You have to let that melt on your tongue: In New York a signed photograph of the baseball player “Shoeless” Joe Jackson from 1911 was auctioned for an unbelievable 1.27 million euros.
That is the highest sum that has ever been paid for an athlete’s autograph. It is not known to whom the photo of Frank W. Smith was worth so much money.
But what makes this signed picture of a baseball so special?
According to the auction houses Christie’s and Hunt Auctions, which achieved the record proceeds, it is the only existing autograph card signed by Jackson. Because most of the time, it is said, his wife took the signatures …
Mike Heffner, President and Partner of Lelands Auctions, told the US broadcaster ESPN: “Just his signature on a piece of paper would be worth $ 50,000 to $ 100,000.”
Wer war „Shoeless“ Joe Jackson?
A black sheep! In 1921 he was banned for life for game manipulation because he was involved in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. There he and seven other Chicago White Sox players were accused of deliberately losing the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. For a $ 5,000 bribe.
Joe Jackson was a gifted player! Baseball legend Babe Ruth once said of him: “I copied his style because I thought he was the best batsman I have ever seen.”
Crazy: It was only in 2015 that the same photo was auctioned at Heritage Auctions for “only” 155,000 euros. That makes an increase in value of an incredible 720 percent six years later!
Someone really got a good deal there!
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