Robert Edward Auctions, one of the world's leading specialty auction houses devoted exclusively to the sale of rare baseball cards, memorabilia and Americana, recently announced the lineup for its spring auction, which will feature a variety of items including a T206 Honus Wagner, considered the most valuable baseball card in the world. The card is expected to sell for $1 million. Also in the sale will be a Babe Ruth Sporting News rookie baseball card; a complete, game-worn Thurman Munson Yankees uniform; an Augusta National Green Jacket; New York Yankees World Series rings; sports uniforms; movie posters; and other memorabilia items.
The auction began on April 2. Qualifying bids must be submitted by Saturday, April 25, at 9 p.m. (EST). Qualified bidders will then be able to participate in an extended bidding session that will continue until no bids have been received for 15 consecutive minutes. Interested bidders can visit www.RobertEdwardAuctions.com, to register, view real-time bids and access information on all available items.
"Over the past decade, Robert Edward Auctions has handled the sale of more than $100 million of baseball cards and memorabilia, including some of the rarest and most valuable items in the field. Consistent with that tradition, this auction features a variety of items from some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, from Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays to The Three Stooges, “The Sopranos” and more," said Brian Dwyer, consignment director of Robert Edward Auctions.
Highlights in the sale include the following:
The 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner PSA 3 baseball card was found in an Oceanside, N.Y., attic in 2008. This Honus Wagner, nicknamed the “Oceanside Wagner," was sold the same year by its original owner's family at an estate auction for $791,000. Purchased by a Robert Edward Auctions consignor, where it remained in a private collection for seven years, its new buyer will be only the third owner in the card's 106-year existence. Approximately 50 to 75 T206 Honus Wagner's are believed to exist and this card is one of the finest examples ever evaluated. It received a 3 on a scale of 10 by a professional, third-party grading service. Only four T206 Honus Wagner cards have ever received a higher grade. Bidding will open at $100,000; however, the card is estimated to sell for more than $1 million.
The 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Babe Ruth rookie card features one of the most legendary players of all time as a rookie with the Boston Red Sox. Ruth was famously traded from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees, the team for which he is best known to have played. The card was issued as a promotional vehicle for the Sporting News and bears advertising for the publications on its reverse. Owned by the same family since the 1980s, this rare card is being sold publicly for the first time. It has been professionally graded and evaluated 6 out of 10 by a third-party grading company. Bidding will open at $25,000; however, this baseball card is expected to sell for more than $100,000.
A 1979 Thurman Munson New York Yankees game-worn pinstripe home uniform complete with jersey and pants originated directly from Diana Munson, widow of Thurman Munson, who sold items from her collection at public auction in 2008. Munson attests that this is one of the last uniforms ever worn by her late husband, a Yankees favorite who died tragically on Aug. 2, 1979. The first New York Yankees team captain since Lou Gehrig, this uniform is one of only two complete Munson uniforms ever offered at public auction, and the only one originating directly from the Munson family. It has been evaluated as a perfect 10 out of 10 by a third-party memorabilia grading company. Bidding will open at $25,000; however, the uniform is estimated to sell for more than $50,000 at auction.
A 2009 New York Yankees World Series ring presented to a front office employee has a total of 119 diamonds of varying sizes and is the exact style, size, weight and design as rings issued to players on the 2009 team. The bidding will open at $5,000; however, the ring is estimated to sell for more than $20,000.
The Augusta National Golf Club Green Jacket is one of the most recognizable articles of clothing in professional sports and is awarded each year to the winner of the Masters Tournament. A Green Jacket is also given to members of the iconic Augusta National Golf Club. This 1999 jacket formerly belonged to W. Ron Alexander, one of only three Scottish members of Augusta National and a member of its Masters Rules Committee in 2000. The jacket is emblazoned with the signature Augusta National logo on the left breast and on its distinct gold buttons. Fewer than 10 Green Jackets have ever been made available to the public, most notably one belonging to golf legend Bobby Jones, which sold at public auction in 2011 for $310,700. Bidding will open at $2,000; however, the jacket is estimated to sell for between $10,000 and $20,000.
Other expected auction highlights include a 1910 T210 Old Mill Joe Jackson baseball card estimated to sell for between $100,000 and $150,000, a 1971 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants game-used home jersey estimated to sell for between $30,000 and $50,000, a 1970 Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves signed game-used home jersey estimated to sell for more than $50,000, and a 1970 Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles signed game-used road jersey estimated to sell for more than $25,000.
For further information on Robert Edward Auctions, or for a complete list of items in its spring 2015 auction, visit www.robertedwardauctions.com or call 908-226-9900.