Vintage Authentic's Historic Auction Goes Live Online July 22
Bidding Concludes August 11 For Historic Items, Including Wagner Bat, Gehrig Jersey and Run of Bats
From 500 HR And 3,000 Hit Club Members
Sports hobbyists, historians and collectors the world over will turn their attention to a remarkable
event beginning Friday, July 22, when Vintage Authentics brings to market some of the most amazing
items ever offered at auction.
The auction, conducted online, by phone or by fax, will conclude at 10 PM EDT on Thursday, August 11,
and will feature 732 impressive lots, highlighted by:
The locally made "Pittsburg Lucky Special" Honus Wagner bat which he gave to Hillerich &
Bradsby around 1905, to produce the first ever signature Louisville Slugger bat. Until this time,
players had their bats produced locally. The Wagner bat moved Louisville Slugger brand bats into the
national consciousness as an important equipment adjunct of Major League Baseball, made Wagner the
first player to have a signature branded bat, and began a practice still in force today. The bat,
graded an A10* for its historic value, has never before been auctioned, and will have a starting bid
of $100,000. Due to the excessive repairs consistent with multiple seasons use, it is even possible
that the bat was used in the first modern World Series, 1903.
A Lou Gehrig game used Yankee jersey from the 1933-34 period, worn during his MVP, Triple Crown season
of ’34, and possibly worn in the 1934 All Star Game when Carl Hubbell famously struck out five consecutive
future Hall of Famers, including Gehrig. Bearing the L. Gehrig red stitching in the collar and manufactured
by Spalding, the uniform has gained great attention because few Yankee uniforms of that era survived the
weardown process of being sent to the minor leagues. A Babe Ruth road jersey from the same era recently
went at auction for $944,000. The starting bid on the Gehrig jersey is $200,000.
A complete run of game used bats from every member of the 500 home run club (including the long deceased
Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx and Mel Ott), and a complete run of game used bats from every 20th century member of
the 3,000 hit club (leaving only Cap Anson out). This includes the newest member, Rafael Palmiero, as well
as hard to obtain bats from Paul Waner, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie, and
Roberto Clemente. While being sold as individual lots, no auction company has ever offered such an awesome
display in a single catalog before. The Mickey Mantle bat used during the All Star game in his historic
1961 season has an estimated value of $65,000-$75,000 and is the highlight of the 500 Home Run Club collection.
The Ruth and Ott bats are estimated as being worth $35,000 each, and the Aaron bat, $30,000. The estimated
value of the 3,000 hit club bats is some $160,000, and the 500 Home Run Club some $250,000. Topping the list
in anticipated value is Lajoie at $25,000, followed by Cobb and Wagner, (which was a coach’s bat), at $20,000.
In addition, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson’s 1917-1920 game used signature model Louisville Slugger bat will
be auctioned, along with Rogers Hornsby 1928 game used road flannel, Joe DiMaggio’s game used 1940’s road flannel
(year undetermined, but cannot rule out possibility of it being the uniform he wore when his 56 game hitting
streak ended), and Roberto Clemente’s game used 1970 jersey.
The auction will culminate on Thursday, August 11, 2005, at 10 PM EDT. Bids can be placed via phone, fax (763-208-2890),
and email. (staff@vintageauthentics.com) Visit www.vintageauthentics.com or call 866-304-3090 for more information.
Vintage Authentics is a sports memorabilia auction company based in Golden Valley, MN. Steve Jensen, Mark Redmond
and Ryan Guldberg are the founders, partners and co-CEOs.
Source: Vintage Authentics
Date: July 20, 2005
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