Sport Rewards
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Sport II Origins of sports Olympic Games Medal and decoration Baseball bat Babe Ruth
See also : Sport II Origins of sports Olympic Games Medal and decoration Baseball bat Babe Ruth
1896 Football Association Challenge Cup
2020 SOLD for £ 760K by Bonhams
The Football Association (FA) was founded in 1863 by eleven English clubs who wanted to standardize the rules and prohibit holding the ball in the hand. The founders are quickly joined by other clubs and it becomes tempting to organize a competition. The easiest is to proceed by direct elimination : the FA Challenge Cup is created for the season 1871-72.
This competition is symbolized by a trophy which is entrusted to the winning club until the final of the following year. This heavy piece of silverware to be lifted by two large handles goes from club to club. It was stolen in September 1895. Despite a promised reward of £ 10, it was not found. Much later, a counterfeiter will declare without convincing proof that he had stolen it in order to melt it.
A new trophy was therefore needed for 1896. It was made by a Birmingham silversmith as an exact replica of the lost piece of which a cast had been preserved. It is 41 cm high, 51 cm overall with the plinth, and its cover is decorated with a footballer.
A design change is decided in 1910 with the intention of protecting a new model by copyright. The obsolete trophy, which bears the list of winning clubs from 1872 to 1910 spread over several cartouches, is presented to FA President Lord Kinnaird, a champion who had been a member of its council since 1868.
In the direct descent from Lord Kinnaird, the cup was sold for £ 480K by Christie's on May 19, 2005, lot 100 and for £ 760K by Bonhams on September 29, 2020, lot 6.
This competition is symbolized by a trophy which is entrusted to the winning club until the final of the following year. This heavy piece of silverware to be lifted by two large handles goes from club to club. It was stolen in September 1895. Despite a promised reward of £ 10, it was not found. Much later, a counterfeiter will declare without convincing proof that he had stolen it in order to melt it.
A new trophy was therefore needed for 1896. It was made by a Birmingham silversmith as an exact replica of the lost piece of which a cast had been preserved. It is 41 cm high, 51 cm overall with the plinth, and its cover is decorated with a footballer.
A design change is decided in 1910 with the intention of protecting a new model by copyright. The obsolete trophy, which bears the list of winning clubs from 1872 to 1910 spread over several cartouches, is presented to FA President Lord Kinnaird, a champion who had been a member of its council since 1868.
In the direct descent from Lord Kinnaird, the cup was sold for £ 480K by Christie's on May 19, 2005, lot 100 and for £ 760K by Bonhams on September 29, 2020, lot 6.
□Up for the Cup□
— Bonhams (@bonhams1793) September 8, 2020
We're offering a piece of English football history in our Spectacular Sporting Trophies & Memorabilia auction on September 29 – the oldest surviving FA Cup presented to winning teams between 1896 and 1910 □https://t.co/g2VHODn6ds pic.twitter.com/FVX285eggD
□The oldest surviving FA Cup, presented to the winning teams between 1896-1910, sold at #Bonhams today for £760,000□️
— Bonhams (@bonhams1793) September 29, 2020
The trophy charts the transformation of the game from one dominated by public school players to the popular mass participation sport that it became and remains. pic.twitter.com/W3ukAOdbs7
1896 Olympic Silver Cup of Spyridon Louis
2012 SOLD for £ 540K by Christie's
In 1896, the first major international multi-sport festival takes place in Athens. It takes as reference the games of ancient Greece. Designed and organized by Coubertin, the modern Olympic Games were born.
Two unprecedented events provide a link with antiquity and exacerbate the Greek patriotism : the discus throw (won by an American) and the marathon running.
Thirteen Greeks and four foreigners have dared to compete in this endurance race. The people and the king welcomed with an extraordinary burst of joy the victory of Spyridon Louis, a humble water carrier from the Athens suburb. This modern Cincinnatus returned to his farm after his feat.
The silver cup, 15 cm high, which was awarded to Spyridon Louis had been kept by his family. It was sold for £ 540K from a lower estimate of £ 120K by Christie's on April 18 2012, lot 32.
Two unprecedented events provide a link with antiquity and exacerbate the Greek patriotism : the discus throw (won by an American) and the marathon running.
Thirteen Greeks and four foreigners have dared to compete in this endurance race. The people and the king welcomed with an extraordinary burst of joy the victory of Spyridon Louis, a humble water carrier from the Athens suburb. This modern Cincinnatus returned to his farm after his feat.
The silver cup, 15 cm high, which was awarded to Spyridon Louis had been kept by his family. It was sold for £ 540K from a lower estimate of £ 120K by Christie's on April 18 2012, lot 32.
#Olympics2016 have begun! Here's the cup presented to the winner of the 1896 marathon: https://t.co/KHMCUYCoZ2 pic.twitter.com/8odpssRbZi
— Christie's Books (@ChristiesBKS) August 6, 2016
1923 Babe Ruth Bat
2004 SOLD for $ 1.26M by Sotheby's
The Black Sox Scandal could have permanently tarnished the reputation of America's favorite sport. This case of faked baseball matches finds its epilogue in 1921 by a public trial and the ban for life of the players at fault.
In the same year Christy Walsh invents two lucrative jobs. He manages a syndicate of ghost writers who prepare texts to be endorsed by baseball personalities and approach the top players including Babe Ruth for becoming their business agent.
