Legendary Auctions Live Auction Smashes Several Industry Records Items from the Bob Gibson Collection, 19th Century Baseball Memorabilia and a Honus Wagner Baseball Card Command Top Dollar in $1.75 Million Sale
News-Antique.com - Aug 07,2009 - Lansing, IL – August 7, 2009 – While there has been much discussion regarding the recent softening of the sports collecting market, no one seemed to be addressing it at the recent Legendary Auctions Live Sports Sale. In fact, more than 200 attendees at the high-end, sports memorabilia event, held July 31, 2009 at the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio, seemed more than happy to let their bid paddles do the talking. The ensuing “conversation” produced a sports memorabilia auction event that not only exceeded expectations, but produced several record-breaking industry prices.
Doug Allen, CEO and president of Legendary Auctions, was pleased and encouraged with the auction results because it gave collectors access to never before seen items while rewarding consignors appropriately. “Even in this difficult economy, I think the results are extremely telling about the potential of the industry when a top quality event, packed with high-end material reaches our customer base,” said Allen. “It seems, at least in our auction, the economy took a back seat to the collecting instinct.”
Significant items from Bob Gibson’s personal baseball collection were included in the recent Legendary Auctions Live Sports event. Not surprisingly, said Allen, those items were among the ones with the highest prices realized. “Gibson is one of the most talented and respected pitchers in baseball history,” said Allen. “In addition, Bob is just a well-liked guy. The combination of extraordinary talent and off-field congeniality is a hard for collectors to resist.”
In addition, Allen said the Gibson portion of the auction was fueled by an extensive public relations push in the St. Louis area during All-Star Week. “One St. Louis local who heard about the auction from our media efforts spent six figures,” said Allen.
The top prices realized for items from Bob Gibson’s personal collection include:
• Bob Gibson's 1968 National League MVP Award - acknowledging one of the best single season pitching performances in history realized a final price of $120,000;
• Bob Gibson's 1968 Cy Young Award from his incredible 1.12 ERA season commanded $84,000;
• Bob Gibson's 2006 St. Louis Cardinals World Championship ring sold for $57,000;
• Bob Gibson's 1967 World Championship ring - awarded after winning three games and posting a series ERA of 1.00 sold for $54,000;
• Bob Gibson's personal Hall of Fame plaque - awarded at his induction went for $45,000;
• Bob Gibson's 1981 Hall of Fame induction ring went for $30,000;
• Bob Gibson's "All Century Team" collection (7 items) - bestowed upon the Top 30 of the 20th century's best players went for $19,200;
• Bob Gibson's 1971 Gold Glove Award went for $16,800;
• Bob Gibson’s "First Major League Victory" game used ball - the only one he kept went for $12,000;
• Bob Gibson's game used glove sold for $9,000;
• Bob Gibson's 1959 St. Louis Cardinals contract - his rookie season sold for $5,400 and;
• Bob Gibson's 1968 St. Louis Cardinals contract - from his historic MVP and Cy Young season
