Baseball memorabilia for auction
Published April 21st, 2006
A 1954 flannel road jersey worn by a Milwaukee Braves rookie by the name of Hank Aaron will go on the auction block in June in New York City.
Spokesmen for the two auction houses that will stage the sale – Sotheby’s and SCP Auctions – say the jersey could fetch as much as $250,000.
David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions in Laguna Hills, Calif., which specializes in sports memorabilia, said Thursday that it might be the only jersey of its kind. The Aaron jersey has been authenticated.
“During the first part of that season, Hank wore it using the number 5,” Kohler said. “Then he switched to number 44, but you can still make out the outline of number 5. We’re pretty confident it’s the only jersey.”
The jersey is owned by Steve Myland, an Arizona man who has an extensive collection of sports memorabilia, including items belonging to Aaron, Babe Ruth and the Minneapolis-Los Angeles Lakers.
In addition to the Aaron jersey, Myland is selling one of two known jerseys belonging to Hall of Famer Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators. Some Ruth items, including Ruth’s double-signed contract with Samuel Goldwyn Inc. for his appearance in the film, “The Babe Ruth Story,” also will be for sale.
Kohler said Myland had held on to the Aaron jersey since he bought it in the mid-1980s. Kohler said the jersey sold then for “well over six figures.” He said Myland thought it was time to begin the sale of his vast collection.
“The old flannels are very desirable in the sports collectibles business,” Kohler said. “When you talk about vintage items like the Aaron jersey, the market is like real estate. It gets stronger and stronger.”
Kohler said Aaron had not been contacted about attending the auction on June 24, but “he is certainly welcome.”
Aaron played 122 games in his rookie season, batting .280 and belting 13 home runs. He went on to a storied career with the Braves and Brewers and finished with 755 home runs, the all-time home-run record.