We must encourage young people to be reconciled with baseball. Following an initiative of the Los Angeles Evening Herald, Walsh and Ruth decide in 1923 that for three consecutive seasons the bat of the first home run of the champion will be inscribed and signed by him and given to the winner of a baseball contest organized for Californian students.
In 1923 Ruth scores his first homer on April 18 during the inauguration of the Yankee Stadium. It was impossible to imagine a more prestigious event. The bat used for this feat is awarded on June 7 by the newspaper to a young player named Victor Orsatti. It was sold on December 13, 2004 by Sotheby's for $ 1.26M.
In 1924 Ruth records his first homer on April 20 in Washington DC. His bat is awarded as promised to the winner of the Californian contest, Phil Grossman. It passed at Heritage on February 23, 2019.
In the same year Christy Walsh invents two lucrative jobs. He manages a syndicate of ghost writers who prepare texts to be endorsed by baseball personalities and approach the top players including Babe Ruth for becoming their business agent.
We must encourage young people to be reconciled with baseball. Following an initiative of the Los Angeles Evening Herald, Walsh and Ruth decide in 1923 that for three consecutive seasons the bat of the first home run of the champion will be inscribed and signed by him and given to the winner of a baseball contest organized for Californian students.
In 1923 Ruth scores his first homer on April 18 during the inauguration of the Yankee Stadium. It was impossible to imagine a more prestigious event. The bat used for this feat is awarded on June 7 by the newspaper to a young player named Victor Orsatti. It was sold on December 13, 2004 by Sotheby's for $ 1.26M.
In 1924 Ruth records his first homer on April 20 in Washington DC. His bat is awarded as promised to the winner of the Californian contest, Phil Grossman. It passed at Heritage on February 23, 2019.
1923 Babe Ruth World Championship Watch by Gruen
2014 SOLD for $ 720K by Heritage
In 1923 the New York Yankees baseball team is galvanized by their new stadium. The first bat used during the inauguration on April 18 by their star player Babe Ruth was sold by Sotheby's in December 2004 for $ 1.26M.
The Yankees then got their first ever title of World's Champions, which was also Ruth's first. To commemorate this victory, Gruen offered watches to the officials and to all the players of the club. The watch presented to Babe Ruth was sold by Heritage for $ 720K on February 22, 2014, lot 80030. Still non functional, it passed the same auction house on August 23, 2025, lot 80118 (see X post below).
This pocket watch with a pentagonal shape is engraved on the back with a baseball scene and inscriptions reminding the event.
This series of watches, most of which have disappeared, is the only trophy offered for this opportunity and has the same sporting importance as a gold medal at the Olympics. Championship rings did not yet exist at that time.
Babe Ruth understood the importance of this piece which he kept until the final phase of his illness a quarter century later. He then made engraved on the watch the name of the friend to whom he forwarded this sign of his glory. Charlie Schwefel was his companion for servicing America's youth through sport.
For Gruen, of course, it was also a promotional act. The US-Swiss brand patented in 1922 this unusual shape of watches in an effort to capture the promising market of the wristwatch. For the same reason, their watches became ultra-flat, as indicated by the "VeriThin" movement that equips the copies presented to the Yankees.
The Yankees then got their first ever title of World's Champions, which was also Ruth's first. To commemorate this victory, Gruen offered watches to the officials and to all the players of the club. The watch presented to Babe Ruth was sold by Heritage for $ 720K on February 22, 2014, lot 80030. Still non functional, it passed the same auction house on August 23, 2025, lot 80118 (see X post below).
This pocket watch with a pentagonal shape is engraved on the back with a baseball scene and inscriptions reminding the event.
This series of watches, most of which have disappeared, is the only trophy offered for this opportunity and has the same sporting importance as a gold medal at the Olympics. Championship rings did not yet exist at that time.
Babe Ruth understood the importance of this piece which he kept until the final phase of his illness a quarter century later. He then made engraved on the watch the name of the friend to whom he forwarded this sign of his glory. Charlie Schwefel was his companion for servicing America's youth through sport.
For Gruen, of course, it was also a promotional act. The US-Swiss brand patented in 1922 this unusual shape of watches in an effort to capture the promising market of the wristwatch. For the same reason, their watches became ultra-flat, as indicated by the "VeriThin" movement that equips the copies presented to the Yankees.
This very watch was awarded to #BabeRuth upon winning the Yankees’ first championship in 1923 ⚾️ #HeritageAuctions pic.twitter.com/Fs4k3HWdU4
— Heritage Auctions Sports (@Heritage_Sport) June 9, 2025
Legendary championship hardware!
— Heritage Auctions Sports (@Heritage_Sport) June 22, 2025
This is the watch awarded to Babe Ruth for the 1923 World Series championship, the Yankees and the Bambino’s first title
Coming up in our Summer Platinum Auction and you’ll be able to see it at the @nsccshow next month pic.twitter.com/CDizqKAo2K
1927 Babe Ruth World Series Ring
2017 SOLD for $ 2.1M by Lelands
The championship ring is a tradition in American team sports. This reward is not comparable to a sports medal but to the celebration and commemoration of a victory. It is generally offered by the winning club of a major championship without limit of quantity : the players receive it but also the managers, the coaches, the sponsors.
