Vintage baseball items dominate American Memorabil

At the conclusion of American Memorabilia's June auction, there should be no doubt that baseball is still America's pastime. Eight of the top 10 items in the auction were baseball items. The auction contained 893 lots, which received a total of 8,292 bid for an action total of $499,664.

Leading the way was a Roberto Clemente game-used bat graded PSA GU 8.5. The bat was used during the period between 1969 and '72. The bat received 16 bids, and sold for $24,929.

Next in line was another baseball item, but it wasn't a piece of memorabilia. Rather, it was a 1914 Christy Mathewson Cracker Jack card (No. 88) graded SGC 40 VG 3. The card received 16 bids and sold for $18,077.

Other baseball items in the top 10 included: a 1960s Mickey Mantle game-worn Yankees helmet with military stencil logo that sold for $12,791; a 1998 Yankees world championship full-size salesman's sample trophy ($12,791); a 1923 Yankee Stadium opening day program ($11,054); a 1931 Yankees team-signed ball, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri signatures ($9,276); a 1973-75 Thurman Munson game-used bat graded PSA GU 9 ($8,433); and a Tris Speaker single-signed AL Harridge ball ($8,305).

Other highlighted baseball items included: a 2001 Albert Pujols game-used rookie jersey with American patch ($7,550); a Ruth signed counter check graded PSA 9 ($5,707); a 1992 Pedro Martinez game-worn Dodgers rookie home jersey and pants ($4,978); a 1993 Mike Piazza game-worn Dodgers rookie home jersey ($4,687); a 1923 World Series wire photo ($3,397); a 2004 Curt Schilling game-worn Red Sox home jersey ($3,090); and a 1981 Pete Rose game-used, signed, notated bat graded PSA GU 7.5 ($3,090); a 1992 Chipper Jones game-worn, signed twice Durham Bulls jersey ($3,090); a 1956 Mantle signed LIFE magazine with "MVP '56, '57, '62" inscription ($2,809); a Joe DiMaggio signed, inscribed bat "Yankee Clipper" and Ball "#5" display ($2,686); a 1975 Carlton Fisk game-worn Red Sox home jersey ($2,646); a 2003 Greg Maddux game-worn Braves road jersey ($2,463); a Munson signed, personal photograph ($2,406); a Kevin Mitchell signed, game-worn 1989 Giants jersey from his MVP season ($2,224); and a late 1970s Lou Brock game-used, signed bat ($2,113).

The top selling football item was a 2003 Reggie Bush game-worn, signed USC jersey from his freshman year. The jersey, in unwashed state, received 27 bids and sold for $13,582.

Other top selling football items included: a Charley Taylor game-worn, signed and inscribed Redskins helmet ($7,666); a 1973-74 O.J. Simpson game-worn jersey with three repairs worn during his 2,003 yard era ($5,759); a 1977 Joe Namath game-worn Rams jersey ($5,759); an early 1970s Jim Marshall Vikings road jersey ($4,261); an early 1970s Carl Eller Vikings purple mesh game-worn jersey ($3,873); a late 1960s Larry Wilson Cardinals Rawlings helmet ($3,873); a 1992 John Elway Broncos game-worn orange crush style jersey ($3,368); a Wilson early-mid 1960s Cardinals Durene warm-up jacket ($3,090); and a late 1980s Reggie White game-worn Eagles jersey ($2,187).

Highlighted basketball items in the auction included: a Press and Pete Maravich signed basketball ($8,725); a 1992-93 Michael Jordan game-worn Bulls jersey ($4,760); a 1966-67 Knicks promo poster ($3,581); a mid-1960s Jerry Sloan game-worn Bulls home jersey ($2,911); a UDA Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird multi-signed photo ($2,406); and a circa 1976 Artis Gilmore game-worn Bulls home jersey ($1,918).

Other highlighted items in the auction included: a Ronald Reagan single-signed ball ($4,261); a Lily Munster costume worn by Yvonne DeCarlo in "The Munsters" ($2,646); a Wayne Gretzky record seven-point game puck with team LOA, the actual puck used to score the historic goal ($2,554); a Tiger Woods signed original artwork with rare inscription "All the Best" ($2,325); and a 1951 Topps "Ringside" boxing card collection (Penny Marshall Collection) ($1,547).

For complete auction results, visit www.americanmemorabilia.com.