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Historic game-worn and game-used memorabilia from baseball, NBA legends highlight Grey Flannel auction
Rare, historical sports memorabilia is on the rise, as evidenced by recent record sales of game-worn jerseys, uniforms, shoes and a wide variety of game-used equipment.
Sports collectors have shown a strong attraction to special items with historical significance, especially from Hall of Fame legends.
Grey Flannel Auctions has some significant and impressive items in its 2023 Holiday Auction, including historic items from Baseball Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Roberto Clemente and NBA legends Jerry West, Pete Maravich and Dr. J Julius Erving.
The auction, which features more than 1,100 lots, opens Monday, Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 10.
The auction is highlighted by a 1956 game-used glove that Koufax, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, used in his second season with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The 20-year-old lefty wore the Rawlings leather glove when he helped the Dodgers win their second straight National League pennant in 1956. It includes a pair of distinctive inscriptions from Koufax — his “32” uniform number near the wrist strap and one of his nicknames (“Koo Foo”) on the back of the pinky finger sleeve. Bidding begins $25,000.
“This is a rare find indeed, one that stretches back to Sandy’s earliest days in Major League Baseball,” said Michael Russek, director of operations at Grey Flannel Auctions. “His career speaks for itself and we’re confident this glove will generate plenty of action.”
Also featured is Clemente’s 1962 game-used glove. The 15-time All-Star wore the outfielder’s glove during the 1962 season, when he batted .312 and recorded a .973 fielding percentage with 270 putouts and 19 assists to win his second straight Gold Glove. The opening bid is $10,000.
“As a ballplayer, Roberto had few rivals. He was an incredible batter and just as accomplished in the outfield with his amazing arm and glove,” Russek said. “As a person, he defined what it means to be unselfish and was beloved by people across the globe. We feel very fortunate to share this special item with collectors worldwide and look forward to seeing what his game-used glove fetches at auction."
Jerry West was known as “Mr. Clutch” during his Hall of Fame career, leading the L.A. Lakers to nine NBA Finals and the 1972 NBA championship with a then-record 69 regular-season wins. He was so popular and revered as a player that he remains the “logo-man” on the trademark NBA logo. West was just as successful as an NBA executive, helping the Lakers win six NBA championships and the Golden State Warriors two.
The Grey Flannel auction features West’s game-worn Lakers home jersey from 1972 season, in which he averaged 25.8 points and 9.7 assists and was named MVP of the All-Star Game. Bidding starts at $5,000.
No one electrified the NBA more than Dr. J, the high-flying Hall of Famer who won two ABA titles and one NBA championship. Grey Flannel is offering the Philadelphia 76ers warm-up jacket Erving wore throughout the 1976-77 season, including the 1977 NBA All-Star Game where he was named MVP. The jacket is photo-matched to two game images and includes Erving’s bold signature along the base of the right front tail. Bidding opens at $5,000.
Just as Erving thrilled fans with his acrobatic dunks, Pete Maravich dazzled them with his creative ball-handling and long-range shooting. Also featured is “Pistol Pete’s” circa 1977 New Orleans Jazz game-used uniform with jersey and shorts. Maravich led the league in scoring in 1977 with 31.1 points per game.
The uniform shows heavy game wear and the jersey has been photo-matched and graded a perfect 10. Bidding starts at $10,000.
