The Biggest Auctions in Sports Collectibles History
As a sports fan, there’s no better way to express your love and dedication to your favorite team or player than by getting your hands on a piece of history. Sports auctions have made this possible for fans for many years, and they continue to do so today. Tomorrow, we will hold an auction several hall of fame baseball cards signed by the inducted players like Tom Glavine and Warren Spahn. To view the auction check out our eBay store. But what are the biggest auctions in sports and baseball history? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most impressive and expensive sports memorabilia auctions ever held.
Babe Ruth’s 1920s New York Yankees jersey
Back in 2012, the jersey worn by legendary baseball player Babe Ruth during his time with the New York Yankees in the 1920s was sold in auction for a whopping $4.4 million, setting a record for the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia sold at the time. It’s easy to see why this is the case, as Ruth is an icon in the baseball world, and any piece of his memorabilia is considered rare and valuable.
Jesse Owens’ 1936 Olympics gold medal
The 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany were hotly contested as the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler sought to use the games for propaganda purposes. Despite the hostile environment, American track and field star Jesse Owens managed to come away with four gold medals, cementing his place in athletics history. The most valuable of his medals: the one he won in the 100m dash, which sold in 2013 for more than $1.4 million.
Honus Wagner’s 1909 baseball card
One of the most famous baseball cards ever printed, the Honus Wagner T206 card is incredibly rare, with only around 50 known to exist. The card is named after the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, who refused to allow his image to be used on the card, which only adds to its mystique. In a 2013 auction, the card sold for an incredible $2.1 million.
Michael Jordan’s 1986-87 Fleer rookie card
No list of expensive sports memorabilia would be complete without the inclusion of Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls legend’s rookie card has long been considered one of the most valuable in the world, with collectors constantly fighting over it in various auctions. In 2020, a PSA 10 version of the card sold for $738,000, breaking the previous record for a Jordan rookie card.
The original Olympic Games manifesto
In 2019, the original Olympic Games manifesto, written by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1892, was sold in auction for $8,806,500. The manuscript laid out the vision for the modern Olympic Games, which have grown into the biggest sporting event in the world. While it’s not technically sports memorabilia, it’s certainly one of the most important documents in sports history.
Barry Bonds 715th MLB Home Run ball
On May 28, 2006, the San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds hit his 715th home run to eclipse Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list, moving up to second. This historic home run ball was hit an estimated 445 feet, and was seemingly to far for anyone to catch as it lodged on an elevated platform in center field. While waiting in line for beer, Andrew Morbitzer saw the ball trickle off the roof and caught it with one hand. On this day in 2006, Morbitzer sold that home run ball for nearly $250,000, and said, "For standing in line waiting for a beer and something to eat - you can't be unhappy with an amount like that."
Sports auctions have long been a way for fans to connect with their idols and team history. The biggest auctions in sports/baseball history give us a glimpse into the rarest and most valuable pieces of memorabilia that exist, allowing us to own a piece of history from greats. From Babe Ruth’s jersey to the Honus Wagner baseball card, these auctions have shown us that sports memorabilia can bring an extravagant price. If you too want to own history, have a look at our auction starting tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. ET.