This tradition gradually took hold in the 1920s in Major League Baseball for the benefit of the winning team of the World Series. The first rings linked to the MLB were awarded in 1922 to the New York Giants.
In 1923 when the New York Yankees won the World Series the memory offered to them was not a ring but a pocket watch. The watch of Babe Ruth was sold for $ 720K by Heritage on February 22, 2014, lot 80030.
The next victory of the Yankees in the World Series was in 1927. It was also a sporting feat : they had won all four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That year as a whole was exceptional for Babe Ruth who scored 60 home runs in this single season, a record in the MLB competitions.
The Yankees have now joined the new tradition. The World Series ring in 14K yellow gold presented to Babe Ruth in 1927 was sold for $ 2.1M by Lelands on June 30, 2017, lot 1. A slight chip to the diamond is announced.
The price of a ring at auction depends on the prestige of the sporting achievement that has been rewarded. When the basketball player 'Dr J' Erving sold his collection in November 2011 by SCP Auctions, his 1974 ABA championship ring was sold for $ 460K while the best of his other rings did not reach $ 250K.
This tradition gradually took hold in the 1920s in Major League Baseball for the benefit of the winning team of the World Series. The first rings linked to the MLB were awarded in 1922 to the New York Giants.
In 1923 when the New York Yankees won the World Series the memory offered to them was not a ring but a pocket watch. The watch of Babe Ruth was sold for $ 720K by Heritage on February 22, 2014, lot 80030.
The next victory of the Yankees in the World Series was in 1927. It was also a sporting feat : they had won all four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That year as a whole was exceptional for Babe Ruth who scored 60 home runs in this single season, a record in the MLB competitions.
The Yankees have now joined the new tradition. The World Series ring in 14K yellow gold presented to Babe Ruth in 1927 was sold for $ 2.1M by Lelands on June 30, 2017, lot 1. A slight chip to the diamond is announced.
The price of a ring at auction depends on the prestige of the sporting achievement that has been rewarded. When the basketball player 'Dr J' Erving sold his collection in November 2011 by SCP Auctions, his 1974 ABA championship ring was sold for $ 460K while the best of his other rings did not reach $ 250K.
Babe Ruth's 1927 Murderer's Row World Series ring is to auction for the first time https://t.co/hw6lFGkZSO #Yankees #BabeRuth pic.twitter.com/jWGgNRy2oi
— Paul Fraser (@PFCollectibles) May 24, 2017
1936 Olympic Gold Medal of Jesse Owens
2013 SOLD for $ 1.47M by SCP
Jesse Owens is passionate about running. At the age of 15, he meets Charley Paddock, Olympic champion of the 100 metres in Antwerp in 1920. Paddock compensated for an ordinary morphology by an innovative race strategy, finishing the sprint with a jump on the rope.
Owens also does not have an exceptional build. He is developing a fast stride with a minimal foot contact on the track. This innovation is very effective for sprint, long jump and hurdling. He reaches the top level in May 1935, winning four events in 45 minutes, during which he breaks or equals six world records.
He is obviously qualified for the Berlin Olympics in 1936. At first the challenge is for the sport. The Olympic Games are the best place to confirm that he is the fastest man in the world. The public is waiting for an exploit from him.
The mental state of Jesse Owens in competition is phenomenal. His records of 1935 were obtained despite a very painful back following an accidental fall. In Berlin, he manages similarly to ignore the psychological pressure. He wins four gold medals : 100 metre dash, long jump, 200 metres and 4 x 100 metre relay.
This grandson of slaves who was born in Alabama became a hero for the whole African-American community and is still now one of the most popular symbols of the Nazi abuse. On this last point, the reality is different. Owens himself stated that Hitler had not been hostile to him. Hitler was willing to admit that Negroes had morphologic features that enabled them to win. Earlier in these games, the Chancellor had only congratulated German athletes. His advisers made him understand that it was a blunder and he therefore decided to stop calling any winner.
Off the stadium, he is an African-American at a time of severe race discrimination. The amateurism doctrine in sport is ruthless. Upon his return from the Berlin Games, he seeks financial compensation and is excluded from all amateur events. His sports career is over.
At the time of the Berlin Games, the medals of the winners are struck in a unique model, with no identification of the sport and of course of the name of the laureate. The winning medals are in gold plated silver. Replicas were also released for some laudable uses. The authentication of a Berlin Games medal requires an impeccable provenance and an analysis by a specialized expert.
One of them, presented by the champion to tap dancer Bojangles, was sold for $ 1.47M by SCP on December 7, 2013. Please watch the video commented by Darren Rovell for the ESPN specialized sport channel.
At the time of that sale, the other three medals were not localized. Another one resurfaced afterwards. It had been gifted by Owens to a weightlifter, as a reward for helping him to make speeches in public meetings in the 1950s and 1960s. It was sold for $ 600K by Goldin on December 7, 2019, lot 1.
Both have been confirmed as genuine by James Greensfelder, author of a reference guide to Olympic medals.
Owens also does not have an exceptional build. He is developing a fast stride with a minimal foot contact on the track. This innovation is very effective for sprint, long jump and hurdling. He reaches the top level in May 1935, winning four events in 45 minutes, during which he breaks or equals six world records.
