Charles White's Heisman Trophy grabs center stage at Grey Flannel Auctions' Dec. 6 Holiday Auction.
The USC tailback was 1979 winner of the trophy. The minimum bid for the trophy is $250,000. In recent years, prices for the handful of Heismans that have come to market have topped that mark. The most recent Heisman to sell was Bruce Smith, the Minnesota running back from 1941, whose trophy sold for more than $426,000.
"The Heisman is not only a symbol of the best college football player of a particular year, it is an incredible work of art," said Richard Russek, president and CEO of Grey Flannel Auctions. "Charles White was clearly an amazing, exciting runner, just one in an impressive, decades-long line of USC running backs, from Mike Garrett to Reggie Bush."
Sticking with football, the Grey Flannel sale features a complete run of Super Bowl tickets. The 39-ticket collection, going into its 40th anniversary game, carries a minimum bid of $25,000.
Among other football items in the sale are:
? A Y.A. Tittle San Francisco 49ers home flannel jersey from the late 1950s
? A game-used and signed Johnny Unitas San Diego Chargers helmet
? Don Meredith's blue durene Dallas Cowboys jersey from the early 1960s
? Gale Sayers' blue durene Chicago Bears jersey from the late 1960s
? A John Elway 1985 game-used Denver Broncos helmet
The baseball inventory in the Grey Flannel sale is headlined by a game-used Pirates hat worn by Roberto Clemente, with a letter of authenticity from the Clemente family. Also on the docket is a road flannel jersey worn by former New York Giants manager Leo Durocher.
Maury Allen's New York Mets 1969 World Series championship ring is in the auction, as is a game-used Tom Seaver road jersey from 1977.
A complete 1952 Topps Baseball set, which features many cards that are graded, tops the baseball card section of the auction.
Meanwhile, a Ted Williams game-used Red Sox home flannel jersey from the mid-1950s and a program from the first opening day at Yankee Stadium (April 18, 1923) also are highlights of the auction.
Other major sports are represented, including boxing. Muhammad Ali fight-worn trunks are on the block. These trunks, white field with red trim, are signed by both Ali and trainer/corner man, Angelo Dundee. Below Ali's signature is a unique drawing of a boxing ring.
Among the basketball items in the auction are game-used road jerseys worn by Magic Johnson (Lakers), LeBron James (Cavaliers) and Michael Jordan (Bulls). James' jersey is autographed.
In hockey, a New York Rangers bench that held some of the game's greatest players from 1968 to 1998 is available.
The Grey Flannel sale also features Americana items. One item is Christopher Reeve's original Superman costume. Currency collectors will compete for an 1875 $10 National Bank Note from the National New Haven Bank in Connecticut.
For more information, visit the catalog online at www.greyflannelauctions.com. A glossy printed catalog also is available. For details, call (631) 288-7800.
