Averaging over two million dollars per sale over their last three auctions, Huggins and Scott has completed preparations for their upcoming worldwide sports memorabilia catalog auction that will begin June 22.
The Maryland-based company, which last year sold a single-signed Christy Mathewson baseball for $161,000 and a rare Joe Jackson-Buck Weaver autographed baseball for $69,000, will offer 1,300 consigned lots of vintage and modern sports cards and memorabilia in a two-day auction with bidding conducted by phone and Internet via the company’s Web site.
An extraordinary list of unique, rare and vintage baseball memorabilia highlights the auction with the Dade Thieriot Philadelphia Phillies Collection and “The 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack Find” leading the way. The auction begins with the most complete Topps Baseball complete set run ever offered at auction with complete sets from 1951 through the present including the ever-popular 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle.
Card collectors will enjoy the 298-card “1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack Find” that includes Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Joe Jackson, Christy Mathewson and many more. The entire collection is in mid-to-high grade and each card has been graded by Sportscard Guaranty.
The spotlight, however, may fall on the Dade Thieriot Philadelphia Phillies Collection. Thieroit’s astounding labor of love is the culmination of a lifetime of collecting Phillies memorabilia. The collection covers the highest of highs in Phillies history with several items from the 1980 World Series Championship as well as items from the Phillies lean years (there have been more than a few). Among the impressive pieces in the June auction are a 1915 National League Championship presentation pocket watch, 1925 Kenesaw Mountain Landis Phillies Gold Pass, several rare pennants including a 1915 NL Champions pennant and a 1910-14 Charles Dooin pennant, a triple signed Grover Cleveland Alexander baseball, several key game-used Phillies baseball bats and Mike Schmidt’s 1982 Silver Slugger Award.
Game-used jerseys always draw considerable interest and the Thieriot Collection has several key pieces including Dick Bartell’s 1933 National League All-Star uniform and cap, Benny Bengough’s 1950 full uniform, a 1970 Jim Bunning jersey and an exceedingly rare Ryne Sandberg Phillies jersey from 1981.
“We are honored and privileged to be able to sell the most impressive Philadelphia Phillies memorabilia collection we have ever witnessed,” said Vice President of Auction Operations, Josh Wulkan. “And as the Phillies continue to contend in the National League East, interest should increase for these historic collectibles.”
Several pieces of high quality autographed items from baseball icons will also be offered in the upcoming auction. Included is a gorgeous 1938 New York Yankees team ball with Gehrig and DiMaggio on the sweet spot, a G. Burke photograph signed by Babe Ruth to Yankee teammate Henry Johnson, an incredible Len Bias autographed Maryland basketball program and Joe DiMaggio’s 1940 Yankees signed contract. All autographs have been examined and authenticated by either James Spence Authentications or Professional Sports Authenticators.
Other phenomenal artifacts in this auction are a 1955 Ted Williams game-used baseball bat, 1928 Star Candy Ty Cobb (once owned by hobby pioneer Charles “Buck” Barker), several hard-to-find Briggs and Esskay Meats cards, dozen of quality 19th Century baseball items, an IBC World Championship belt won by boxer Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson plus some hobby staples including a pair of 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards and dozens of high-grade singles.
As with most of Huggins and Scott Auctions, they will have a large number of autographed lots with balls, bats, lithographs, photographs and others consigned by collectors from all across the country.
Huggins and Scott’s rapid growth has caused the company to double the frequency of its catalog auctions beginning in 2008, now offering quarterly sales. “Our upcoming June and October auctions will undoubtedly produce an industry stir with the release of nearly (300) vintage Cracker Jack into the market,” said the company’s head writer and Phillies enthusiast, Kevin Heffner. “But it is the Dade Thieriot Collection that will most likely draw the most attention.” The October auction will contain more from the Thieriot Collection including a Steve Carlton’s 1982 Cy Young Award, Mike Schmidt’s 1982 Glove Glove award and several more important game-used baseball bats.
For more information on this and future auctions, feel free to contact the main office in Silver Spring, Maryland at 301-608-0355. Web site: www.hugginsandscott.com or Email: [email protected].
