Heritage Auctions’ Spring Sports Catalog Delivers Big
Michael Jordan’s $2.6M jersey leads a lineup packed with icons—from Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson to Cody Rhodes and Peanuts.
*Author’s note: All final prices include Buyer’s Premium
In a sale that blended the heroes of the hardwood, gridiron, ice, and the squared circle with a touch of comic strip charm, Heritage Auctions’ Spring Sports Catalog Auction (May 16–18, 2025) brought in a slam-dunk total of more than $18.4 million. And while Michael Jordan’s championship jersey soared to the top, it was far from the only showstopper.
His Airness Takes Flight—Again
As one would suppose from the opening paragraph, the top lot belonged to Michael Jordan, whose 1992–93 game-worn Bulls jersey and shorts photo-matched to 17 games from the championship season. It was famously featured on the Sports Illustrated cover (Oct. 18, 1993) and fetched $2.63 million. Other Jordan highlights included:
- 1985 Game-Worn & Signed Air Jordan 1s – $152,500
- 1995 SP Top Prospects Autograph #14 (BGS Gem Mint 9.5) – $140,300
- 1997 SkyBox E-X2001 Essential Credentials #9 – $128,100
A Connor McDavid Milestone
Meanwhile, NHL luminary Connor McDavid’s market continued to turn the heat up with the record-setting sale of a 2015 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Rookie Spectrum Teal Autograph Shield card (1-of-1, PSA Authentic), which sold for $305,000—the highest price ever achieved for a McDavid item.
Babe Ruth and Ted Williams are Still Stealing the Show
Many items from baseball’s early legends continue to entice bidders. Two great examples include a rare 1920 Pathé Frères Babe Ruth phonograph: a promotional gem, authenticated by PSA, which sold for $20,740, and a stunning 1939 Ted Williams original photograph, signed and taken by George Burke during Williams' rookie season, and used for his 1940 and 1941 Play Ball cards, that sold for $88,450.
Historic Game Moments: A First and a Finale
Among the historic firsts included in this auction was a Jackie Robinson debut scorecard from April 15, 1947, his first Major League game. The original owner of this scorecard was at Ebbets Field to witness history being made, and he pencil-scored the contest at center. Seventy-eight years later, this debut-day scorecard still scored big. The final hammer price was $29,280. A fitting finale, this 1986 World Series “last out” baseball from Gary Carter’s personal collection, marking the Mets’ dramatic Game 7 victory, also turned heads, sliding into home for an incredible $183,000.
Rings, Robes, and Remarkable Relics
Not all showstoppers came from the hardwood, the diamond, or the ice. This auction crossed into the end zone, stepped into the ring, and even tiptoed through pop culture history. This 2023 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII Championship ring, glittering with gold, 529 diamonds, and 38 rubies totaling 14.8 carats, stunned. The ring features a removable top, which reveals a field diagram of the game-winning "Tom & Jerry" play that sealed the Chiefs' 25-22 overtime victory against the 49ers in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the player’s name and number were revealed only to the winning bidder. However, it looks like the new owner may be accepting offers if your curiosity gets the better of you!
In a nod to wrestling fandom, a match-worn robe from Cody Rhodes, photo-matched to a 2024 Saturday Night’s Main Event bout vs. Kevin Owens, added pizzazz and pyrotechnic nostalgia. Rhodes executed a Cross Rhodes onto a steel chair to secure the pinfall victory. Post-match, Owens blindsided Rhodes with a banned package piledriver and absconded with the belt. Say what you will about professional wrestling. The line between sport and theater never blurs, it body slams!
Even the Olympic flame made an appearance. French designer Mathieu Lehanneur created this 2024 Paris Summer Olympics relay torch, crafted from recycled steel and housed in its original embossed cylinder. The mirrored finish and wave-like form pay tribute to the River Seine, reflecting the importance of water in the Paris games and themes of unity and connection. It's the first of its kind to hit the hobby’s auction stage—and it lit up at $12,200.
The Heart of the Game(s) in Four Panels
Rounding out the auction’s eclectic mix was an original 1962 Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz, starring none other than Charlie Brown on the pitcher’s mound. In classic Schulz fashion, the strip captures Charlie’s quiet moment of reflection, lamenting the loneliness of the mound, yet hopeful for teammate support, only to be jolted back to reality by Lucy’s ever-blunt encouragement: “C’mon, you blockhead. Try to get one over the plate!” It’s a perfect snapshot of Charlie Brown’s perpetual struggle with sports, from whiffed pitches to pulled-away footballs. And yet, like so many athletes and fans, whether in the stadium or watching from afar, playing for glory or collecting game memorabilia for love, he keeps showing up.
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