CollectSports » News » Mantle, Maris and Munson Items Among Memorabilia Authenticated by Families to be Auctioned Online Nov 15 - Dec 1

Inaugural Auction from Memorabilia Road Show.Net

New York, October 27, 2004 — Legendary baseball families including the Mantle’s, Maris’s and Munson’s, are providing authenticated and highly personalized items for The Memorabilia Road Show’s inaugural auction which will begin online on November 15 and close at midnight on December 1, 2004.

The company started by Ed Kranepool, CEO and President, Russell C. Friedman, in partnership with a host of other athletes provides a wealth of one-of-a-kind collectibles with the highest level of authenticity – its original owners. In addition to working directly with the athletes and their families, The Memorabilia Road Show is working with two independent third party experts; SCD Authentic and PSA/DNA Authentication to examine, certify, document and ultimately authenticate memorabilia. Each item will be accompanied by a signed affidavit from the consigner attesting to the authenticity and provenance of the item.

According to Troy Kinunen of SCD Authentic, “Pieces we examined and authenticated for The Memorabilia Road Show’s inaugural auction earned some of the highest scores our company has ever issued. For example Hank Aaron’s 1955 Game used bat was graded (A-9.5) Bushing/Knoll.”

Much attention will surely be on over twenty five lots from Diana Munson’s personal collection, including:

• Her husband Thurman’s last catcher’s mitt which was sent home by the Yankees following his death (opening bid $5,000)
• his pilot’s license and several signed airplane fuel receipts (opening bid $1,500)
• the bat Bobby Murcer gave to Diana after he used it heroicly to win the game on the night of Thurman’s funeral (opening bid $3,500)
• an uncashed check for plane fare on his plane, payable to Munson signed by Reggie Jackson (opening bid $500)

Among other one-of-a kind pieces included in the inaugural auction are:

• 1866 Brooklyn Excelsior beautifully inscribed “lemon peel” Trophy Ball dated August 17,1866, and probably used by Hall of Famer Candy Cummings, an early practitioner (if not the inventor) of curve ball pitching. (opening bid $5000)
• Whitey Ford’s 1960 signed home New York Yankees pinstripe jersey (opening bid $5,000)
• Mickey Mantle’s 1955 signed New York Yankees contract (opening bid $3,500)
• 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers team signed baseball from their only World Championship season. (opening bid $5,000)
• Munson’s 1979 road jersey, one of the last he ever wore (opening bid $5,000)
• the 1953 Mickey Mantle Gold World Championship Watch presented to Mantle by the Commissioner of Baseball and given to his mother Lovell Mantle. (opening bid $5000)
• the earliest cap worn in Brooks Robinson’s tenure with the Orioles (opening bid $1,000)
• Yogi Berra’s 1951 road jersey used early in his career from his first MVP season (opening bid $5,000)
• graded game used bats from DiMaggio, (circa 1950-51, opening bid $2,500), Mantle, (circa 1961-64, opening bid $2,500), Aaron (circa 1955-57, opening bid $1,000), Ted Williams, (circa 1948-49, opening bid $2,500), Stan Musial (1949, opening bid $1,000) and Ernie Banks (1950s, opening bid $1,000).
• A Joe DiMaggio game worn cap from the 1947-49 period (opening bid $5,000).

Another showcase item will be Roger Maris’ last car, a 1982 Mercedes 380SEL. "This is a remarkable piece," said Russell C. Friedman, President of The Memorabilia Road Show, "If a 1961 game worn Roger Maris jersey can go for over $300,000 at auction this past August, imagine what his last car could realize."

Collectors can preview nearly 500 lots, register for auction and reserve a limited edition catalogue on www.memorabiliaroadshow.net. Bidding will begin on November 15 and close at midnight on December 1, 2004. (A 10-minute rule on continued bidding may keep some items active past midnight). Collectors can also call toll free (877) 762-3749.

Memorabilia Road Show™ is an auction company, specializing in sports, and guaranteeing the highest standard of authenticity by acquiring its offerings directly from athletes or from their families or estates. Russell C. Friedman is president, The Memorabilia Road Show with headquarters at 3000 Marcus Avenue, Ste. 3E6, Lake Success, NY 11042.