The market for sports memorabilia has ballooned in recent years, with genuine fans and speculators alike trying to get a slice of the action.
This has led to some eye-wateringly expensive winning bids being placed at auctions for the most iconic and valuable items out there, so here are some examples of the most significant prices achieved.
Babe Ruth's Jersey: A Priceless Piece of Baseball History
Various pieces of sports memorabilia relating to baseball’s most famous son, Babe Ruth, have been auctioned off over the years, and the most expensive of the bunch to date was a jersey he wore between 1928 and 1930.
When it went under the hammer in 2019, the buyer ended up paying $5.64 million for it, which is more money than most of us will see in our lifetimes.
This is also quite a bit more than another baseball jersey from a famed player which still manages to appear among Hall of Fame auctions, in this case Lou Gherig’s 1938 game-worn garment which made $329,000 the last time it changed hands.
Mickey Mantle Baseball Card: An Eight Figure Investment
Even if a sporting star never actually touched or used an item of sports memorabilia, it can still be hugely valuable to the right buyer.
This was proved in 2022 when a Mickey Mantle baseball card managed to cross the auctioneer’s block for a record-setting $12.6 million.
Of course this mint condition 1952 card, which is claimed to be the best example in existence, might not hold much appeal to anyone who’s not into baseball. But for acolytes of the sport with deep pockets, it’s clearly worth every penny.
Michael Jordan’s Jersey: Memorable and Irreplaceable
Recognized by many as being the greatest basketball player to ever set foot on a court, Michael Jordan is another sporting icon whose associated memorabilia is regularly sold for millions of dollars without breaking a sweat. It’s no surprise that he owns his own private jet.
In terms of Jordan-related memorabilia, the jersey he wore in the 1998 finals is the current frontrunner in terms of sheer expense, as it was auctioned and achieved a winning bid of just over $10 million.
Once again this is proof that there’s a fine line between what makes a piece of player-owned memorabilia ultra-valuable, and merely desirable. The more wear it’s gotten, and the more significant the events it was used at, the higher the bidding will climb.
Diego Maradona’s Shirt: Cheaters Do Prosper
Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona is one of the sport's most vaunted heroes, especially in his home country. But in 1986 he gained notoriety for getting away with scoring a goal in the World Cup quarter final with a bit of assistance from his hand, meaning it was technically a foul.
The football shirt he wore on that fateful day was kept by one of the players on the opposing team, and it was only auctioned more than three decades later, at which point it managed to make over $9 million.
Muhammad Ali’s Belt: The Greatest Price
Last but not least, it’s worth mentioning the 2022 sale of Muhammad Ali’s championship belt that he attained at the Rumble in the Jungle during the 1970s.
It was purchased for just over $6 million, which is impressive in its own right. But the real head-turning stat is that it had previously sold just five years earlier for only $120,000, showing just how much sporting memorabilia can appreciate in value over a short time frame.
Final Thoughts
Not all sports memorabilia is worth millions, so you can get into this market with a few hundred dollars, and celebrate your sporting icons in the process.
