Living Legends

WHEN IT COMES TO BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY, THESE 12 SUPERSTARS ARE NATIONAL TREASURES

By Steve Lansdale

Debating “the greatest” in any measurable metric has been around since the earliest days of professional sports.

Unless it’s a question of who wears the label best as a nickname – Muhammad Ali was referred to simply as “the Greatest” and Wayne Gretzky as “the Great One” – a declaration of which athlete, coach or team can be ranked “first” is rarely without debate.

Some debates make sense, especially team debates, in which a theoretical matchup between squads from different eras never could be played. Could the 1985 Chicago Bears beat the 1972 Miami Dolphins? Also implausible, and sometimes illogical, are debates about individuals. It is only recently acceptable to suggest that LeBron James can challenge Michael Jordan’s perch atop the hierarchy of the greatest basketball players of all time. But what about Bill Russell or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? In baseball, is it Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron? Cy Young or Sandy Koufax?

Equally challenging is identifying the greatest when it comes to collectibles. In other words, who has the most valuable collectibles in sports? More specifically, which living legends have the most valuable collectibles in sports?

For this story, Intelligent Collector pored through the archives of Heritage Auctions, the world’s largest auctioneer of collectibles and sports memorabilia, to find prices realized for living sports legends. We whittled down the list to the top five lots for each living legend in four sports: baseball, football, basketball and hockey.

It’s easy to assume athletes with the greatest statistical and championship performances would top the list, but that is not always the case. If performance and current popularity automatically dictate the value of collectibles, mega-stars like LeBron James and Tom Brady would dominate this list. Instead, you’ll find that the legends here are all retired, with the collectibles market selectively aging only the most desirable and significant treasures related to each athlete.

Of the 60 items on this list, most are trading cards and game-worn jerseys. But there are a few surprises: two paintings by renowned sports artist LeRoy Neiman, Wayne Gretzky’s 1979 rookie contract, and Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan sneakers make the list.

Baseball legends have the most collectible value. Baseball Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax ranks first among our living legends list, followed closely by “The Say Hey Kid” Willie Mays. Only two others – Pete Rose and “Miracle on Ice” team captain Mike Eruzione – make the million-dollar club.

If you’re looking for athletes walking around today with a golden touch, look no further than these 12 living legends.

STEVE LANSDALE is a staff writer at Heritage Auctions.

BASEBALL

Sandy Koufax

Three different mint copies of the pitcher’s rookie card have sold since August 2016.

1. 1955 Sandy Koufax Game-Worn Brooklyn Dodgers Rookie Jersey
   $573,600 (February 2015)
2. 1965 Sandy Koufax Game-Worn Los Angeles Dodgers Jersey
   $262,900 (May 2014)
3. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Rookie #123 PSA Mint 9
   $215,100 (August 2016)
4. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Rookie #123 PSA Mint 9
   $204,000 (March 2017)
5. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Rookie #123 PSA Mint 9
   $132,000 (August 2017)

Willie Mays

The slugger’s first Topps card takes the top four spots.

1. 1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 PSA Mint 9
   $478,000 (May 2016)
2. 1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 PSA Mint 9
   $382,400 (August 2016)
3. 1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 PSA Mint 9
   $310,700 (November 2016)
4. 1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5
   $108,000 (November 2018)
5. 1966 Willie Mays Game-Worn San Francisco Giants Jersey, MEARS A10
   $96,000 (November 2017)

 

Pete Rose

Charlie Hustle’s “Rookie Stars” card for the Cincinnati Reds takes four of the top five slots.

1. 1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie Stars #537 PSA Gem Mint 10
   $717,000 (August 2016)
2. 1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie Stars #537 PSA Mint 9
   $131,450 (August 2016)
3. 1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie Stars #537 PSA Mint 9
   $74,132 (June 2017)
4. 1963-64 Pete Rose Game-Worn Cincinnati Reds Rookie-Era Jersey
   $55,268 (July 2014)
5. 1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie Stars #537 PSA Mint 9
   $55,200 (August 2017)

FOOTBALL

Jim Brown

The legendary Cleveland Browns running back has one of football’s most treasured rookie cards.

1. 1958 Topps Jim Brown Rookie #62 PSA Mint 9
   $358,500 (November 2016)
2. 1958 Topps Jim Brown Rookie #62 PSA Mint 9
   $336,000 (February 2017)
3. Circa 1965 Jim Brown Game-Worn Cleveland Browns Jersey
   $95,500 (February 2014)
4. 1962-65 Jim Brown Game-Worn Cleveland Browns Jersey
   $72,000 (February 2017)
5. 1959 Topps Jim Brown #10 PSA Gem Mint 10
   $33,600 (February 2017)

Joe Namath

The legendary quarterback’s rookie card takes three of his top five spots.

1. 1965 Topps Joe Namath Rookie #122 PSA Mint 9
   $264,000 (February 2018)
2. 1965 Topps Joe Namath Rookie #122 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5
   $78,000 (August 2017)
3. 1965 Joe Namath Original Painting by LeRoy Neiman
   $41,825 (February 2014)
4. 1970-73 Joe Namath Game-Worn New York Jets Jersey
   $38,240 (February 2016)
5. 1965 Topps Joe Namath Rookie #122 PSA NM-MT 8
   $33,460 (November 2016)

Bart Starr

Trading cards take all five spots for the Green Bay Packers legend.