He is obviously qualified for the Berlin Olympics in 1936. At first the challenge is for the sport. The Olympic Games are the best place to confirm that he is the fastest man in the world. The public is waiting for an exploit from him.
The mental state of Jesse Owens in competition is phenomenal. His records of 1935 were obtained despite a very painful back following an accidental fall. In Berlin, he manages similarly to ignore the psychological pressure. He wins four gold medals : 100 metre dash, long jump, 200 metres and 4 x 100 metre relay.
This grandson of slaves who was born in Alabama became a hero for the whole African-American community and is still now one of the most popular symbols of the Nazi abuse. On this last point, the reality is different. Owens himself stated that Hitler had not been hostile to him. Hitler was willing to admit that Negroes had morphologic features that enabled them to win. Earlier in these games, the Chancellor had only congratulated German athletes. His advisers made him understand that it was a blunder and he therefore decided to stop calling any winner.
Off the stadium, he is an African-American at a time of severe race discrimination. The amateurism doctrine in sport is ruthless. Upon his return from the Berlin Games, he seeks financial compensation and is excluded from all amateur events. His sports career is over.
At the time of the Berlin Games, the medals of the winners are struck in a unique model, with no identification of the sport and of course of the name of the laureate. The winning medals are in gold plated silver. Replicas were also released for some laudable uses. The authentication of a Berlin Games medal requires an impeccable provenance and an analysis by a specialized expert.
One of them, presented by the champion to tap dancer Bojangles, was sold for $ 1.47M by SCP on December 7, 2013. Please watch the video commented by Darren Rovell for the ESPN specialized sport channel.
At the time of that sale, the other three medals were not localized. Another one resurfaced afterwards. It had been gifted by Owens to a weightlifter, as a reward for helping him to make speeches in public meetings in the 1950s and 1960s. It was sold for $ 600K by Goldin on December 7, 2019, lot 1.
Both have been confirmed as genuine by James Greensfelder, author of a reference guide to Olympic medals.
1957 Bill Russell NBA Championship Ring
2021 SOLD for $ 705K by Hunt
The victory of the US team at the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956 was overwhelming. They won their eight games with an unsurpassed average margin in Olympic basketball. The victory by 85-55 against the Soviets was specially acclaimed in the context of the Cold War.
The team leader was the 22 year old central pivot Bill Russell.who had just won two consecutive NCAA university championships with the San Francisco Dons. The African American had to withstand the period typical humiliating racism during the training phase in the USA.
The 2.08 m tall with a 2.24 m wingspan athlete was also skilled in track and field. He previously achieved 2.06 m in high jump and was able to run 400 m in less than 50 seconds.
He had already signed an NBA contract with the Boston Celtics but had postponed the beginning of his professional career for competing in the Olympic Games which were still strictly accessible to amateurs.
The gold medal awarded in Melbourne to Bill Russell was sold for $ 590K by Hunt on December 10, 2021, lot 276a.
Bill Russell was a good choice for the Celtics. He is arguably the most effective defense player in NBA history, with an unprecedentedly intense game style. With him as defense pivot, the Celtics won their eleven first NBA titles, including a remarkable suite of eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966.
On April 13, 1957, the Celtics won the decisive last game of the NBA Finals of his rookie year by a very tight 125-123 against the St. Louis Hawks, after two overtimes. Russell had scored 32 rebounds in that game.
40 seconds before the end of the regular time, the very speedy Russell had saved that match for the Celtics by a personal feat known as the Coleman Play. Running from his own baseline against the Hawks forward who had received a pass at mid-court, he had managed to block the shot.
The NBA championship ring awarded to Bill Russell in 1957 was sold for $ 705K by Hunt on December 10, 2021, lot 84.
Bill Russell made his whole NBA career with the Celtics. In 1969 for his last season, he became the first ever player to win eleven championships in a North American league. This record has been only tied once, by Henri Richard in the NHL in 1973. His 1969 NBA championship ring was sold for $ 560K by Hunt in the same sale as the two lots above, lot 279.
The team leader was the 22 year old central pivot Bill Russell.who had just won two consecutive NCAA university championships with the San Francisco Dons. The African American had to withstand the period typical humiliating racism during the training phase in the USA.
The 2.08 m tall with a 2.24 m wingspan athlete was also skilled in track and field. He previously achieved 2.06 m in high jump and was able to run 400 m in less than 50 seconds.
He had already signed an NBA contract with the Boston Celtics but had postponed the beginning of his professional career for competing in the Olympic Games which were still strictly accessible to amateurs.
The gold medal awarded in Melbourne to Bill Russell was sold for $ 590K by Hunt on December 10, 2021, lot 276a.
Bill Russell was a good choice for the Celtics. He is arguably the most effective defense player in NBA history, with an unprecedentedly intense game style. With him as defense pivot, the Celtics won their eleven first NBA titles, including a remarkable suite of eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966.
On April 13, 1957, the Celtics won the decisive last game of the NBA Finals of his rookie year by a very tight 125-123 against the St. Louis Hawks, after two overtimes. Russell had scored 32 rebounds in that game.
40 seconds before the end of the regular time, the very speedy Russell had saved that match for the Celtics by a personal feat known as the Coleman Play. Running from his own baseline against the Hawks forward who had received a pass at mid-court, he had managed to block the shot.
