Phil Rizzuto Auction, Paired with Rusty Staub Collection, Goes Live from Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show September 12-13
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The heralded auction of the lifetime collection of New York Yankee immortal Phil Rizzuto, the oldest living member of the Baseball
Hall of Fame, headlines the auction culminating September 12-13 from Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show.
The Rizzuto Collection is augmented by the sterling collection of the great Rusty Staub, who still ranks 11th all time in Major
League history in games played, and whose career included enormously popular stops in Houston, Montreal, New York, Texas and
Detroit. Few have ever won over the fans in so many cities as did "Le Grand Orange."
The auction items can be seen on www.gmrs.com beginning Tuesday, August 22 at
which time bidding will begin.
The Rizzuto Collection features Phil's 1950 MVP plaque, a Leroy Neiman original painting from Phil Rizzuto Day, a platinum record
from his collaboration with Meatloaf, a game used catcher's mitt from Yogi Berra, signed baseballs to Phil (and his wife Cora) from
Joe DiMaggio, game used caps (including the original wad of bubble gum on top), unique signed All-Star, Yankee and Red Sox sawed-in-half
bats, the special plaque given to the 11 players on the Yankees five consecutive World Championship teams (1949-53), World Series rings,
letters from Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, and a treasure trove of photos, scrapbooks, pins, balls, books, programs, and ticket
stubs.
"Phil Rizzuto broke in as a player in 1941 and retired as a broadcaster in 1996," noted Steve Geppi, president of Geppi's
Memorabilia Road Show. "His younger fans from the '90s will hold him dear well after the century mark of his debut. He has
had a remarkable effect on people for so long. It's an honor to represent his interests in this important auction."
The auction will also include two special consignments – a Babe Ruth Game Used "Rookie" bat, manufacturing by Spalding
and used in the 1914-1918 period. The bat, showing heavy use, is the only rookie era block lettered Spalding Babe Ruth pro-model
bat known to date, according to authenticator Dave Bushing of Mears. In addition, a complete collection of 1927 New York Yankee
team signatures, including the owner, manager, coaches, trainer and Babe Ruth's mascot, has been assembled as a single lot.
The '27 Yankees continue to be counted among the greatest teams – legendary in fact – of all time.
Rusty Staub was a teenage wonder when he broke in with the Houston Colt .45's in 1963 as the 5th youngest player in the game,
retiring in 1985 as the fourth oldest.
Among the items in The Rusty Staub Collection will be his first base mitt from his very first Major League game, a game-worn Expos
flannel uniform, a 1986 team-signed Mets baseball, many single signed baseballs, several All Star team signed balls, including one
with Roberto Clemente, his first Major League home run ball, hit off Don Drysdale, the balls from his first hit, his 1000th hit,
his 2000th hit and his 2500th hit, his last outfielder's mitt, used to make a celebrated catch down the right field line against
the Pirates in a key late season 1985 game, a home run ball he hit from Game #3 of the 1973 NLCS against Cincinnati, a baseball
signed by Richard Nixon, his 1969 All Star Game used bat, and his high school yearbook, which he had signed by Ted Williams.
Rusty has long been associated with The New York Police and Fire Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund Foundation, Inc, which became
particularly high profile after 9/11. The organization has raised more than $140 million since he founded it. In addition to the
Fund, a portion of the proceeds from the auction will also go to The Rusty Staub Foundation - a major program of which is the
seven emergency food pantry locations in the five boroughs of New York City that do over 600,000 meals a year.
Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show specializes in collections consigned directly from players, their families or their representatives.
The company is headquartered at 1966 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, Maryland 21093. The telephone number is 877-ROAD-SHW. (877-762-3749)
or +011 (410)427-9456 outside the US. The website is http://www.gmrs.com.
Source: Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show
Date: August 7, 2006
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