The sale of the lifetime collection of New York Yankees legend Phil Rizzuto, the oldest living member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, headlines the next auction from Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show.
The Rizzuto Collection is augmented by items from the collection of another long-time fan favorite, Rusty Staub. The auction items can be seen on www.gmrs.com beginning Aug. 22 at which time bidding will begin. The auction ends Sept. 12-13.
The Rizzuto Collection features Rizzuto's 1950 MVP plaque, a LeRoy Neiman original painting from Phil Rizzuto Day, a platinum record from Rizzuto's "Bat Out of Hell" collaboration with Meatloaf, a game-used catcher's mitt from Yogi Berra, signed baseballs to Rizzuto (and his wife Cora) from Joe DiMaggio, game-used caps, unique signed All-Star, Yankee and Red Sox sawed-in-half bats, the special plaque given to the 11 players on the Yankees five consecutive World Championship teams (1949-53), World Series rings, letters from Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, and a treasure trove of photos, scrapbooks, pins, balls, books, programs and ticket stubs.
The auction will also include two special consignments - a Babe Ruth game-used "rookie" bat, manufactured by Spalding and used in the 1914-18 period. The bat, showing heavy use, is the only rookie-era, block-lettered Spalding Ruth pro-model bat known to date, according to authenticator Dave Bushing of Mears. In addition, a complete collection of 1927 Yankee team signatures, including the owner, manager, coaches, trainer and Ruth's mascot, has been assembled as a single lot.
"Phil Rizzuto broke in as a player in 1941 and retired as a broadcaster in 1996," noted Steve Geppi, president of Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show. "He has had a remarkable effect on people for so long. It's an honor to represent his interests in this important auction."
Staub was a teenager when he broke in with the Houston Colt .45's in 1963 as the fifth youngest player in the game, retiring in 1985 as the fourth oldest.
Among the items in the Staub Collection will be his first base mitt from his very first Major League game, a game-worn Expos flannel uniform, a 1986 team-signed Mets baseball, many single signed baseballs, several All-Star team-signed balls (including one with Roberto Clemente), the balls Staub hit for his first home run in the majors, as well as those from his first hit, his 1,000th hit, his 2,000th hit and his 2,500th hit, a home run ball hit by Staub from Game 3 of the 1973 NLCS, a baseball signed by Richard Nixon, his 1969 All-Star Game used bat, and his high school yearbook, which he had signed by Ted Williams.
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will also go to The New York Police and Fire Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund Foundation as well as The Rusty Staub Foundation, the latter which helps provide support to seven emergency food pantry locations in New York City.
For more information on the auction, visit the website or call (877) 762-3749.