The NBA championship ring awarded to Bill Russell in 1957 was sold for $ 705K by Hunt on December 10, 2021, lot 84.
Bill Russell made his whole NBA career with the Celtics. In 1969 for his last season, he became the first ever player to win eleven championships in a North American league. This record has been only tied once, by Henri Richard in the NHL in 1973. His 1969 NBA championship ring was sold for $ 560K by Hunt in the same sale as the two lots above, lot 279.
1958 Pelé World Cup medal
2026 for sale on June 25 by BUDDS
Pelé's official 1958 FIFA World Cup winner's medal (a Continental gold piece from the final), will be sod at lot 13 in BUDDS' "The World Cup: Moments That Made History" live auction on June 25, 2026.
Description: Obverse inscribed "FIFA"; reverse inscribed "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP JULES RIMET CUP SWEDEN 1958," with a bespoke display stand. It comes with strong provenance from Pelé's personal collection, sold as lot 528 in Julien's Auctions' "Pelé: The Collection" (June 7–9, 2016).
Estimate: £300,000–£500,000 GBP (buyer's premium 25% + taxes).
Significance in Pelé's Career and World Cup History
This medal marks the explosive beginning of Pelé's legendary status. At just 17 years and 249 days old, he became the youngest player to appear in, score in, and win a World Cup final—records that still stand. Brazil defeated host Sweden 5–2 in the final at Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm on June 29, 1958. Pelé scored two goals (including a memorable lob-and-volley and a late header), helping Brazil secure their first-ever World Cup title after earlier triumphs over the USSR, Wales (where his goal made him the youngest World Cup scorer ever), and France.
Pelé entered the tournament as a relatively unknown teenager with a knee injury but emerged as a global superstar. Iconic images show him weeping with joy, lifted by older teammates. This victory transformed Brazil (still haunted by the 1950 Maracanazo loss) into a football powerhouse and launched "O Rei" (The King) as the sport's first truly global icon—recognized even by non-fans. He remains the only player to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970). This 1958 medal represents the origin story: the spark of genius, joy, and dominance that defined his career and elevated the World Cup's global appeal in a pre-modern, less commercialized era.
Comparison with Julien's Auctions Sales (from Pelé's Collection, 2016)
Pelé consigned all three of his winner's medals (plus thousands of other items) through Julien's in 2016. They are similar Continental gold pieces (typically ~0.750 gold, with Victory/Nike motifs and tournament-specific engravings on the reverse), but values and context differ based on the tournament's legacy and market timing.
Description: Obverse inscribed "FIFA"; reverse inscribed "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP JULES RIMET CUP SWEDEN 1958," with a bespoke display stand. It comes with strong provenance from Pelé's personal collection, sold as lot 528 in Julien's Auctions' "Pelé: The Collection" (June 7–9, 2016).
Estimate: £300,000–£500,000 GBP (buyer's premium 25% + taxes).
Significance in Pelé's Career and World Cup History
This medal marks the explosive beginning of Pelé's legendary status. At just 17 years and 249 days old, he became the youngest player to appear in, score in, and win a World Cup final—records that still stand. Brazil defeated host Sweden 5–2 in the final at Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm on June 29, 1958. Pelé scored two goals (including a memorable lob-and-volley and a late header), helping Brazil secure their first-ever World Cup title after earlier triumphs over the USSR, Wales (where his goal made him the youngest World Cup scorer ever), and France.
Pelé entered the tournament as a relatively unknown teenager with a knee injury but emerged as a global superstar. Iconic images show him weeping with joy, lifted by older teammates. This victory transformed Brazil (still haunted by the 1950 Maracanazo loss) into a football powerhouse and launched "O Rei" (The King) as the sport's first truly global icon—recognized even by non-fans. He remains the only player to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970). This 1958 medal represents the origin story: the spark of genius, joy, and dominance that defined his career and elevated the World Cup's global appeal in a pre-modern, less commercialized era.
Comparison with Julien's Auctions Sales (from Pelé's Collection, 2016)
Pelé consigned all three of his winner's medals (plus thousands of other items) through Julien's in 2016. They are similar Continental gold pieces (typically ~0.750 gold, with Victory/Nike motifs and tournament-specific engravings on the reverse), but values and context differ based on the tournament's legacy and market timing.
- 1958 Medal (this one, ex-Julien's lot 528): Sold for $ 187,500; estimate $70,000–$140,000). It outperformed the estimate significantly.
- 1962 Medal (Chile): Sold for $140,800, lot 788. Brazil defended their title, but Pelé was injured early and played less; the tournament had lower global resonance than 1958 or 1970. It fetched less than the 1958 piece, reflecting collectors' premium on "the first."
- 1970 Medal (Mexico): Sold for $346,000, lot 1538 (highest football medal at auction per Guinness records; estimate $70k–140k). This came from Brazil's iconic, attacking "greatest team ever" (with stars like Jairzinho, Tostão, and Rivelino). Pelé was at his mature peak. It commanded the highest price, underscoring the tournament's mythic status.
- 1958 stands out for primacy and narrative power — the "origin" medal from Pelé's teenage breakthrough often appeals more sentimentally than the 1962 (less central role) or even 1970 (greater team lore but later in his career).
