Koufax Glove Tops Auction

Originally Posted by Sports Collectors Daily on April 27th.It was a 'thank you' from Sandy Koufax to a new friend who'd helped him recover his 1965 World Series cigarette lighter.

An autographed, game-worn glove dating from the 1966 season, changed hands again in Heritage Auctions' latest catalog sale. The glove sold on Saturday for $107,550 which includes a 19.5% buyer's premium. It's the second Koufax game-used glove to have fetched six figures.The glove Koufax wore during his 1963 no-hitter sold in late 2004 for $126,500.

The 1966 glove was consigned by the son of former Major League Baseball umpire. Doug Harvey. In June Leavy's biography 'Sandy Koufax, a Lefty's Legacy', Harvey recounted the story of how Koufax came to give him the glove. Harvey was sharing a drink with Koufax at a Milwaukee hotel bar one night when Koufax inadvertently left behind a personalized lighter given to him to commemorate the Dodgers' latest World Series visit. Harvey later returned it to Koufax, who – as a token of appreciation – gave him the game used glove. It is inscribed: “To Doug, With very best wishes, Sandy Koufax.”

Total proceeds from the auction, which included hundreds of pieces of vintage sports memorabilia and cards, were $3,857,907.

A 1941 Puerto Rican League contract signed by Josh Gibson was the second highest-priced item in the auction when it sold for $95,600 including the buyer's premium.

A baseball autographed by Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver, two players caught up in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, sold for $89,625. The same ball sold for $69,000 two years ago in a Huggins & Scott sale.

A 1966 Mickey Mantle game-worn road jersey was sold immediately after last weekend's auction, bringing a price of $89,625, the same level attained by a 1928-30 era Babe Ruth game-used bat. Another Ruth game bat, this one dating from the 1932 season, sold for $37,343.

Several Pete Maravich items were sold in the auction, including a 1967-68 game-worn home LSU jersey which brought $89,625, a 1979-80 Celtics jersey ($21,510) and a ball signed by Maravich to his father/coach Press Maravich after Pete broke the all-time NCAA scoring record ($22,705).

Cubs fans seeking proof the team did actually win a World Series had the opportunity to garner it in the form of a 1908 World Series program. It sold for $41,825.

Other highlights from the sale included:
 

• Christy Mathewson autographed photo $41,825
• 1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson (SGC 92) $41,825
• 1933 Goudey set graded by SGC--EX overall $35,850
• 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle SGC 84 $33,460
• 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig #37 SGC 92 $31,070
• 1961 Ernie Davis game-worn jersey $33,460
• 1915 Cracker Jack Christy Mathewson SGC 96 $23,900
• 1958 Topps football cello pack lot of 47 $22,705