Sports memorabilia that sold over $ 1 million

While one would think that the collectors spend exorbitant amounts only for a rare art objectnot a few are those who invest their money in sports memorabilia, offering astronomical amounts to acquire the accessory of their favorite athlete, a gold medal etc. See below which of them sold for more than $ 1 million, with the most expensive being the astronomical sum of $ 8.8 million.

Original manifesto of the Olympic Games – $ 8.8 million

So, if you are a fan of sports, maybe nothing is more important than re-introducing them Olympic Games in the late 1800s after thousands of years. Pierre de Coubertin in 1892 wrote a speech he later delivered to the French Athletics Association, which outlined his vision for the modern Games. There is only one known handwritten copy (and it is in French), on the back of which all the Olympic Games have been made.

In 2019, Sotheby’s predicted that the 14-page document would sell for $ 1 million. However, three bidders “fought” for almost a quarter of an hour, with the anonymous winner paying $ 8.8 million. It was a record for the most expensive sports souvenirs at the time and remains so to this day.

Michael Jordan sneackers – $ 1.47 million

Sports shoe lovers go crazy when they release brand new shoes associated with the basketball star, Michael Jordan. Imagine, then, what they do for a couple who are already wearing the basketball legend. ESPN reports that what made this couple, which went up for auction at Sotheby’s in 2021, even more special, was that they were very old, as Jordan wore them during his rookie season. In addition, he signed them, before giving them as a gift to a ball boy for the Nuggets. When the couple was sold for $ 1.47 million at auction, set a record for “the most expensive shoes worn in a toy”. In fact, they sold for twice as much as the previous record of $ 615,000.

Jesse Owens Gold Medal – $ 1.4 million

THE Jesse Owens he was a hero for his triumphs over the Nazis at the Berlin Olympics 1936. He won four gold medals, but seemed uninterested in keeping them. At least two of his medals have been auctioned off, which he had donated elsewhere.

One, according to Beckett Collectables, was given to weightlifter John Terpak Sr. He had gone to the 1936 Olympics with Owens and the two remained good friends. Owens gave him the medal as a thank you for their friendship. This medal went up for auction in 2019 and was sold for $ 615,000.

But it was a different gold medal sold in 2013 that broke the record for the most expensive piece of Olympic souvenirs. This gold, which Owens gave to his friend, the entertainer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, which according to World Athletics, had a winning bid of $ 1,466,574 million.

Mohamed Ali’s gloves in the fight with Floyd Patterson – $ 1.1 million

His ability Mohammed Ali in boxing and natural charisma are in no way disputed. The legendary boxer and one of the symbols of the African American community in the USA, was the top boxer in the history of the sport, managing to conquer three times the world title in the heavyweight category in professional boxing, which successfully defended 19 times.

Understandably, then, the gloves he wore in the respective races are among the most important sports memorabilia. So in 2012, two couples went up for auction. Both the gloves from the 1971 defeat by Joe Frazier and his defeat by Sony Liston in 1964 cost a lot of money. $ 385,848 each, according to Eurosport. The winner of the Sony Liston battle gloves came back two years later and put them up for auction again. The original buyer received a good return on his investment when the gloves were sold for $ 836,500according to ESPN.

However, before any of these sales, earlier in 2012, a third pair of Ali gloves – from his knockout victory over Floyd Patterson in 1965- set a record for the highest price paid for boxing souvenirs. Business Insider reports that in a bidding war between the Dallas Cowboys owner and one of the UFC co-owners, the latter managed to get them by bidding $ 1.1 million.