The bidding lasted for hours, and when the dust settled early morning on Feb. 22 at Heritage Auctions,the New York Yankees pinstripes Roger Maris wore during his legendary 61-home run season realized $1,586,000. Not only is that complete 1961 uniform the most valuable Maris item ever sold at auction, but it was among numerous jerseys, jackets and jewelry to shatter estimates and expectations over the weekend of Feb. 22 and 23. Collectors worldwide clamored for the history woven into the garments and stamped into the rings worn by legends during their history-book moments. The HeritageWinter Platinum Night Sports Catalog Auctionrealized $24,477,537thanks to more than 2,600 bidders who participated worldwide, led by the Maris jersey that was photo-matched to multiple home-run games during the season Maris topped Babe Ruths record and incurred the wrath of fans who didnt want to accept that hed accomplished the seemingly impossible. Even commissioner Ford Frick tried to rob Maris of his place in history, insisting that a player could only break Ruths home-run record if he did it within 154 games, not the 162 played that season, the reason it took baseball 30 years to officially recognize Maris record long plagued by that pesky asterisk. One of Maris jerseys from that season resides in Cooperstowns Baseball Hall of Fame. The uniform sold at Heritage spent years on display in the museum at Yankee Stadium. Now, its a new record-holder with a new caretaker. Roger Maris uniform is a tangible reminder of that unforgettable season when baseball was completely reimagined, a time when a record thought to be unbreakable was smashed and the whole narrative of the game was rewritten, says Chris Ivy, director of Sports Auctions. Plaxico Burress Super Bowl XLII championship hardware likewise looks like the ring of royalty: The New York Giants wide receivers 14-karat gold ring, made by Tiffany & Co., is made of white gold and genuine diamonds. Three Lombardi Trophies representing each of the franchises Super Bowl victories adorn the face alongside the diamond-filled NY logo and the words World Champions in raised text. Burress 13-yard TD catch during the games final seconds resulted in one of the biggest upsets in sports history, as the Giants toppled Tom Bradys heavily favored New England Patriots and spoiled their chance at becoming the NFLs only 19-0 team. Burress ring went into extended bidding Saturday night at $115,000 and sold early Sunday morning for $280,600 to become the second-most valuable Super Bowl ring ever sold at auction, behind only the Super Bowl V ring won by Baltimore Colts head coach Don McCafferty, which Heritage sold in 2022 for $300,000. Collectors also vied for two of the most historic rings in football history, belonging to Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Zeke Bratkowski and consigned by his family.His championship ring from Super Bowl I, a relatively modest piece with a single diamond in the center, realized $118,950, whilehis ring from Super Bowl IIsold for $94,550. Cards performed well throughout the two-day event, witha 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie card graded PSA Mint 9 realizing $1,006,500 to stand among the auctions trio that transcended seven figures. (It was also the cards third-highest recorded sale, according toSports Collectors Daily.) A1910 T210 Old Mill Cigarettes Series 8 Joe Jackson graded SGC Good 2sold for $378,200. And24 unopened packs of 1966 Topps Baseball (4th Series) cards authenticated and sealed in the original boxby Baseball Card Exchange realized $341,600. A new record was set whenJackie Robinsons 1954 Topps card graded PSA Mint 9 sold for $152,500.One of three 1967 Topps cards showcasing Roberto Clemente graded PSA Gem Mint 10realized $146,400.One of just four Carl Yastrzemski Star Rookie cards from the 1961 Topps set graded PSA Gem Mint 10sold for $97,600. This will also be the auction remembered for the record set bythe black-back 1952 Topps Andy Pafko graded PSA NM-MT 8, which sold for a breathtaking $183,000. Baseball wasnt the only sport to score high numbers, either:A 2006 Exquisite Collection Dual Michael Jordan/LeBron James card, signed by both men, containing pieces of game-worn jerseys and numbered 9/23, realized $237,900. Anda 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card graded PSA Mint 9sold for $140,300. And several old bats still had a few home runs left in them, includingHank Aarons game-used and signed Adirondack from his MVP season of 1957, which realized a $195,200 result. To learn more, visit www.HA.com.