COMPLIMENTARY COPY TM
The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 45, NO. 50 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014
Hats Off To DiMaggio And Ruth! Game-Used Caps Crown A Lineup Of Sports Treasures, Including Michael Jordan’s Earliest Known Game-Used College Sneakers, In Grey Flannel’s Dec. 17 Holiday Auction he VIP hat rack is full at Grey Flannel Auctions’ Wednesday, Dec. 17, holiday auction, where caps from New York Yankee immortals Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio will be offered. “It’s totally coincidental that two of the rarest and most coveted baseball caps of all time found their way to the same auction, but it’s our good fortune that they did. We’re tremendously
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history all on its own.” The cap has “US” embroidered on the front, and inside the sweatband, the name “Babe Ruth” is embroidered in chain stitching. The cap is accompanied by an LOA from the consignor, who was close friends with a prominent person in the Babe Ruth
This baseball cap was game-used by Babe Ruth during the 1934 tour of Japan. There is a $50,000 reserve.
proud to be offering these unique items to collectors,” said Richard E. Russek, president of Grey Flannel Auctions. The game-used Babe Ruth cap, which was sourced from the Ruth family more than 30 years ago, is the only example known to have been worn by the Bambino during his 1934 tour of Japan, which took place only weeks after his departure from the Yankees. The Dec. 17 Grey Flannel event marks the first time the Ruth cap from the historic tour of Japan has ever come to auction. “The 1934 tour made headlines around the world,” said Russek. “Nearly half a million Japanese fans lined the streets of Tokyo to welcome the great f o r m e r - Ya n k e e ballplayer, who rode through the Ginza district in an opentop limousine. He and his teammates stayed in Japan for a month and played 18 exhibition games against Japanese players in 12 cities. That tour was a chapter in baseball The circa-1980s Julius “Dr J” Erving Philadelphia 76ers game-used uniform has a $5,000 reserve.
Baseball Little League organization, who in turn had obtained it directly from the Ruth family. The minimum bid on the cap, which will also open the auction as Lot #1, is $50,000. A circa-1937 rookie-era Yankees cap that was game-used by the great Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, is entered as Lot #635. The rare navy blue wool cap with NY logo is in beautiful, all-original condition. Embroidered inside the sweatband is “7 J. DiMaggio.” The consignor’s family has owned and treasured the DiMaggio cap since the day the legendary slugger took it off his head and handed it to them. The auction reserve on this item is $25,000. Other highlights in the sale include Lot #4, a 1932 New York Ya n k e e s baseball t e a m signed by arguably the best hitting lineup ever assembled. The baseball holds signatures from 10 Hall of Fame inductees, including
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. It has Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame an optimal display factor, with the exhibit that was on display in Ruth and Gehrig signature each Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers rating a near 9 and prominently dis- Stadium, it is accompanied by played adjacent to one another. the original cardboard disSourced from a member of the play from that exhibit. The New York Yankees’ grounds crew, reserve is $5,000. Lot #410 is future first-ballot Hall its reserve is $5,000. Lot #17 is Derek Jeter’s game- of Fame inductee Peyton game-used used and autographed home pin- Manning’s stripe jersey from a milestone Denver Broncos road jergame, where he recorded his sey, which was worn on 3,110th hit, tying childhood idol Dec. 12, 2013. In this Dave Winfield. The jersey was “Orange Crush” jerworn on April 19, 2012, and has sey, Manning threw been conclusively photo-matched. for 289 yards and The reserve is $2,500. Lot #62 is a two touchdowns. Gary Carter game-used The reserve is home run baseball $2,500. Michael Jordan’s from Game 4 of University of North the 1986 World Carolina Tar Heels freshSeries. Carter perman year game- This Joe Dimaggio game-used circasonally inscribed the used and auto- 1937 rookie-era Yankees cap with baseball, and it capgraphed sneakers stitching inside sweatband that reads tures all the spirit will be Lot “7 J. DiMaggio” holds a $25,000 from the 1986 #500. These reserve. “Miracle Mets” sneakers were reserve is $5,000. This lot and season. The aucconsigned to other Julius Erving items in Grey tion reserve is Grey Flannel Flannel’s sale include his 1978 $2,500. Lot by a child- Atlanta NBA All-Star ring and his #357 is hood friend 20,000-career-points, game-used A r n o l d of Jordan’s basketball. They all come with Palmer ’s provenance from and have direct Masters i m p e c c a - Dr. J. TournamentGrey Flannel’s Holiday aucble proveworn monon a n c e . tion will close for bidding on grammed They are Dec. 17. The fully illustrated sweater from the earli- electronic version of the catalog his final e s t is major victoavailable at k n o w n , www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com. ry in 1964. fully docThe sweater For additional information, Arnold Palmer’s Masters u m e n t e d call 631-288-7800, ext. 223, boasts a Tournament-worn monog a m e - or email info@greyflannel unique comgrammed sweater from his u s e d auctions.com. bination of final major victory in 1964 Jordan having been holds a $5,000 reserve. Images courtesy Grey Flannel sneakers in Auctions. worn by one existence. of the best players of all time in the most The auction reserve is $5,000. prestigious tour- Lot #633 is a circa-1980s nament the Julius “Dr. J” Erving sport has to Philadelphia 76ers gameo f f e r . used uniform. This Originally classic-style part of a N B A jersey may This base- b e ball was t h e signed by 10 finest Dr. J of the 1932 uniform in New York the hobby. The Yankees, including Babe Ruth and These were Michael Jordan’s University of North Carolina Tar Heels Lou Gehrig. There is a $5,000 freshman year game-used and autographed sneakers. They hold a $5,000 reserve. reserve.
In this composite image, the stitching is visible on the sweatband inside Joe Dimaggio’s circa- In this composite image, Babe Ruth is shown wearing the cap, which has “US” on the front and his name chain-stitched inside the sweatband. 1937 rookie-era game-used cap reading “7 J. DiMaggio.”