Tom Brady
Historic Pittsburgh Steelers collection highlights Super Bowl Live Auction
Since watching Mean Joe Greene toss a bottle of Coke to a young fan in his famous 1979 commercial, Timothy Kelley has been collecting Pittsburgh Steelers memorabilia.
Kelley went to his first game in 1974 and attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. After pursuing his dream of becoming a sports writer or announcer he ended up serving in the FBI, CIA and with the U.S. Capitol Police.
He never lost his passion for sports and the Steelers, accumulating one of the most significant Steelers and NFL collections over the last 40 years.
According to Hunt Auctions, the Kelley Collection may be the most important collection devoted to a single NFL team. It highlights the 17th annual Super Bowl Live Auction hosted by the NFL and Hunt Auctions. The live auction, which is held during Super Bowl LIX weekend Feb. 7-9 in New Orleans, features over 750 football-related items, including the Kelley Collection.
Many of the items in the collection include direct provenance from the Steelers and have been photo- matched by MeiGray authentication.
Two of the most outstanding pieces are a 1982 Franco Harris game-worn jersey and a 1981-82 Terry Bradshaw game-used helmet. Each piece has a pre-sale estimate of $50,000-$100,000.
“Each year, the Super Bowl Live Auction draws interest from bidders in this country and abroad.” said David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions. “The annual auction has previously featured an amazing roster of important football artifacts with this year’s offering of the Timothy Kelley Collection of Pittsburgh Steelers game-used jerseys ranking among the finest privately held group of its type.
“We are always pleased to present this highly anticipated event which annually generates an impressive related donation to the wonderful charities of the NFL Auction program.”
Other Steelers highlights from the Timothy Kelley Collection include:
• 1982 Jack Lambert Pittsburgh Steelers game-worn jersey. Estimated value: $40,000-$60,000.
• 1982 Jack Ham game-worn jersey. Estimated value: $20,000-$30,000.
• 1978 Rocky Bleier game-worn jersey. Estimated value: $25,000-$50,000)
• 1978 Lynn Swann game-worn jersey. Estimated value: $30,000-$40,000.
The auction also features football memorabilia dating from the 1900s to present, including several noted private collections from longtime hobbyists Gene Hass and Jeff White in addition to former Oakland Raiders equipment manager Richard “Romo” Romanski.
Two significant New England Patriots items include a 2012 Tom Brady game-worn jersey valued at $250,000-$450,000 and Brady’s 2016 New England Patriots Super Bowl ring valued at $50,000-$100,000.
Other auction highlights include:
• 2016 Martellus Bennett New England Patriots Super Bowl ring. Estimated value: $50,000-$100,000.
• 2017 Martellus Bennett New England Patriots AFC Championship ring. Estimated value: $10,000-$20,000.
• 2020 Justin Herbert LA Chargers game-worn rookie jersey from his second NFL Game. Estimated value: $25,000-$50,000.
• Brandon Graham Super Bowl LVII Philadelphia Eagles game-worn jersey. (Estimated value: $10,000-$20,000.
• 2010 Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots rookie game-worn jersey. Estimated value: $50,000-$100,000.
• 2005 Brian Urlacher “The Bus Game” Chicago Bears game-worn jersey. Estimated value: $20,000-$40,000.
• 1961-63 Deacon Jones LA Rams professional model jersey. Estimated value: $25,000-$50,000.
• 1956 Jim Brown Syracuse six touchdown game football. Estimated value: $25,000-$50,000.
