Grey Flannel’s powerful Holiday Auction of sports memories and iconic Hollywood items closing 12/9

WESTHAMPTON, N.Y. - Nov. 27, 2015 - PRLog -- WESTHAMPTON, N.Y. – Bidding for Grey Flannel’s Holiday Auction featuring important game-used memorabilia from all major sports is now officially under way. Clearly illustrated, expertly written descriptions for nearly 1,400 lots are now available to view online.

From the batter’s box is led by Lot #183, an incredible Ty Cobb game-used and single-signed record-setting home run baseball from May 6, 1925. The ball is the very one that Ty Cobb hit to launch his fifth home run over a two-day period in a match-up pitting the Detroit Tigers against the St. Louis Browns. The backstory is well documented. After being constantly criticized by reporters for his inability to hit the long ball like Ruth, Gehrig and others, Cobb decided to show the reporters he could do just that. While talking to a reporter before the game on May 5th, he stated: "I'll show you something today. I'm going for home runs for the first time in my career." Cobb lived up to his words as he hit an astonishing five home runs in two consecutive days, a performance that has been equaled by a few, but never surpassed. The record-setting, fifth-home-run baseball comes fully documented by JSA and PSA/DNA and with a letter from the family of the fan who caught it and later had it signed by Cobb. Reserve: $5,000.

“This ball is a perfect example of how every piece of professional sports memorabilia comes with a story for the ages,” said Richard Russek, president of Grey Flannel Auctions. “Collectors don’t view what they acquire as being just tangible objects; they know that what they have puts them as close as they could ever get to the superstars and momentous events that shaped sports legend. There’s literally one degree of separation between the item and the athlete.”

Some of those momentous events have not been without controversy. Take Lot #27, for example. It’s Yankee fan Jeffrey Maier’s infamous glove from Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series. With the game tied in the bottom of the 8th and one out, AL Rookie of the Year Derek Jeter stepped to the plate against hard-throwing reliever Armando Benitez. Jeter swung at the first offering and sent it deep into right field, chasing Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco back to the wall. As Tarasco leaped to make the grab, 11-year-old Maier stuck his glove out into the field of play and brought the ball into the stands, ruling it a home run. The call stood and the Yankees went on to win Game 1 in 11 innings. The auction lot includes a letter of authenticity from Jeffrey Maier along with multiple photomatches of him wearing the glove. Reserve: $15,000.

Hall of Famer Lou “The Toe” Groza left no question as to how he earned his nickname. Groza was a 9-time Pro Bowler, 5-time NFL Field Goal Leader, 4-time First-Team All-Pro and the NFL Scoring leader in 1957. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. On December 10, 1961, Groza broke the NFL record for total points scored with 826, as he kicked a field goal and two extra points. Grey Flannel is offering as Lot #365 the Cleveland Browns road jersey Groza wore during that very game. Several photomatches and a letter from the family accompany the finest Groza jersey ever offered. Reserve: $2,500.

The historical factor goes off the charts with Lot #467, Brett Favre’s game-used Green Bay Packers jersey from his final regular season game as a Packer at Lambeau Field. In front of a home Lambeau crowd of over 70,000, Favre completed 9 of 11 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, #441 and #442 of his career. A letter of authenticity from Favre himself accompanies the jersey as well as several photomatches. Reserve: $10,000.

Lot #550 is a Wayne Gretzky game-used Los Angeles Kings road jersey “The Great One” wore during the 1992-93 NHL Season. The jersey comes with a letter of authenticity from the Los Angeles Kings, as well as a second letter from the team’s trainer, Pete Demers. Reserve: $5,000.

With Lot #551, the clock turns back to 1951 and the NBA’s first edition of the All-Star Game, after which “Easy” Ed Macauley was awarded the MVP Trophy. The game featured 15 future Hall of Famers, including Macauley, who finished with 20 points and six rebounds en route to MVP honors as the East won easily over the West, 111-94. Macauley played in seven consecutive All-Star Games, was crowned an NBA Champion with the St. Louis Hawks in 1958 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960. The historically significant trophy offered by Grey Flannel comes with a letter of authenticity from the Macauley family. Reserve: $5,000.

Other Dec. 9 auction highlights include:

Lot #2 – Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig dual-autographed baseball dated September 30, 1927, the day Ruth broke the MLB record he previously set by hitting his 60th home run of the season. Reserve: $2,500.

Lot #6 – 1927 New York Yankees "Murderers' Row" team-signed photo with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Ben Paschal, Tony Lazzeri, and Pat Collins. Reserve: $5,000.

Additionally, the auction includes an outstanding variety of music, motion picture and other celebrity memorabilia, as well as political collectibles, coin-ops and toys.

The fully illustrated electronic version of the Dec. 9 catalog is available to view online at www.greyflannelauctions. For additional information on any item, call 631-288-7800, ext. 223; or email info@greyflannelauctions.com