Grey Flannel Auctions has announced details of its 2017 Summer Games Auction, which will be open for bidding until Wednesday, June 21. The fully illustrated catalog containing 800-plus premium-quality lots is available to view online at www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com. All major sports are represented in the impressive auction lineup, with an emphasis on provenance, authenticity and rarity throughout.
The sale is headlined by a rare Michael Jordan 1984 Team USA basketball jersey worn in the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles. These games were essentially the platform through which Jordan would be introduced to basketball fans worldwide. The jersey has been conclusively photo-matched to USA Olympic play and is believed to be the only red-colorway uniform that Jordan wore for this historic gold medal run. Fresh-to-the-hobby, this museum-quality piece stands alone as the only photo-matched Olympic Jordan jersey known to exist as well as the earliest fully documented MJ example of its type extant. The bidding opens at $10,000.
Also featured is New York Yankee legend Mickey Mantle’s 1953 game-used and autographed road jersey. It was likely issued for use in the 1953 All-Star Game and is conclusively photo-matched to a photo taken in the spring of 1955. Mantle boldly autographed the jersey in blue pen on the left chest. It comes to the marketplace from a gentleman who received it from a former Major League scout during a Yankees tryout in the 1950s. He did not make the team but held onto the now-historical piece, before finally letting it go. Unquestionably museum worthy, it stands as the hobby's earliest known photo-matched road jersey of Yankee great Mickey Mantle. The bidding opens at $10,000.
A featured Golden State Warriors road jersey worn by MVP Stephen Curry in a game in which Curry recorded a double-double (33 points, 10 assists) and the Warriors clinched the Pacific Division will be sold. Curry also threw down a rare dunk in the second quarter of the game. He signed the back of the jersey in black marker with the added inscription “MVP.” The opening bid is $5,000.
The most dominant defensive center in NBA history, Bill Russell’s player-worn fleece warm-up jacket is another basketball highlight. The jacket was sourced directly from the Boston Garden when the auction consignor's grandfather brought the jacket home following a game in the 1960s. The bidding opens at $5,000.
Multiple Ken Griffey Jr. items sourced directly from the attic of Griffey’s childhood home include his 1990 All-Star Game jersey and his Moeller High School jersey. Both jerseys are being offered for the first time publicly and open with individual reserves of $2,500. Also featured is a unique Cincinnati Reds full uniform worn by Griffey Jr. as a young child at a Reds father/son event.
A pristine-condition, hobby-fresh Babe Ruth single-signed baseball boldly signed on the sweet spot in black steel-tip fountain pen highlights the autographed material. The baseball was given directly to the consignor more than 70 years ago as a birthday gift from his father. Upon receiving this gift, the consignor immediately put it away, knowing he would one day have something special. The baseball has seldom seen the light of day, being handled very infrequently. This directly reflects why the baseball currently reflects an almost unbelievably white and clean state. The bidding opens at $5,000.
Worn by arguably the greatest left-handed pitcher in baseball history, Sandy Koufax’s game-used and autographed home 1964 flannel jersey is also offered in this auction. Originally sourced from Koufax, this museum-quality sports treasure is in 100 percent original and unaltered condition. Bidding opens at $5,000.
Ted “Teeder” Kennedy was included in the first group of players to be named in 2017 as one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players” in history. Offered in this auction is Kennedy’s game-used captain’s sweater that was sourced directly from a gentleman who played for the Winnipeg Monarchs, an NHL-sponsored junior hockey team. It was common for the Toronto Maple Leafs to provide this junior team with equipment for practice. The gentleman was star-struck when this historical sweater showed up in the junior team’s gear and kept it safely stored away for years. This is the first time this sweater has been offered publicly. The bidding opens at $5,000.
To view the 48th edition of Grey Flannel’s fully illustrated auction catalog, or to sign up to bid in the 2017 Summer Games Auction, log on to www.greyflannelauctions.com. For questions, contact Grey Flannel Auctions by calling 631-288-7800, ext. 223, or email info@greyflannelauctions.com.
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