- Market growth since 2016 has boosted estimates for the BUDDS sale (£300k–£500k vs. the 2016 £200k result), driven by rising demand for ultra-rare World Cup artifacts, Pelé's enduring legacy (post-2022 passing), and the 2026 World Cup hype.
- All are rare (player-specific winners' medals from that era), but provenance from Pelé himself adds massive value. The 1958 example's emotional weight as the start of an unparalleled triple crowns it as historically pivotal.
1969 Tom Seaver World Championship Ring
2026 SOLD for $ 850K by Heritage
Tom Seaver's prized 1969 New York Mets World Series ring was sold for $ 850K from a lower estimate of $ 300K by Heritage on March 1, 2026, lot 80929.
The ring, featuring Seaver's No. 41 and a central diamond amid Mets engravings, commemorates the "Miracle Mets'" improbable championship win, a defining moment in baseball history led by Hall of Famer Seaver's 2.21 ERA that season.
As the crown jewel of Seaver's 100+ item collection—spanning autographed balls, jerseys, and awards—the auction underscores surging demand for vintage sports memorabilia, with similar championship rings historically selling for $200,000-$500,000.
Tom Seaver had an outstanding 1969 season with the New York Mets, anchoring their rotation during the "Miracle Mets'" improbable run to the World Series championship.
Regular Season Pitching Stats
Postseason
In the playoffs (best-of-5 NLCS and best-of-7 World Series):
The ring, featuring Seaver's No. 41 and a central diamond amid Mets engravings, commemorates the "Miracle Mets'" improbable championship win, a defining moment in baseball history led by Hall of Famer Seaver's 2.21 ERA that season.
As the crown jewel of Seaver's 100+ item collection—spanning autographed balls, jerseys, and awards—the auction underscores surging demand for vintage sports memorabilia, with similar championship rings historically selling for $200,000-$500,000.
Tom Seaver had an outstanding 1969 season with the New York Mets, anchoring their rotation during the "Miracle Mets'" improbable run to the World Series championship.
Regular Season Pitching Stats
- Record: 25-7 (led the National League in wins; his 25 victories accounted for a quarter of the Mets' 100 total wins that year)
- Win Percentage: .781
- ERA: 2.21 (led the NL)
- Games: 36 (35 starts)
- Complete Games: 18
- Shutouts: 5
- Innings Pitched (IP): 273.1
- Hits Allowed: 202
- Runs Allowed: 75
- Earned Runs: 67
- Home Runs Allowed: 24
- Walks: 82 (with 9 intentional)
- Strikeouts: 208
- WHIP: 1.039 (walks + hits per inning pitched)
- Opponents' Batting Average: .207
Postseason
In the playoffs (best-of-5 NLCS and best-of-7 World Series):
- He started 3 games (1 in the NLCS vs. Atlanta Braves, 2 in the World Series vs. Baltimore Orioles).
- Record: 2-1
- ERA: Around 4.09 over 22 innings (with some tougher outings mixed in).
- The Mets won the NLCS 3-0 and the World Series 4-1, with Seaver contributing key starts.
1976 Muhammad Ali WBC Championship Belt
2022 SOLD for $ 6.2M by Heritage
In 1971 Muhammad Ali prepares his grand come back for the heavyweight WBC and WBA titles of which he had been deposed in 1967 after his refusal to join the armed forces during the Vietnam war. He fights the defending champion Joe Frazier on March 8 in New York City.
That official return of Muhammad Ali passionated his supporters and his opponents. He had proclaimed that he was the greatest, and it was true. In 1964, he had humbled Liston who did not represent his ideal of the black man. With Frazier, he managed a similar escalation of provocation.
Joe Frazier is also one of the top champions of all time. On 8 March 1971, his endurance through the fifteen rounds proved far superior to Ali's and his victory was unquestionable. The fight was very hard. Ali's wound at the cheek was severe and Frazier was so exhausted that he had to be hospitalized.
The color television is overwhelming in 1971. Ali wants to stay The Greatest. Four days before the event, he reveals to the New York Times that his shorts and robe will be red and white, like a king. Inseparable from the images of this match which is aptly remembered as the Fight of the Century, these garments become a symbol of the first professional defeat of Muhammad Ali. The champion will never wear red again.
After being allowed to resume his gloves, Muhammad Ali must face three great champions. Joe Frazier has reunified the world heavyweight title in 1970 and lost it in January 1973 to George Foreman. Ali lost to Frazier in 1971 and early in 1973 successively against Foreman and Ken Norton. A rematch was won by Ali against Norton in September 1973 and against Frazier in January 1974.
Muhammad Ali becomes credible for the highest level but Foreman, physically formidable, seems unbeatable. At that point appears Don King, a boxing promoter who undertakes to organize the heavyweight championship between George Foreman, the defending champion, and Muhammad Ali, the challenger.
There is no limit to the ambitious Don King. Each of the fighters require $ 5M: King find that money by appealing the Président and future Maréchal Mobutu with the idea of a promotional event that will generate an international attention to Zaire. The match takes place in Kinshasa on October 30, 1974 and remains in the history of boxing as the Rumble in the Jungle.
Foreman is more muscular but Ali's strategy is clever. He spread before the fight some false information about the boxing style he was choosing to use. Foreman hits hard and fast but his weak point is endurance. Once on the ring Ali exhausts Foreman by an unexpected mobility. He becomes world heavyweight champion for WBC and WBA by a knockout in the 8th round.
