Laguna Niguel, Calif. (May 1, 2011) – The original center court jump circle from UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion sold for $325,085 and a 1925 Ty Cobb game-used bat and 1931 Lefty Grove game-worn uniform each went for $113,938 in SCP Auctions’ April auction which concluded early Sunday.
The auction also included part one of the estate collection of Hall of Fame NBA coach Arnold “Red” Auerbach. Top items from his personal basketball memorabilia collection include his Boston Celtics NBA Championship rings from 1981 ($82,727), 1957 ($80,750), 1962 ($78,709), 1974 ($41,435); his 1968 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ring ($50,062); and a Bob Cousy Boston Celtics game-worn rookie jersey from Auerbach’s personal collection ($41,435).
Other highlights of the auction included the sales of a historic Ted Williams signed 1937 Boston Red Sox rookie player assignment contract with photo ($107,314), a one-of-a-kind 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card ($94,163) and 1915 Cracker Jack cards of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson ($68,368) and Ty Cobb ($60,667).
Records were set for UCLA jump circle (record price for any piece of college basketball memorabilia), the Gretzky rookie card (record price for a hockey card) and a 1912 New York Giants World Series press pin (record price for a World Series press pin) with a purchase price of $38,084.
"We are thrilled with the level of interest in this auction,” said David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions. “This auction offered some of the most historically-important sports memorabilia ever made available to the public. SCP Auctions will continue our goal of delivering high-quality auctions with a wide variety of material for all ranges of collectors.”
The original UCLA Pauley Pavilion jump circle was ground zero for one of the greatest dynasties in all of sports for 17 seasons. Home to UCLA athletic teams since 1965, the original court was the home of eight NCAA men’s national championship teams and the Bruins’ first women’s NCAA national championship team in 1978.
The Cobb game-used bat was autographed and inscribed on Aug. 9, 1925. The bat, dubbed “The Lake Oscawana Cobb Bat,” is among the elite Cobb game bats known in the marketplace, and believed by third-party experts to be the only known Cobb gamer to bear his non-personalized dated inscription.
Grove’s Philadelphia Athletics game-worn uniform dates back to circa 1931 Lefty Grove and is in spectacular original condition (Mears A9.5). For 17 years, Grove unleashed his terrifying fastball and devastating curve upon American League hitters, winning 20-plus games eight times and leading the Athletics to three pennants and two World Series victories. After close to 80 years of exceptional preservation, this piece is considered one of the finest pre-war baseball uniforms the hobby has ever seen.
The Ted Williams contract is a historic document that brought a then 19-year old Williams to the Red Sox. The agreement, dated Dec. 7, 1937, was executed between the San Diego Baseball Club of the Pacific Coast League and the Boston American League Baseball Company and called for the Red Sox to give two players and $20,000 in order to obtain Williams.
The Gretzky rookie card is arguably the most valuable modern trading card in existence. This one-of-a-kind PSA graded GEM MINT 10 Wayne Gretzky rookie card transcends its sport and ranks among the premier objects in the entire field of card collecting.
The Cracker Jack cards are two of the of the hobby's true crown jewels, card #30 and #103 from the 1915 Crack Jack issue featuring Ty Cobb and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, respectively. Each is among the elite graded examples, in unmistakable Mint condition, validated as such by their 96 MINT 9 assessment from SGC.
Full auction results are available at www.scpauctions.com.
Media Note: The winning bidders request to remain anonymous.
About SCP Auctions
SCP Auctions, Inc. has been a leader in brokering and auctions of important sports memorabilia and cards since 1979. The Southern California based firm conducts online auctions 3 times a year. SCP Auctions has handled some of the most significant individual items and prominent collections in their field, such as the record-setting sale of Babe Ruth’s bat used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium ($1.265 million), the original 1919 Contract of Sale of Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees ($996,000), and the estate collections of Hall of Famers such as Honus Wagner, Tony Lazzeri, Bob Cousy, Wilt Chamberlain, Casey Stengel, Pee Wee Reese, and Ernie Banks. Interested bidders can call (800) 350-2273 or visit SCP Auctions online at www.SCPAuctions.com for more information on how to participate.