Ruth, Beatles autographs lead URA’s recent sale

The Beatles consistently rule the auction world. Universal Rarities Auctions' Oct. 20 auction wasn't any different. An autographed program from the Royal Premiere of "Help!," at the London Pavilion on July 29, 1965, led the sale with a price of $8,384.

"It was signed by all the guys and their girlfriends," said Jeff Woolf, Universal Rarities director of operations. "It was actually signed for Ringo's cousin."

A signed first published photo of The Beatles, which included the lineup after Ringo Starr joined the band after they fired Pete Best, came in second in the auction with a selling price of $7,621.

"We're very happy with the results," Woolf said. "We had a strong turnout and we feel we do well all across the board, be it entertainment, sports, presidential, historical and even glamorous stuff. Everyone has an Americana section of their auction, but we make it a point to really diversify our auctions and we feel people appreciate that and they show it by giving us strong bidding.

"We had our fair share of surprises," he continued. "We had a Tiger Woods British Open flag that went for more than $1,700. Upper Deck retails them for $1,200, so someone paid $1,700 plus the buyer's premium for it."

Babe Ruth led the sports side of the auction with a single-signed baseball circa 1933 that was hammered down for $6,868, while a Ruth-signed OAL (Harridge) baseball sold for $6,096.

Meanwhile, a Ty Cobb single-signed baseball brought $5,937 in the auction. Reggie Bush's 2005 signed game-used USC Trojans Jersey sold for $5,726.

"The thing about Reggie Bush and why he holds a strong value on college material is he's proven himself on the college level," Woolf said. "With football players, you can divide their careers into two separate areas - their college career and pro career. The fact that Reggie wore this jersey the year he won the Heisman that solidifies that he is a college football legend."
In addition, a Christy Mathewson signed bank check, which was endorsed on the back side, sold for $5,205.

"This shows the difference between a personal check and an endorsed check," Woolf said. "We did well with the one we had, but it really shows how the value delineates between a personal check from the athlete vs. one that is made out to them and signed by them on the back. It's amazing if there is a signature on the other side of the check and it's worth so much more."

Universal Rarities Auction Results
Oct. 20, 2006

Descriptions provided by auction company Total ($)
The Beatles: Vintage Group Signed Premiere Program for "Help!" (1965) $8,384
The Beatles: (1962) First Published Photo w/Ringo Starr Signed by the Fab Four $7,621
Babe Ruth Superb Single Signed Baseball (c.1933) $6,868
Babe Ruth Signed OAL (Harridge) Baseball $6,096
Ty Cobb Exceptional Single Signed Baseball $5,937
Reggie Bush 2005 Signed Game Used USC Trojans Jersey (Heisman Year) $5,726
Christy Mathewson Scarce Signed Bank Check $5,205
Lance Armstrong 2002 Tour de France Signed & Worn Podium Jersey $5,205
Shaquille O'Neal 2001-02 Game Used NBA Finals Jersey $4,163
1996 Cal Ripken Jr. Game Worn "Turn Back The Clock" Jersey $4,157
500 Home Run Club Signed Ron Lewis Lithograph Display PSA Graded 10 Gem Mint $3,686
2005 Peyton Manning Game Used Colts Home Jersey $3,436
Lou Gehrig Signed 1/4 Scale Model Baseball Bat $3,123
Kobe Bryant 2005-06 Complete Game Uniform w/Jersey & Shorts $3,047
Mickey Mantle: Lot of Ten (10) Signed Limited Edition Lithographs $2,518
Babe Ruth Signed Bank Check $2,345
Lou Gehrig Vintage Signed Album Page $2,235
LeBron James 2003-04 (Rookie Season) Game Used Shoes $2,158
Tiger Woods Signed 2000 British Open Pin Flag $2,032
Ted Williams: Lot of Seven (7) Signed OAL Baseballs PSA Graded 7.5 NM+ $1,720
Derek Jeter 1999 World Series Game Used Hat $1,622
2005-06 Miami Heat (NBA Champs) Signed Gold NBA Finals Basketball $1,617
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson & Larry Bird Triple Signed Basketball $1,617
Alex Rodriguez: Lot of Twelve (12) Signed OML Baseballs PSA Graded 9.5 Mint+ $1,564
Muhammad Ali & Mickey Mantle Signed 11 x 14 Photograph $1,526
Lance Armstrong Signed Team USA Cycling Vest $1,526
Ty Cobb Handwritten Signed Letter with Excellent Content $1,512
Michael Jordan Impressive Signed "Wings" Nike Poster $1,475
Willie Mays: Lot of Twelve (12) Signed OML Baseballs PSA Graded 9 Mint $1,410
Reggie Jackson Signed Game Used Baseball Bat $1,347
Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant Dual Signed Basketball $1,215
Mike Schmidt Signed & Game Used Bat from 1981 MVP Season $1,187
500 Home Run Club Signed Framed Ron Lewis Art Print $1,147
1936 New York Giants Team Signed Baseball w/Ott, Hubbell, etc. $1,147
Alex Rodriguez Signed Game Used Louisville Slugger Bat $1,147
Circa 1938 NY Yankees Team Signed Baseball w/Gehrig, Dimaggio (WS Champs) $1,067
Michael Jordan Signed 1998 Victor Awards Presentation Statue $1,007
Michael Jordan & LeBron James Dual Signed NBA Basketball $1,005
Shaquille O'Neal Game Worn 2004 NBA All-Star Warm-Ups $969
Michael Jordan & Muhammad Ali Dual Signed Baseball $947
Alex Rodriguez Game Used Gloves & Signed Canvas Display $947
Jackie Robinson Superb Signed Check $830
Albert Pujols Game Used "X-Bat" Model Baseball Bat $830
Kobe Bryant Game Worn & Signed Basketball Shoes $757
Bartolo Colon Game Used Custom Baseball Glove $754
LeBron James Signed L.E. Game Model Shoes $729
Tris Speaker Typed Signed Letter w/"10" Signature $691
Football HOF Signed Helmet w/8 Sigs (Namath, Elway, etc.) $691
2005 Pittsburgh Steelers Team Signed Super Bowl XL Helmet $691
2005-06 Miami Heat (NBA Champs) Signed I/O Basketball $686
2005 Hideki Matsui Game Used Baseball Bat $686
Sandy Koufax Signed Commemorative Bat $670
Vince Lombardi Signed Bank Check to Jerry Kramer $670
Shaquille O' Neal Game Worn Basketball Shoes $670
Homerun Kings: Hank Aaron & Sadaharu Oh Dual Signed Baseball $663
Mark McGwire Game Used Baseball Bat $646
500 Home Run Club Signed Baseball (9 Signatures) $629
Mike Piazza Game Used Mets Hat $629
Michael Jordan Signed Framed "Victory" Poster $624
Vladimir Guerrero Signed Game Used Bat $624
Muhammad Ali & George Foreman Signed Boxing Gloves $609
Muhammad Ali Signed Boxing Glove $609
2006 Team Italy Signed World Cup Soccer Ball (22 sigs) $609
Mickey Mantle Impressive Signed 16 x 20 Photograph $553
Triple Crown Winners Signed Ron Lewis Lithograph $519
LeBron James Signed L.E. High School Jersey (#'d to 100) $519
Mickey Mantle Signed & Framed 16 x 20 Photograph $519
Kobe Bryant Signed Spalding Game Issued Basketball $517
Kobe Bryant Signed Game Used Lakers Warm-Up Shirt $503
Kirby Puckett Game Used Baseball Bat $457