The third bout between Ali and Frazier was sponsored for a promotion of the Philippines by the presidential couple Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. The WBA and WBC titles, both held by Ali, were on the line.
The preparation was highly publicized, including the theater located in Quezon City being temporarily renamed the Philippine Coliseum. Ali did not stop to emit psychological attacks against Frazier, saying that the fight would be "a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila."
The event, on October 1, 1975, will forever be known as the Thrilla in Manila. In terms of sport, it was one of the most dramatic fights in boxing history. After the fourteenth round, Frazier's coach, seeing his condition becoming critical, forced him to leave despite a desperate "I want him, boss". Ali, winner, however had to be hospitalized because of his fatigue. He finally went to admit that his opponent was also a great champion. Frazier's eyesight was compromise and Ali soon developed Parkinson's.
Ali competed in satin Everlast shorts, pure white excepted for the black belt line and thin black racing stripes down each leg. White is a great choice for a champion committed to win. They remained immaculate of blood. Marked as Made expressly for Muhammad Ali and signed by him, they were sold for $ 1.2M by Sotheby's on February 7, 2025, lot 3.
The WBC first awarded belts in 1976. Two WBC belts of Muhammad Ali are known. He wore one of them in that year the day when he defended his WBA and WBC titles against Richard Dunn. He lost both titles to Leon Spinks in 1978.
A WBC heavyweight championship belt of Muhammad Ali was sold by Heritage for $ 360K on September 10, 2016, lot 50040, and for $ 6.2M on July 23, 2022, lot 54337.
Cassius Clay's 1960 Olympic gold medal was scrapped by him after a racial incident. The WBA belt is not located.
That official return of Muhammad Ali passionated his supporters and his opponents. He had proclaimed that he was the greatest, and it was true. In 1964, he had humbled Liston who did not represent his ideal of the black man. With Frazier, he managed a similar escalation of provocation.
Joe Frazier is also one of the top champions of all time. On 8 March 1971, his endurance through the fifteen rounds proved far superior to Ali's and his victory was unquestionable. The fight was very hard. Ali's wound at the cheek was severe and Frazier was so exhausted that he had to be hospitalized.
The color television is overwhelming in 1971. Ali wants to stay The Greatest. Four days before the event, he reveals to the New York Times that his shorts and robe will be red and white, like a king. Inseparable from the images of this match which is aptly remembered as the Fight of the Century, these garments become a symbol of the first professional defeat of Muhammad Ali. The champion will never wear red again.
After being allowed to resume his gloves, Muhammad Ali must face three great champions. Joe Frazier has reunified the world heavyweight title in 1970 and lost it in January 1973 to George Foreman. Ali lost to Frazier in 1971 and early in 1973 successively against Foreman and Ken Norton. A rematch was won by Ali against Norton in September 1973 and against Frazier in January 1974.
Muhammad Ali becomes credible for the highest level but Foreman, physically formidable, seems unbeatable. At that point appears Don King, a boxing promoter who undertakes to organize the heavyweight championship between George Foreman, the defending champion, and Muhammad Ali, the challenger.
There is no limit to the ambitious Don King. Each of the fighters require $ 5M: King find that money by appealing the Président and future Maréchal Mobutu with the idea of a promotional event that will generate an international attention to Zaire. The match takes place in Kinshasa on October 30, 1974 and remains in the history of boxing as the Rumble in the Jungle.
Foreman is more muscular but Ali's strategy is clever. He spread before the fight some false information about the boxing style he was choosing to use. Foreman hits hard and fast but his weak point is endurance. Once on the ring Ali exhausts Foreman by an unexpected mobility. He becomes world heavyweight champion for WBC and WBA by a knockout in the 8th round.
The third bout between Ali and Frazier was sponsored for a promotion of the Philippines by the presidential couple Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. The WBA and WBC titles, both held by Ali, were on the line.
The preparation was highly publicized, including the theater located in Quezon City being temporarily renamed the Philippine Coliseum. Ali did not stop to emit psychological attacks against Frazier, saying that the fight would be "a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila."
The event, on October 1, 1975, will forever be known as the Thrilla in Manila. In terms of sport, it was one of the most dramatic fights in boxing history. After the fourteenth round, Frazier's coach, seeing his condition becoming critical, forced him to leave despite a desperate "I want him, boss". Ali, winner, however had to be hospitalized because of his fatigue. He finally went to admit that his opponent was also a great champion. Frazier's eyesight was compromise and Ali soon developed Parkinson's.
Ali competed in satin Everlast shorts, pure white excepted for the black belt line and thin black racing stripes down each leg. White is a great choice for a champion committed to win. They remained immaculate of blood. Marked as Made expressly for Muhammad Ali and signed by him, they were sold for $ 1.2M by Sotheby's on February 7, 2025, lot 3.
The WBC first awarded belts in 1976. Two WBC belts of Muhammad Ali are known. He wore one of them in that year the day when he defended his WBA and WBC titles against Richard Dunn. He lost both titles to Leon Spinks in 1978.
A WBC heavyweight championship belt of Muhammad Ali was sold by Heritage for $ 360K on September 10, 2016, lot 50040, and for $ 6.2M on July 23, 2022, lot 54337.
