Press Release
For Immediate release!
TOP ALL-STAR “SPORTS LEGENDS” AUCTION
Michael Jordan 1984-85 Rookie Year Game Issued Chicago Bulls Jersey, Michael Jordan Signed 1995-96 Game Worn Shoes, Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer #57 Rookie Card (BGS 9), Kobe Bryant Signed 1998-99 Game Worn Shoes, Larry Bird Signed 1979-84 Game Worn Boston Celtics Jersey, Muhammad Ali 1970s Training Worn Robe, Trunks & Gloves, Pelé 1964 Nation’s Cup Final Match Worn Brazil Jersey, Mike Tyson 1980-90s Training Worn Shoes, Babe Ruth Signed Baseballs, Argentina Men’s Football 2008 Olympic Gold Medal, Los Angeles Lakers 1985, 1987, and 1988 NBA Championship Rings & Los Angeles Lakers 1999-00 Championship Team Signed Basketball Among Winners Circle of Sports Memorabilia Artifacts Being Offered
Beverly Hills, California – (June 7th, 2022) –Julien’s Auctions, the world-record breaking auction house to the stars, announced today a hall of fame lineup of the most sought-after sports treasures from champions including Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Diego Maradona, Pelé, Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Serena Williams, and more for SPORTS: LEGENDS, taking place Tuesday, June 28th, 2022, live in Beverly Hills and online at juliensauctions.com.
A pair of burgundy Everlast boxing gloves worn by the great Muhammad Ali on December 7th, 1970 in a high-profile bout against Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden (estimate: $60,000 - $80,000) will step into the ring. In only his second bout in three years, Ali was declared the winner of the fight with a technical knockout in the 15th round when the fight was stopped according to the three-knockdown rule. Ali had been stripped of his WBA heavyweight title and not allowed to box because of his refusal to be drafted into the United States Army. Before the fight, Bonavena, a native of Argentina, publicly questioned Ali why refused to enlist. Ali replied that he would answer that question during the fight. Bonavena called Ali a "big chicken," clucked like a chicken, and laughingly called Ali "Clay." Ali yelled to the crowd, "Please! Tell everyone to get to your theaters. I have never had a man that I wanted to whup so bad!" A variety of training used gear from the legendary heavyweight boxing champion will also hit the auction block including a signed Everlast robe (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000), white satin Everlast trunks with black trim (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000) and black leather Everlast gloves (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000) (photo right), all worn by Ali in the 1970s at his training camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania as he prepared for some of the most famous bouts in the history of boxing.
In the opposite corner are the legendary Mike Tyson’s Everlast gloves worn during (and conclusively photo-matched to) his WBC heavyweight championship bout against Frank Bruno on March 16th, 1996 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada (estimate: $30,000 - $50,000). An inspirational comeback story, Tyson regained the WBC heavyweight title with a vicious third-round technical knockout (TKO) of Bruno nearly 10 years after he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. In addition to his fight worn gloves, another significant piece of Mike Tyson memorabilia will be offered—leather boxing shoes worn by Tyson in training sessions during the 1980s and 1990s (estimate: $5,000 - $7,000) (photo left). An inscription on the inside of the right shoe reads "TRAINING FOR SMITH 3/87." Tyson defeated James "Bonecrusher" Smith via unanimous decision on March 7th, 1987 to claim the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles.
Other boxing highlights include: a group of four PSA-graded full tickets to the heavyweight boxing championship bout between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston on May 25th, 1965 in Lewiston, Maine (estimate: $6,000 - $8,000); an oversized boxing glove multi-signed by 20 legendary boxers including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Thomas Hearns, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio, Ike Williams, Joey Giardello, Ken Norton, Kid Azteca, Harold Johnson, Willie Pep, Art Aragon, Jimmy McLarnin, Henry Tillman, Kenny Davis, and Armando Muniz (estimate: $4,000 - $6,000); and an Everlast boxing glove dual signed by Muhammad Ali and football icon Pelé (estimate: $4,000 - $6,000).
