Christy Mathewson’s 1910 Championship ring may see $10K

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Almost 1,000 premium-quality lots, including Christy Mathewson 1910 championship ring, are open to bidding on www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com. All major sports are represented, with an emphasis on provenance, authenticity and rarity throughout the auction lineup.

Lot 1 is a photo of the Babe Ruth with his arm around Yankee legend, Lou Gehrig. The shot was taken during the 1927-28 Barnstorming tour. The tour pitted the Bustin’ Babes against the Larrupin’ Lou’s in exhibition games. The 8 x 10-inch photo is clearly signed by both men in black fountain pen. It's stamped on verso “OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PHOTO Home Run Tour BABE RUTH and LOU GEHRIG – CHRISTY WALSH MANAGEMENT.” Grey Flannel Auctions’ president, Richard Russek, observed that it is “incredibly rare to find any version of this photo signed by both players in this excellent condition.” With a full JSA LOA, it requires a minimum bid of $5,000.

Next up, at Lot 2, is a high-grade 1928 Babe Ruth single-signed baseball that was obtained when the Yankees played the Toledo Mud Hens in a deal arranged by Casey Stengel. The consignor’s family owned housing near the ballpark and rented rooms to members of the Toledo club. On Sept. 13, 1928, a member of the family obtained the ball in person at the ballpark, and it has remained in the family ever since. Lot 3 is beautiful sepia-tone photo of Babe Ruth in his Yankees uniform, swinging a bat. Boldly signed in black fountain pen, it is rated 9+ overall. Lots 2 and 3 both come with a full JSA LOA and open for bidding individually at $2,500.

Babe Ruth’s iconic number “3” lived on following his retirement and was inherited by the Yankees’ next right fielder, George Selkirk. A worthy successor to play that position, Selkirk was a two-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion. His 1939 Yankees game-used pinstriped home flannel jersey with the Babe’s number 3 on the back is a true collector’s prize and is entered as Lot 4 with an opening bid of $5,000.

From an earlier and equally fascinating era of baseball, Lots 218 through 220 contain Christy Mathewson items (including his championship ring) from the 1910 Manhattan Championship, a competition that evolved into the modern-day Subway Series. The New York Highlanders and the New York Giants garnered more excitement in those games than the World Series and spawned an inner-city rivalry that has endured for over a century.

These three lots feature Mathewson’s watch fob, pin-back photo-ID badge, and most importantly, his Championship ring. Made of 14K gold, the ring has a central European-cut diamond on the front, encircled by the die-struck words “New York Champions 1910.” On both sides of the championship ring, the name “Mathewson” appears above a spread-winged eagle. An absolutely unique memento of the first great pitching star of the modern era, the ring comes with a raft of documentation going back to baseball agent Christy Walsh’s law firm. It opens for bidding at $10,000.

After ending a 108-year drought and capturing their third World Series Championship, the Chicago Cubs now move into the auction spotlight with game-used memorabilia from some of the ball club’s greatest players of the past. Lot 96, a Fergie Jenkins game-used home flannel jersey from his 1971 National League Cy Young Award season is photo-matched to his start on August 20 of that year, when he recorded a complete game victory. Lot 97 featured a 1974 game-used road jersey from another all-time Cubs great, Hall of Famer Billy Williams. Both lots open at $2,500.

A pair of “Hare Jordan” sneakers worn by Michael Jordan on the set of a commercial that ran during the 1992 Super Bowl are set to sell. In that memorable teaming of icons, Jordan shared the billing with another fleet-footed personality, Bugs Bunny. This commercial would lead to the idea for Space Jam. The shoes were signed by MJ and gifted to his body double, who is the consignor. Reserve: $2,500. Other significant game-used Jordan items in the auction include jerseys, plus sneakers and basketballs from his dominant run from 1992-97.

To celebrate some of Ali’s career highlights, Grey Flannel is offering Lot 348, a 1971 paycheck issued to Muhammad Ali from Bob Arum as "The Fight Of The Century" purse compensation; and Lot No. 349, a one-of-a-kind pre-Olympics 8/1/1960 Cassius Clay handwritten and signed letter with an LOA from the recipient. Each has a $2,500 reserve.

From the heights of American historical pop culture comes Lot 363, a John F. Kennedy-signed invitation to his birthday party and Gala All-Star Show held at Madison Square Garden on 5/19/1962. This is the event at which Marilyn Monroe famously sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.” With the addition of other birthday party-related documents, the group lot requires an opening bid of $2,500.

— Lot 11 – Circa-1976 Thurman Munson New York Yankees game-used cap (possible MVP season), reserve: $2,500

• Lot 28 – Late-1940s Warren Spahn Boston Braves game-used & autographed road flannel jersey (fantastic all-original condition, originally sourced from team scout), reserve: $5,000

— Lot 43 – 1972 Willie Mays New York Mets game-used road jersey (Mays' first Mets shirt), reserve:

$2,500

• Lot 60 – 1977 Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles game-used & autographed home jersey (photo-matched), reserve: $2,500

— Lot 117 – 1979 Pete Rose Philadelphia Phillies game-used & autographed pinstripe home Uniform (photo-matched, Rose's first Phillies shirt ever issued), reserve: $2,500

• Lot 268 – 7/18/1999 Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle Mariners game-used & autographed home run bat (Griffey Jr.'s first HR at Safeco Field • PSA/DNA GU9), reserve: $2,500

— Lot 317 – Late-1960s Bobby Orr Boston Bruins game-used road Durene jersey, reserve: $5,000

• Lot 372 - 1967 Oakland Raiders AFL Championship player’s ring presented to Wayne Hawkins (franchise's first title), reserve: $2,500

— Lot 391 - 1995 Godfrey Myles Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXX Championship player’s ring (mint condition), reserve: $5,000

• Lot 625 - 12/25/2011 Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors game-used Christmas Day home jersey (NBA LOA, photo-matched), reserve: $2,500

— Lot 513 - 1984-85 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Los Angeles Lakers game-used home jersey (photo-matched, Championship & NBA Finals MVP season, Los Angeles Lakers LOA), reserve: $5,000

• Lot 537 - 2012-13 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers game-used road jersey (with Jerry Bliss memorial patch), reserve: $2,500

— Lot 700 - 1976-77 Julius "Dr. J" Erving rookie Philadelphia 76ers game-used road uniform, reserve: $5,000

The fully illustrated electronic version of the December 7 catalog is available to view online at www.greyflannelauctions.com.

For additional information on any item, call 631-288-7800, ext. 223; or email info@greyflannelauctions.com.