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The Long Ball

Cyyoungsigned

(Cy Young Single Signed Baseball; Est. $8/12,000)

All baseballs may look the same, but that doesn't mean they're equal. Take a ball signed by Jackie Robinson (estimate $15,000-20,000) or signed by the pitcher with the most wins in history, Cy Young, ($8,000-12,000), both of which are available at the Sports Memorabilia and Cards Auction at Sotheby's on April 24. New York Yankees fans -- perhaps the least suffering but most insufferable fans in sports -- always seem to get the breaks, and they're in luck again here. There's a bat Joe DiMaggio used in the 1947 World Series, which the Yankees won against the Brooklyn Dodgers when Robinson was a rookie ($60,000-80,000). There's also Mickey Mantle's own 1953 Yankee team panoramic photograph ($15,000-25,000), signed by every player, even the batboy.

Lougehrigjersey

(Circa 1933 Lou Gehrig New York Yankees Road Jersey; Est. $150/200,000)

There's a road jersey that belonged to Lou Gehrig (estimate $150,000-200,000) from around 1933, when jerseys were still flannel. And perhaps best of all, there's Joe DiMaggio's rookie pinstripe jersey from 1936. Joltin' Joe, Number 9, centerfield. Nothing needs to be added ($250,000 and up).

Frazierrobe2

(Joe Frazier's robe from "The Fight Of The Century," Frazier vs. Ali, March 8, 1971; Est. $10/15,000)

Finally, if you prefer a sport with a little more contact, consider the robe that boxer Joe Frazier wore into the ring at Madison Square Garden in 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali the first defeat of his career. Those were the days when boxing was boxing -- all you need to know about the fight are a few of the people sitting ringside: Hefner, Sinatra, Streisand. --DAVID COGGINS

Dimaggiouniform

Dimaggiojerseyclose

(Joe DiMaggio's 1936 New York Yankees Rookie Home Uniform; Estimate in excess of $250,000)

1953yankees

(Mickey Mantle's own 1953 Yankee Team Signed Panoramic Photograph; Est. $15/25,000)

READ MORE:
Baseball rookies who lived up to their potential, and those who didn't
The ten greatest sports rivalries

April 17, 2008

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