I didn’t think the 715 home run ball hit by Barry Bonds would fetch much interest, but the bidding is already over $130,000.

Phil Rizzuto is set to auction much of his baseball memorabilia.

Patricia Rizzuto, who works for Conair, a company founded by another clan of Rizzutos, said her family wanted to sell the items “while he’s alive, so he can thank his fans for the loyalty they’ve shown him.”
The trove has been stored and displayed at the Rizzutos’ Hillside, N.J., house, where the Rizzuto children, including Cindy and Phil Jr. (inevitably, Scooter Jr., to all but his wife, Patricia said) were raised. The elder Rizzutos want to move to a smaller place, where the memorabilia would not fit.

I’d like the Meat Loaf:

He is keeping his 1950 American League most valuable player trophy (Cora was wearing her glittering 2000 World Series pendant), but he is parting with the platinum record he received for his play-by-play of a makeout session on Meat Loaf’s “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”

And I’ll stop right there.
Update: Here’s a picture of the squeeze bunt Rizzuto speaks of in the story. I’m impressed that the majority of men in the stands are wearing jackets and ties.

If you’re a Joe DiMaggio fan, some prime memorabilia will be up for bids in May:

The sale also includes DiMaggio’s record-breaking 45th consecutive hit baseball from his 56-game streak in 1941 and a set of World Series rings from 1936 to 1996 presented to DiMaggio by the Yankees.

An 83-year-old man passed away on Jan. 2, 2006. He lived alone in a house full of trash. But he had a sports card collection worth $1 million dollars:

Police were called to guard the condemned home of a reclusive man whose death led to the discovery of a valuable collection of vintage sports cards. The collection, stored in 400 to 500 boxes in John F. Hessian’s home in Boston’s Roslindale section, included cards of such long-ago baseball stars as Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente.

I wonder if he ever realized what he possessed? The collection was under bags of trash:

“This is like Fort Knox inside,” said Michael Wiseman of Aftermath Cleaning Co., which was hired to tear through piles of trash 6-feet high to reach the cards.

Here’s a clever idea. A Curt Schilling “Bobble Ankle” figure is for sale with, you guessed it, an ankle that bobbles up and down. When you buy the doll, you’re also making a donation to ALS and the Shade Foundantion. It’s a great way for Schilling and Sox fans to remember the 2004 World Series Championship, and help others at the same time.

Palmball.com points out this article about a lucky Michigan couple.
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