000); Christy Mathewson signed handwritten album page ($7,500-$10,000); Jackie Robinson double-signed ball ($5,000-$7,500); Gehrig single-signed ball ($5,000-$7,000); and a 1922 Miller Huggins signed Yankees payroll check ($2,500-$3,500).
Vintage baseball cards: significant selection of cards from two private collections, including tobacco, candy, Topps, Bowman, Fleer, and miscellaneous regional issues, with high grade sets, unopened materials, singular rarities, and condition-sensitive issues. Highlights include: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle SGC 84 ($20,000-$30,000); 1932 U.S. Caramel Ruth ($7,500-$10,000); 1953 Topps Jackie Robinson No. 1 ($4,000-$5,000); 1940 Play Ball Ted Williams ($4,000-$5,000); and several Topps sets, including 1953 ($10,000-$15,000), 1956 ($5,000-$7,000) and 1954 ($4,500-$6,500).
The entire auction catalog may be viewed online at www.huntauctions.com. Bids and catalog orders may be placed through the website or by calling (610) 524-0822.
Hunt Auctions, Inc. is currently accepting consignments for several future auctions, including the third annual Louisville Slugger Museum Auction scheduled for the fall of 2006.
