At a recent Christie’s and Hunt Auctions event, baseball enthusiasts and collectors gathered to bid on and acquire some extraordinary pieces of baseball history. The auction, which featured notable items from the Geddy Lee Collection, surpassed expectations and amassed over $6.8 million in total sales.
The star attractions of the event were a rare 1938 Babe Ruth Brooklyn Dodgers uniform and a significant 1968 Hank Aaron jersey. The Babe Ruth uniform, representing his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, fetched an impressive $882,000. It is a testament to the enduring allure of one of the greatest players in baseball history. As for the Hank Aaron jersey, worn when he hit his landmark 500th career home run, it drew significant attention and sold for an impressive $567,000.
But the auction offered much more than just these iconic jerseys. One of the standout items from the Geddy Lee Collection was a single-signed baseball by President Herbert Hoover. This unique piece, estimated to fetch $25,000, far surpassed expectations and sold for an astounding $214,200. It is a testament to the enduring fascination with historical artifacts and the connection between baseball and American history.
Another highlight from the Geddy Lee Collection was a Mickey Mantle-signed baseball with an inscription about Brooks Robinson’s play at third base. This item, valued for its historical significance and Mantle’s affiliation with one of the greatest third basemen of all time, sold for $30,240.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing pieces on offer was a photograph from the Gladstone Collection. The photo depicted Civil War soldiers with baseball equipment, showcasing the historical significance of baseball during such a tumultuous period in American history. This unique piece drew significant attention and sold for an impressive $113,400, greatly exceeding its $10,000 estimate.
David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions, expressed his honor in representing these extraordinary collections. The auction results not only showcased the robust market for historic baseball memorabilia but also emphasized the high value placed on items from significant private collections. It is a testament to the enduring fascination with and reverence for baseball’s history and the players who made it memorable.
Overall, the recent Christie’s and Hunt Auctions event was a resounding success, with baseball enthusiasts and collectors eagerly bidding on and acquiring extraordinary pieces of baseball history. From a rare Babe Ruth Dodgers uniform to a significant Hank Aaron jersey, coupled with other notable items, the auction confirmed the enduring passion for and appreciation of baseball’s storied past.