This is one of only three-known surviving movie posters heralding the early 1930s series of short films starring the sport’s premier figure, and the only example appearing in the towering three-sheet format (81 x 27 inches).

Price realized: $60,120

This signature model Hillerich & Bradsby bat dates to the apex of The Yankee Clipper’s brilliance, as a factory-stamped “35 1/2” in the knob attests. This notation, designating the weight in ounces, narrows the possible date of production to a two-season span that featured DiMaggio’s historic 56-game hitting streak, an American League MVP Award, two pennants and one World Series championship.

Price realized: $45,600

Dick Butkus remains to this day on the short list of the greatest linebackers in professional football history. He appeared in eight Pro Bowls during his nine seasons of NFL service, all with the Chicago Bears, and was twice recognized as the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. The second of those two top rankings came the year he sported this home team’s deep navy jersey.

This jersey is somewhat of a rarity as it was manufactured uniquely for the 1970 season, a fact supported by the evidence that there’s no remnant of 1969 patch removal, the rear numerals are set low enough to accept the “Butkus” below the shoulder seam, and they are applied directly to the jersey body rather than to a plate, which was standard operating procedure for the team from 1971 onward.

Price realized: $43,200

In the pre-war era, these heavy wool garments were standard for Major League Baseball. This one was worn by outfielder and lead-off hitter Whitey Witt, who represented the Yankees between 1922 and 1925.

But the unique style of this garment has been definitively matched to photographs from the 1924 season, and specifically to the Opening Day ceremonies that saw the team receive gold pocket watches to commemorate the first World Series championship in franchise history. 

No player attribution appears within the garment itself, but a copy of a letter from Mr. Witt himself, signed in 1988, serves as the proof of ownership.

Price realized: $38,400

The greatest signed trading card of all time? Surely there’s a fairly sizable demographic that would support that contention. While it’s true that Hall of Famers practically grew on Bronx trees back in the day, it’s still rather remarkable that this four-man exhibit card would feature nothing but Cooperstown immortals 5 years before the 1939 ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Even more remarkable is the fact that one intrepid trading card collector made the effort to track each pinstriped legend down to collect their autographs.

Clockwise from upper left we find the immortal Babe Ruth, southpaw ace Lefty Gomez, legendary catcher Bill Dickey and the noble Lou Gehrig, who would claim the American League Triple Crown that season (.363 batting average, 49 home runs, 166 RBIs) and yet—scandalously—finished fifth in MVP voting.

Price realized: $38,400

The very last Colts jersey ever worn by Johnny Unitas! A fascinating letter of provenance from former Colts teammate Bill Laskey tells the tale of this remarkable garment, one which marks the end of a long and glorious era in Baltimore. Excerpted:

“I was a teammate of John Unitas’s during the 1971 and 1972 Baltimore Colts seasons. Upon the conclusion of the final game of the 1972 NFL Baltimore Colt football season, I returned to the locker room a couple days later to clean out my locker and pick up my personal things before moving back to my home state of Michigan. While I was there our game jerseys from the previous Sunday's game had been returned to the locker room from the cleaners.
I asked the locker room attendant if it was O.K. to take a couple jerseys along with my own. He said, ‘no problem,’ since we would be getting all new ones for the next season. I took my jersey along with Unitas’s. I later was traded after the 1972 season to the Denver Broncos and John was traded to the San Diego Chargers. Not realizing it at the time, this was the last time John Unitas or myself would ever wear a Baltimore Colt uniform again.”

Price realized: $36,000

A mine’s worth of diamonds and blue sapphires coat the face which features the team logo “NY” and four miniature Lombardi Trophies to represent the franchise tally. “New York Giants 2011 World Champions” stands in block lettering at the perimeter. Left shank reports the owner’s surname, another team logo and the years of championship glory. The years of glory are completed on the right shank beneath another team logo, the Lombardi Trophy in miniature, and the final score of the game. Interior band bears the text, “All In” and “Finish,” as well as “T&C AU .585” stamping, indicating 14k gold construction by famed jeweler Tiffany & Co.

Size 14.5; weight 96 g. The ring presents in pristine condition in original wooden display case and cardboard Tiffany & Co. packaging. 

Price realized: $31,200

This is an extraordinary full home white flannel uniform worn by the sport’s most feared ace, the jersey bearing the classic “Dodgers” script across the chest and his now-retired number “53” affixed in red and blue to front and back, respectively. Lower left front tail reveals “Rawlings Hall of Fame Flannel” label with “46” year tag to the right and “Drysdale 60” embroidered directly into the jersey body below.

Price realized: $31,200

Babe Ruth’s timeless autograph appears large and bold across the sweet spot of this OAL (Harridge) baseball in blue steel-tip fountain pen. Always working overtime to satisfy his fans to the fullest, the Bambino went over the “B” and “R” to ensure boldness after the ink didn’t jettison effectively on his initial strokes. “U.S.” stamping in blue on the panel above the league stamp was one of the variations instituted by Reach to designate baseballs which were intended for the U.S. armed forces during World War II.

Price realized: $31,200