CollectSports » News » Rizzuto’s 1950 MVP Plaque Brings $175,500 in Day One, Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show Auction

Source: Marty Appel Public Relations

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Timonium, MD, September 13, 2006 – Phil Rizzuto’s 1950 MVP plaque, presented to him by the Baseball Writers Association of America, sold for $175,500 on the first day of a two-day auction by Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show, which including the much watched Phil Rizzuto Collection.

The price includes a 17% buyer’s commission. The name of the purchaser is not being announced at this time.

The MVP award has emerged in the news in recent weeks as Derek Jeter, who last week passed Rizzuto for most games played by a Yankee shortstop, now seems poised to challenge for MVP honors this season. It would make him the first Yankee shortstop since Rizzuto to win it.

Collectors were also tuned to the values of the three World Series rings in the auction. The 1953 ring, representing the Yankees’ fifth consecutive world championship with Rizzuto at short, went for $32,175. His 1996 ring, from his last year as a Yankees broadcaster, (Jeter’s rookie season), went for $29,250, and his 1978 ring, from the Yankees’ “Bucky Dent” comeback season, went for $23,400.

An original Leroy Neiman painting of Rizzuto bunting sold for $21,060, while a Yogi Berra catcher’s mitt, specially constructed to Yogi’s specifications, sold for $23,400.

A Rizzuto Yankee cap that is more than a half a century old, but still containing a wad of chewed gum on the cap (A Rizzuto trademark), sold for $8,190.

Among items apart from The Rizzuto Collection, a signed Babe Ruth baseball went for $29,250 and a 1911 Boston uniform complete with jersey, pants, socks, a mitt, and a player contract, sold for $15,210.

The auction concludes late tonight with day two highlighted by The Rusty Staub Collection.

Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show specializes in collections consigned directly from players, their families or their representatives. The company is headquartered at 1966 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, Maryland 21093. The telephone number is 877-ROAD-SHW. (877-762-3749) or +011 (410)427-9456 outside the US. The website is http://www.gmrs.com.