To Be Blunt, It's Been A Big Week

Collectors, this week the biggest names in sports and entertainment owned the headlines.

For instance, Snoop Dogg teamed up with The Realest to auction off a number of personal items, including, of course, a used blunt cast in resin. Bids on the roach shot past $420 within hours of going live, and with 25 days remaining, quite the “high” bid will be needed to secure it.

Now let’s get into this week’s Above the Mantel, packed with big names, bigger price tags, and questionable puns.

Babe’s “Called Shot” Jersey to Hit Market with a Big Bam

Heritage has announced that they’ll be auctioning off the photo-matched jersey Babe Ruth wore during his famous “called shot”. Last sold for $940,000 in 2005, this time around the price tag could hit $30M. Given the jersey’s age and iconic status, it’s hard to imagine a more valuable sports collectible – this is a physical connection to a mythical moment. Somehow Babe’s 1932 World Series jersey has made it 92 years unscathed and in strong condition. When it hits the market on August 23rd, expect well-heeled collectors to call their shot (and bankers).

Sultan of Swat Pushes Johnson Jersey to $2M

Yes, more Ruth-related news this week tied to millions. In 1920, Walter Johnson and the Senators traveled to New York to face Ruth for the first time in pinstripes. Johnson was spectacular against Babe, striking him out twice, although Ruth recorded his first hit and RBI as a Yankee in the ninth inning. This week, Johnson’s jersey from the game sold for $2M through Heritage. It’s one of only two Johnson game-worn jerseys in existence, and the other is on display in Cooperstown. Per the Washington Post, the auction gained additional eyeballs last month, when the Ruth connection was uncovered through photo-matching, proving the importance of definitively tying game-used items to major events.

Messy Napkin with Messi Agreement Fetches $1M

On December 14th, 2000, FC Barcelona director Carles Rexach made a mess of a Barcelona restaurant napkin in order to secure the rights to a 13-year-old prodigy. The written agreement states that FC Barcelona “hereby agrees, under responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon.” Four years later, Messi made his Barcelona debut, and the rest, as they say, is history. The napkin-contract sold through Bonhams last Friday for $968,600. While this isn’t the first time a collectible napkin has made waves, it’s likely the most expensive. 

Uncut Gem of Pokemon Cards Sells for World-Record

A test sheet of cards for Pokemon and Magic The Gathering – originally created to pitch Pokemon’s viability in the Western hemisphere – has sold for $375,000, a new record for uncut cards from any trading card game. It’s also the only known sheet in existence to present Pokemon cards with a black border. The huge sale is another feather in Pokemon’s cap, with PSA recently announcing that 40% of grading submissions in 2023 were devoted to the Japanese brand. If the franchise continues its ascent, could we eventually see an answer to fan demands for Stephen A. Smith to voice a new character?

Martin, Aston Martin: $1.3M Price Tag for Car Of Bond Fame

The second-to-last Aston Martin DB5 ever produced is estimated to sell for $1.3M at Sotheby’s. Made famous as the vehicle of choice for Sean Connery’s 007, celeb DB5 owners include Sir Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, Ralph Lauren, and Elle McPherson. The 1965 model for sale is far from the most valuable – it shows mild wear and tear after four owners and 54,000 miles – but despite its age and condition, it’s still capable of hitting 148 MPH, which is surely enough horsepower to outrun a Bond villain in the Scottish highlands. 

Rare MJ Autos Tossed in the Hamper?

Finally, did you know that back in 2019, Hanes released packages of underwear featuring sports cards of long-time endorser Michael Jordan? Turns out there were 10 autographed cards randomly inserted into packs, and 5+ years later, not a single one has surfaced. So of course we needed to buy some old underwear and investigate:

@onmantel

Imagine accidentally throwing away a Michael Jordan autograph 😅😬 You’ll only find stories like this on Mantel! 🫡 #collection #collectibles... See more