Jerseys, boots, and memorabilia from iconic footballers will be on full display including a signed and inscribed Argentina jersey match issued to Diego Maradona for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Final (estimate: $40,000 - $60,000); a Napoli home jersey match worn by Diego Maradona during the 1988-89 Serie A season and UEFA Cup (estimate: $5,000 - $7,000); and an Argentina Jersey (estimate: $4,000 - $6,000) match worn by Maradona in the 1987 Copa America tournament (photo above right). Other significant football items featured in this auction include: FIFA World Cup winner’s gold medals from 1938 and 1986 respectively (estimate: $30,000 - $50,000); a 2008 Olympic gold medal awarded to a player or staff member on the Argentina men's football team that featured international superstars like Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, and Sergio Aguero (estimate: $8,000 - $12,000); Pelé’s Brazil jersey match worn in the 1964 Nation’s Cup Final against Argentina (estimate: $8,000 - $12,000) (photo left); a Santos jersey match worn by Pelé in 1972 (estimate: $8,000 - $12,000); an Argentina jersey match issued to Lionel Messi for the 2021 Copa America Final alongside a winner’s gold medal (estimate: $6,000 - $8,000) and more.
The greatest players in NBA history will score on the auction podium including a conclusively photo-matched New York Knicks jersey game worn by Walt Frazier during the 1970-71 NBA season (estimate: $50,000 - $70,000); a significant early career era (1979-84) Boston Celtics home jersey game worn and signed by Larry Bird (estimate: $20,000 - $30,000) (photo right); a 1984-85 Chicago Bulls jersey game issued to Michael Jordan during his rookie year (estimate: $20,000 - $30,000); a Kobe Bryant signed pair of Adidas KB8 II shoes game worn during the 1998-99 NBA season (estimate: $20,000 - $30,000); 14-karat gold “Showtime” era Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship rings from 1985, 1987, and 1988 (estimate: $8,000 - $12,000); a Los Angeles Lakers 1999-00 championship team signed basketball (estimate: $3,000 - $5,000); Michael Jordan signed and game worn Air Jordan 11 shoes from the 1995-96 NBA season (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000); a 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie card graded “Mint 9” by Beckett (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000) and more.
Michael Jordan’s famed professional baseball career will also be highlighted with offerings from his brief stint with the Chicago White Sox organization, including a White Sox batting practice jersey (estimate: $8,000 - $12,000) and a White Sox helmet (estimate: $2,000 - $3,000) (photo left) game worn by Jordan during Spring Training in 1994. Additional featured baseball offerings include a Miguel Cabrera signed 2003 World Series game worn Florida Marlins uniform (estimate: $4,000 - $6,000); a Reach brand baseball signed by Babe Ruth (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000); and a Nationals Official League baseball signed by Babe Ruth (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000), with both bold signatures receiving an impressive 7 grade from PSA/DNA.
A wide range of unique sports collectibles such as tennis icon Serena Williams’s dress worn in her 2011 US Open Semi-Final match against Caroline Wozniacki (estimate: $2,000 - $3,000) (photo right); a 2008 race used large engine cover from a Williams FW27 Formula 1 car (estimate: $2,000 - $3,000); a pool cue, signed and used by legendary billiards player Rudolf “Minnesota Fats” Wanderone (estimate: $4,000 - 6,000); Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1950-51 Formula 1 season race used helmet, goggles, and boots (estimate: $8,000 - $12,000); and an Eric Lindros 1992-93 game worn Philadelphia Flyers jersey (estimate: $2,000 - $3,000), will be among other top highlights in the sale.
“Julien’s Auctions is proud to offer this all-star lineup of over 650 spectacular sports collectibles from some of the greatest athletes and most significant moments in the history of boxing, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, tennis, football, Formula 1, and more,” said Eric Hirsch, Sports Specialist, Julien’s Auctions. “From Muhammed Ali’s 1970 fight worn gloves and Mike Tyson’s 1996 heavyweight championship fight worn gloves to Walt Frazier’s 1971 game worn New York Knicks jersey and Diego Maradona’s signed 1986 FIFA World Cup Final match issued Argentina jersey, this collection of historic items represents the best of the best in this summer’s sports main event.”
