Let the Games Begin: Game-Used Jerseys at Auction, Including Koufax

It might be May on the calendar, but it's about to get a lot hotter thanks to frenzied bidding related to the Summer Games auction taking place courtesy of Grey Flannel.

The company that stars in the reality series All-Star Dealers has rolled out its latest finds and consignments in a 1,100-lot auction that ends May 30. While Grey Flannel is known for serving up highly valuable game-used jerseys (including in this auction), collectors will also find items from the personal collection of Orel Hershiser, championship rings and original Nat Fein photographs.

Game-used jerseys
The game-used jersey selection stretches across the major sports. In baseball, the list is headed by the 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers home jersey of Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. At press time, it already met the $25,000 reserve. In 1965, Koufax helped clinch the World Series for the Dodgers and won the Cy Young Award.

Another gem is the first jersey worn by Reggie Jackson in his Hall of Fame career. From 1967 comes his Kansas City Athletics game-used vest, which he signed and inscribed, “My 1st Rookie Gamer Jersey from Kansas City June 1967.”

Other premier baseball jerseys in the auction include Catfish Hunter’s 1971 Oakland A’s alternate vest, Carl Yastrzemski’s 1972 Boston Red Sox jersey, Joe Cronin’s 1930s Washington Senators uniform, Orel Hershiser’s 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers home jersey (World Series MVP) and examples from Stan Musial and Mike Schmidt.

Football game-used jerseys are led by Larry Csonka’s 1969 AFL Miami Dolphins home jersey that is signed by Csonka, Dan Marino, Don Shula, Nat Moore, Bob Baumhower, Joe Rose and Kim Bokamper.

Joe Namath’s 1972 N.Y. Jets game-used and autographed jersey is also available, along with examples from Billy Cannon, Brett Favre, Willie Wood and Eli Manning.

Hockey jerseys will kick off with a 1989-90 Wayne Gretzky L.A. Kings game-used home jersey and a Bobby Orr 1974 NHL East Division All-Star Game road durene jersey.

Basketball jersey always do well at Grey Flannel, and nothing should differ from the norm in this auction. Among the highlights are Bill Walton’s 1977-78 Portland Trail Blazers game-used home jersey from his MVP season, 1995-96 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls game-used and autographed road jersey, 1973 Jerry West NBA All-Star Western Conference game-used jersey and Kobe Bryant’s L.A. Lakers rookie debut game-used home jersey with shorts from Nov. 3, 1996.

More highlights
One of the most fetching pieces in the auction is Nat Fein’s original and actual wire photo published in the N.Y. Herald Tribune from June 13, 1948, titled “The Babe Bows Out.” The black-and-white photo measures 91/2 inches by 73/4 inches and carries an opening bid of $75,000.

Speaking of Ruth, a couple of baseballs bearing his signature are featured attractions – a 1930 N.Y. Yankees team-signed ball (with Gehrig) and a 1947 Old Timer’s Game at Yankee Stadium that includes 19 Hall of Famer signatures.

Championship rings in the Grey Flannel lineup include Robert Parrish’s 1981 Boston Celtics ring, Walter Gary “Rip” Coleman’s 1956 N.Y. Yankees ring and Keith Kartz’s 1987 Denver Broncos AFC Championship ring.

This and hundreds of other quality lots are in the Grey Flannel auction. For more information and to bid, call (631) 288-7800 or visit www.greyflannel.com.