1. 1957 Topps Bart Starr Rookie #119 PSA Mint 9
   $288,000 (February 2017)
2. 1958 Topps Bart Starr #66 PSA Gem Mint 10
   $24,060 (August 2017)
3. 1957 Topps Bart Starr Rookie #119 PSA NM-MT 8
   $12,000 (February 2017)
4. 1957 Topps Bart Starr Rookie #119 PSA NM-MT 8
   $10,800 (July 2018)
5. 1957 Topps Bart Starr Rookie #119 PSA NM-MT 8
   $10,755 (August 2016)

BASKETBALL

Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Lew Alcindor’s rookie card is considered the most coveted rookie card in the sport.

1. 1969 Topps Lew Alcindor Rookie #25 PSA Gem Mint 10
   $501,900 (August 2016)
2. 1969 Topps Lew Alcindor Rookie #25 PSA Gem Mint 10
   $240,000 (November 2017)
3. 1971 Lew Alcindor Game-Worn NBA Western Conference All-Star Jersey
   $106,250 (November 2017)
4. 1969-71 Lew Alcindor Game-Worn Milwaukee Bucks Jersey
   $95,600 (February 2013)
5. 1969-70 Lew Alcindor Game-Worn Milwaukee Bucks Rookie Shooting Shirt
   $47,800 (May 2013)

Oscar Robertson

Game-worn jerseys take all five spots among the 12-time All-Star’s top lots.

1. 1960 Oscar Robertson Rome Summer Olympics Game-Worn USA Basketball Team Jersey
   $66,000 (August 2018)
2. 1970-71 Oscar Robertson NBA Championship Season Game-Worn Milwaukee Bucks Jersey
   $65,725 (February 2013)
3. 1963-64 Oscar Robertson Game-Worn Cincinnati Royals Jersey
   $57,360 (February 2015)
4. Late 1960s Oscar Robertson Game-Worn Cincinnati Royals Jersey
   $48,000 (August 2017)
5. 1972 Oscar Robertson ABA vs. NBA All-Star Game-Worn Jersey, MEARS A10
   $31,070 (July 2014)

Michael Jordan

Game-worn gear worn by “the greatest basketball player of all time” tops the list.

1. 1996-97 Michael Jordan Game-Worn & Signed Chicago Bulls Uniform with Bulls Team Letter
   $59,750 (November 2015
2. 1985-86 Michael Jordan Game-Worn & Signed Air Jordan I Sneakers with Post-Injury Modification
   $55,000 (November 2017)
3. 1992 Olympic Games Michael Jordan Game-Worn & Signed USA Basketball Dream Team Sneakers
   $52,580 (May 2016)
4. 1984-85 Star Co. Michael Jordan Rookie #101 BGS Mint 9
   $50,400 (August 2017)
5. 1984-85 Star Co. Michael Jordan Rookie #101 BGS Mint 9
   $47,800 (November 2016)

HOCKEY 

Mike Eruzione

The captain of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympics team offered personal items to collectors in February 2013.

1. 1980 Mike Eruzione “The Miracle on Ice” Game-Worn USA Olympic Hockey Jersey
   $657,250 (February 2013)
2. 1980 Mike Eruzione Gold Medal Game-Worn USA Olympic Hockey Team Jersey
   $286,800 (February 2013)
3. 1980 Mike Eruzione “The Miracle on Ice” Game-Used Stick that Scored the Winning Goal
   $262,900 (February 2013)
4. 1980 Mike Eruzione Game-Worn USA Olympic Hockey Team Gloves
   $53,775 (February 2013)
5. 1980 Mike Eruzione Game-Worn USA Olympic Hockey Team Pants
   $28,680 (February 2013)

Bobby Orr

One of the greatest ice-hockey players of all time retired in 1978 at age 30.

1. 1966-67 Bobby Orr Game-Worn Rookie Jersey
   $191,200 (April 2010)
2. 1974-75 Bobby Orr Game-Worn and Signed Boston Bruins Jersey
   $60,000 (August 2010)
3. 1975 Bobby Orr Final Game-Worn Jersey as a Member of the Boston Bruins
   $59,750 (November 2015)
4. 1968 “The Blues and the Bruins” Original Painting by LeRoy Neiman, featuring Bobby Orr
   $47,800 (February 2016)
5. 1966 Topps Bobby Orr Rookie #35 PSA NM-MT 8
   $33,600 (November 2018)

Wayne Gretzky

“The Great One” played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League beginning in 1979.

1. 1991-92 Wayne Gretzky Game-Worn Los Angeles Kings Jersey
   $77,675 (February 2013)
2. 1979/80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Unopened, Sealed Wax Box, Containing Gretzky Rookie Card (48 packs)
   $55,200 (July 2018) 
3. 1979 Wayne Gretzky Multi-Signed Rookie WHA Player’s Contract
   $47,800 (February 2013)
4. 1974 Wayne Gretzky 1000th Goal of His Lifetime Game-Used Stick
   $38,837 (August 2013)
5. 1980-81 Wayne Gretzky Game-Worn Edmonton Oilers Gloves
   $33,600 (August 2017)

METHODOLOGY
The Intelligent Collector began by entering a list of living athletes into the Heritage Auctions archives, which reflects prices realized for more than 4.6 million collectibles. Our list excluded non-athletes, such as coaches and managers. We then pulled the top five lots, based on sale price, for each athlete on the list. Each collectible entry includes lot description, price realized and date sold. Items that were purchased and resold are not included, and only appear once; the list includes duplicate items, such as different examples of a trading card.

This article appears in the Spring/Summer 2019 edition of The Intelligent Collector magazine. Click here to subscribe to the print edition.