JULIEN’S AUCTIONS LIVE AUCTION LOCATION
Julien’s Auctions
257 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills,
CA 90210
JULIEN’S AUCTIONS LIVE AND ONLINE AUCTION
SPORTS: LEGENDS
Tuesday, June 28th, 2022
Session: 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time
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info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818.
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For Inquiries, Please Email info@juliensauctions.com or Call 310-836-1818.
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LIVE AUCTIONS
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE AUCTIONS
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Media contact
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About Julien's Auctions
Julien’s Auctions is the auction house to the stars. Collaborating with the famous and the exclusive, Julien’s Auctions produces high profile auctions in the film, music, art and sports markets.
Julien’s Auctions has received international recognition for its unique and innovative auction events, which attract thousands of collectors, investors, fans and enthusiasts from around the world. Julien’s Auctions specializes in sales of iconic artifacts and notable collections including Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Lady Gaga, Banksy, Cher, Michael Jackson, U2, Barbra Streisand, Les Paul, Neil Young, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Hugh Hefner, Pelé and many more.
In 2016, Julien’s realized $5 million in the historic auction of the Brazilian soccer icon, three-time World Cup Champion and FIFA Player of the Century’s collection of memorabilia, personal property and awards, which featured the sale of Pelé’s 3 World Cup Gold medals, sold for a combined total of US $970,992 (£674,300),
including his 1970 World Cup winner’s medal sold for $427,100 (£346,000), which set world records for the most expensive Pelé item and the most expensive soccer medal ever sold at auction. In 2020, Julien’s shattered multiple records of sports jerseys sold at auction in the sale of a trio of historic #23 basketball
jerseys worn by Michael Jordan (his historic 1984 “Signing Day” official Chicago Bulls rookie #23 which sold for $320,000, a new world record sale for a jersey worn by the 14 Time All-Star and five-time MVP legend), Barack Obama (the forty-fourth U.S. President’s 1979 #23 Punahou School jersey which sold for
$192,000, a new world record selling price for a high school jersey) and Lebron James (the NBA legend’s 2003-2004 official Cleveland Cavaliers rookie year NBA jersey rookie season which sold for $128,000) which combined totaled $640,000 as well as Colin Kaepernick’s official San Francisco 49ers rookie jersey which
sold for $128,000, a new world record for most expensive NFL jersey sold at auction. Other notable Sports memorabilia sold by Julien’s Auctions include Babe Ruth’s 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers coaching uniform which sold for $187,500 and NASCAR legend Richard Petty’s 1974 Dodge Charger Daytona race-winning car
which sold for $500,000.
In 2016, Julien’s Auctions received its second placement in the Guinness Book of World Records for the sale of the world’s most expensive dress ever sold at auction, The Marilyn Monroe “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress which sold for $4.8 million. Julien’s Auctions achieved placement in the Guinness Book of World
Records in 2009 for the sale of Michael Jackson’s white glove, which sold for $480,000 making it the most expensive glove ever sold at auction. In 2020, Julien’s Auctions received its third Guinness Book of World Record placement for the sale of Kurt Cobain’s “MTV Unplugged” 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar,
which sold for $6 million making it the world’s most expensive guitar ever sold at auction. In 2022, Julien’s Auctions sold the world’s second most expensive guitar ever sold at auction with Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video 1969 Fender Mustang electric guitar, which sold for $4.5 million.
Based in Los Angeles, Julien’s Auctions has a global presence bringing their auctions and exhibitions to targeted destinations worldwide including London, New York, Las Vegas, Japan and China. Live auctions are presented for bidders on-site and online via live streaming video and mobile technology. For more information on Julien’s Auctions, go to www.juliensauctions.com.
Connect with Julien’s Auctions at www.facebook.com/JuliensAuctions or www.twitter.com/JuliensAuctions
or www.instagram.com/juliens_auctions.
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