Cassius Clay's 1960 Olympic gold medal was scrapped by him after a racial incident. The WBA belt is not located.
The Thrilla in Manila was the third and final professional boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, billed as one of the greatest heavyweight championship bouts in history. Fought on October 1, 1975, at the Araneta Coliseum (now Smart Araneta Coliseum) in Quezon City (then part of Rizal province, now Metro Manila), Philippines, it culminated their intense trilogy rivalry, with Ali emerging victorious in a brutal war that many still call the most punishing and epic fight ever.
Promoted by Don King and hosted under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (who provided significant funding), the fight drew massive global attention via closed-circuit TV. Ali coined the name himself in his signature rhyming style: "It'll be a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila" (a derogatory reference to Frazier that fueled pre-fight animosity).
Fight Details
Classic photos capture the intensity: Ali landing powerful shots on Frazier, the two warriors trading blows in the ring, and the raw physicality of their exchanges amid the roaring crowd.
Legacy
The Thrilla in Manila is widely regarded as boxing's greatest fight (or at least its most brutal), even 50 years later (celebrated in 2025 retrospectives). It cemented Ali's status as "The Greatest" through sheer will and resilience, while highlighting Frazier's unbreakable heart—despite the loss, he proved his elite status.
Promoted by Don King and hosted under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (who provided significant funding), the fight drew massive global attention via closed-circuit TV. Ali coined the name himself in his signature rhyming style: "It'll be a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila" (a derogatory reference to Frazier that fueled pre-fight animosity).
Fight Details
- Date and Venue: October 1, 1975; started at 10:45 a.m. local time (for international broadcast convenience) in extreme heat and humidity (around 100°F/38°C with high humidity inside the arena).
- Titles at Stake: WBA, WBC, and The Ring undisputed heavyweight championship (held by Ali).
- Records Entering: Ali (48–2, 34 KOs, age 33); Frazier (32–2, 27 KOs, age 31).
- Purses: Ali received about $9 million; Frazier $5 million (huge sums for the era).
- Styles: Ali (taller, 6'3", orthodox, using reach, footwork, and rope-a-dope tactics); Frazier (shorter, 5'11½", orthodox, relentless pressure fighter with devastating left hooks).
- Early rounds (1–5): Ali dominated with sharp jabs and movement, outboxing Frazier and landing clean shots.
- Middle rounds (6–10): Frazier surged, closing distance, trapping Ali on the ropes, and pounding him with body shots and hooks. Ali absorbed massive punishment but stayed upright.
- Late rounds (11–14): Both men were exhausted in the sweltering conditions. Ali rallied with flurries; Frazier's eyes swelled shut. In round 14, Ali unleashed a barrage, rocking Frazier repeatedly.
- End: After round 14, Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch stopped the fight before round 15, despite Frazier's protests ("I want him, boss"). Result: Ali won by corner retirement (RTD) in round 14 (technical knockout). Ali collapsed in exhaustion after the fight; both later said it felt like "the closest thing to dying."
Classic photos capture the intensity: Ali landing powerful shots on Frazier, the two warriors trading blows in the ring, and the raw physicality of their exchanges amid the roaring crowd.
Legacy
The Thrilla in Manila is widely regarded as boxing's greatest fight (or at least its most brutal), even 50 years later (celebrated in 2025 retrospectives). It cemented Ali's status as "The Greatest" through sheer will and resilience, while highlighting Frazier's unbreakable heart—despite the loss, he proved his elite status.
- Both fighters suffered long-term damage: Ali's later Parkinson's disease and Frazier's health issues were partly linked to the cumulative punishment (including their trilogy).
- The rivalry (Ali won 2–1 overall: Frazier took the 1971 "Fight of the Century"; Ali the 1974 rematch and Manila) symbolized personal enmity turned mutual respect.
- It boosted boxing's global popularity, especially in Asia, and remains a cultural touchstone (featured in documentaries like the 2008 HBO film Thrilla in Manila, books, and endless rankings of all-time bouts).
- As of 2026, it's still hailed in retrospectives as an unmatched display of courage, skill, and endurance—two legends leaving everything in the ring.
2000 Kobe Bryant NBA Replica Ring
2024 SOLD for $ 930K by Goldin
In 2000 the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship, the very first of such events won by Kobe Bryant.
The very proud Bryant had an exact copy of his NBA ring executed for presentation to his father.
The 14K gold jewel is set with a total of 40 diamonds and is inscribed WORLD / LAKERS / CHAMPIONS on the face. One side features the NBA logo and the name and number 8 of the player along with the marks of the club wins in the season. A diamond as a basketball falling in a basket is featured along with the date 2000 on the other side, also inscribed BLING BLING.
This replica was sold for $ 930K by Goldin on March 31, 2024, lot 3.
The very proud Bryant had an exact copy of his NBA ring executed for presentation to his father.
The 14K gold jewel is set with a total of 40 diamonds and is inscribed WORLD / LAKERS / CHAMPIONS on the face. One side features the NBA logo and the name and number 8 of the player along with the marks of the club wins in the season. A diamond as a basketball falling in a basket is featured along with the date 2000 on the other side, also inscribed BLING BLING.
This replica was sold for $ 930K by Goldin on March 31, 2024, lot 3.
