Auctions: Memorabilia from Ruth, Mantle, and other baseball greats

The 82d All-Star Game for Major League Baseball, scheduled July 12 in Phoenix and the occasion for the All-Star Fanfest July 8-12 at the Phoenix Convention Center, will again set the scene for Hunt Auctions' summer sale of historical sports memorabilia.

The first 204 lots of the 500-lot event are from the personal collection of Curt Schilling, the former Phillies and later Red Sox pitching ace, according to the Exton auction house's website. They include autographed photos, jerseys, and playing equipment. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charities supported by Schilling and his wife, Shonda.

Although the live sale will begin at 10 a.m. Philadelphia time at the center, Hunt also offers online bidding at its website, www.huntauctions.com , where bids can be left until 10 p.m. July 10. Bidding has already begun.

Of particular local interest is a Phillies home jersey for the 1993 World Series autographed by Schilling and, according to the catalog description, long displayed in the Schilling home. It has a presale estimate of $4,000 to $6,000, and online bidding earlier this week already had topped $2,400.

Other top items in the Schilling collection include a framed Lou Gehrig signature and two accompanying photos, expected to bring $2,000 to $3,000 (bidding earlier this week already had topped $2,000), and a 1968 Roberto Clemente bat with a presale estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.

Several other items are expected to bring five figures. A rare Grover Cleveland Alexander autographed Hall of Fame postcard postmarked Oct. 16, 1950, less than a month before his death, has a presale estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. So do a Babe Ruth signed baseball with possible attribution to June 14, 1948 (Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium) and a Frank Robinson 1970 Baltimore Orioles World Championship trophy.

Another baseball, autographed around 1927 by both Gehrig and Ruth, has a presale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. A Mickey Mantle Louisville Slugger used around 1950 to 1960 and consigned by a batboy of that era, has a presale estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.

Of more recent vintage is a 1999 "Upper Deck Piece of History Babe Ruth Legendary Cut and Game-Used Bat" card, described in the online auction catalog as an "insert card" that revolutionized modern baseball card-collecting by inserting chips of a game-used bat into the card. It has a presale estimate of $10,000 to $20,000.

ROBERTO CLEMENTE Pittsburgh Pirates 1966 Majestic Home Baseball ...

– The numbers are customized (sewn) in the “Pirates” official style font and colors as worn during this period

The Majestic Athletic story began in the 1950s, when Mary Capobianco endeavored to open her own sewing mill. After working in the booming garment industry of Bangor, Pennsylvania, she realized she could work just as hard for herself and get much more in return. She started with women’s clothing, blouses mostly. The company was called Maria Rose Fashions, and served well-dressed women from coast to coast. It was a far cry from athletic apparel, but it demanded the same attention to detail.

After learning the garment business first-hand, her son Faust Capobianco, III, followed in her footsteps. In 1976, he founded the Majestic Athletic you know today. Well, almost. The spirit was there, but the company hadn’t made it to the big leagues yet. That happened in 1982, when Majestic introduced their first Major League Baseball batting practice jersey. This relationship grew in 1984 when the company signed their first MLB National Licensing Agreement, which brought fans the high-quality apparel they needed to truly show their team’s colors.

Since the beginning, Majestic Athletic’s philosophy has been simple: create the highest-quality athletic wear with a commitment to heritage, craftsmanship, and authenticity. And even though the company hit the big leagues, they still take time to add the hand-stitched details that got them where they are. But now they do it for every Major League Baseball club, the National Basketball Association, National Pro Fastpitch Softball, most major colleges and universities.

New York & New Jersey, A Guide to the State & National Parks

Roberto Clemente, A Life of Generosity

Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente, Young Ball Player

Roberto Clemente, The Great One