Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

DiMaggio, Koufax Jerseys, Bill Russell All-Star Uniform Lead Grey Flannel Auction Closing Nov. 30

Charities to benefit from sale of Holyfield robe, Ty Murray
Championship saddle

WESTHAMPTON, N.Y. – Grey Flannel Auctions’ Holiday Auction 2011 is
now under way and the heat is already on, with collectors placing
early bids on Premier Lots including a 1948-49 Joe DiMaggio game-used
Yankees jersey and a Sandy Koufax game-used jersey from the superstar
pitcher’s 1966 Cy Young Award season with the Dodgers.

In all, 841 lots have been selected for the absentee and Internet
auction that closes for bidding on Nov. 30, 2011. Virtually every
major professional sport is represented in the complimentary printed
catalog, as well as great Americana. In addition to game-used apparel
and equipment, important autographed equipment and balls; awards,
championship jewelry and personal ephemera that came directly from
athletes are up for bid.

The aforementioned DiMaggio jersey, worn by Joltin’ Joe while on the
road with the Yankees, has the number “5” on its back, “NEW
YORK” on its front, and a grey felt strip tag with “DiMaggio”
embroidered in navy blue chain stitch. It is accompanied by a
photomatch of DiMaggio wearing the shirt in 1948. Written on the photo
itself is “$100,000,” a reference to DiMaggio being the first
baseball player ever to earn that amount for a single season. The
jersey has already surpassed its reserve of $25,000.

Another frontrunner is the 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers flannel road
jersey game-worn and autographed by pitching ace Sandy Koufax. “This
jersey is especially significant because it comes from the World
Series season in which Koufax won his third Cy Young Award by
unanimous vote. It was also his final season in professional
baseball,” said Richard E. Russek, president of Grey Flannel
Auctions. In magnificent condition, the jersey has nearly doubled its
$10,000 reserve in only a few days of bidding.

Athlete-signed Yankees equipment includes a 1966-67 Mickey Mantle
game-used and autographed bat; and a coveted 1927 “Murderers Row”
World Championship baseball signed by the team whose lineup of batters
is considered “the best…ever.” The six hitters who struck fear
in the hearts of opposing pitchers included Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
Their signatures are written in blue ink and appear alongside those of
their teammates on this ball, which opened with a $5,000 bid.

A hardcourt highlight is Hall of Famer Bill Russell’s NBA All-Star
Game-used uniform from 1967, which is already well beyond its $10,000
reserve. With career distinctions that include NBA MVP (5 times) and
NBA All-Star (12 times), Russell holds the record for most
championships won by an athlete. “He was the nucleus of the Celtics
dynasty, and his importance to the game of basketball cannot be
overestimated,” said Russek.

Other items of game-used basketball apparel that are off to a running
start include a rare 1973-74 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee Bucks
jersey, a circa-1971 Rick Barry New York Nets home uniform (only one
known), and a 1977-78 Dennis Johnson Seattle SuperSonics NBA Finals
road uniform (only one known). A very scarce 1966-67 ABA worn shooting
shirt from the Anaheim Amigos comes with impeccable provenance in the
form of an LOA from the player himself.

The excitement of football seasons past is embodied in such items as a
Gale Sayers’ 1968 Chicago Bears game-used home jersey and a
photomatched 1962-63 Navy Midshipmen’s jersey worn by Roger Staubach
during his Heisman Trophy season. Other football highlights include
game-used jerseys worn by Joe Namath (circa 1973, New York Jets), Len
Dawson (circa 1972, Kansas City Chiefs) and Dan Marino (1986, Miami
Dolphins).

Championship jewelry has been a very popular category in past Grey
Flannel sales. This time, a 1998 New York Yankees World Series ring of
Al Ferrar and a 2004 Stanley Cup Championship ring awarded to Bill
Wickett, Sr. VP Communications of the Tampa Bay Lightning, are
included in the Premier Lots. Other top-ranking jewelry items include
Bobby Jones’ 1983 Philadelphia 76ers Championship player’s ring,
Tony Caldwell’s 1983 Los Angeles Raiders Super Bowl XVIII
Championship player’s ring, and the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers World
Championship ring awarded to team executive Al Campanis. The latter is
accompanied by an LOA from Al’s son, former Major Leaguer Jimmy
Campanis.

Richard Russek said his favorite Holiday Auction lots came directly
from two “famous and exceptional athletes, Evander Holyfield and Ty
Murray,” with almost all of the proceeds earmarked for their
favorite charities. The items up for bid are a Holyfield
title-fight-worn robe (2010, vs. Francois Botha in South Africa;
auction reserve $10,000) to benefit the boxing legend’s foundation
assisting inner-city kids; and Ty Murray’s 1998 Houston Livestock
Show All-Around Champion saddle (auction reserve, $5,000) benefiting
the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Texas, of which the rodeo star and
his wife, Jewel, actively promote.

“In addition to receiving their unique items, the winning bidders
will each receive video provenance as a bonus. One of the videos shows
Evander consigning the robe, and the other is of Ty and Jewel
consigning the saddle award,” Russek said.

Every effort was made to confirm authenticity and secure provenance
for the 841 items in Grey Flannel’s Holiday auction. A highly
experienced team led by Nick Coppola authenticated each jersey, and
all autographed pieces were inspected and given the stamp of approval
by James Spence Authentication. In the case of game-used bats, each
was inspected and authenticated by John Taube of PSA/DNA. Every
game-used glove was inspected and authenticated by Denny Eskin of
PSA/DNA. All game-used hockey jerseys were inspected and authenticated
by Milt Byron. Appropriate letters of authenticity from these
specialists will accompany all jerseys, bats, gloves and autographed
items.

Bidding in Grey Flannel’s Holiday Auction will close on Nov. 30, 2011.
All forms of absentee bids are being accepted, including by phone and
online through Grey Flannel’s website at www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com.
Printed catalogs are free to all registered bidders. The fully
illustrated electronic version of the catalog is available to view
online at www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com. For additional information,
call 631-288-7800, ext. 223; or email [email protected].

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