COLLECTOR REFERENCE
SPORTS MEMORABILIA AUCTION RECORDS.
Five landmark auction results, with the item, the final price, and the sale date in one place. Last updated September 21, 2026.
VIEW THE RECORDS ›
WHAT THIS PAGE MEASURES
THE BIGGEST RESULTS ARE ABOUT MORE THAN A NAME.
These are public auction results, not a price guide for every signed item. A record sale can reflect game use, a defining moment, rarity, condition, provenance, and the evidence tying the exact object to that history.
That is the useful lesson for any collector: documentation changes the conversation. An autograph matters, but the story and support behind the piece matter too.
FIVE LANDMARK SALES
THE RECORD BOOK
Prices are reported final auction results in U.S. dollars.
- 01$24.12M
Babe Ruth 1928-30 New York Yankees road jersey
Sold by Heritage Auctions in August 2024. This is the highest publicly reported price paid for sports memorabilia at auction.
ESPN report on the 2024 sale ↗ - 02$12.6M
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle No. 311 card
Sold by Heritage Auctions in August 2022. The card was graded Mint 9 by PSA.
ESPN report on the 2022 sale ↗ - 03$10.091M
Michael Jordan 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 Chicago Bulls jersey
Sold by Sotheby's in September 2022. It was worn during the first game of Jordan's final NBA Finals series.
NBC News report on the 2022 sale ↗ - 04$9.3M
Diego Maradona's 1986 Argentina vs. England match shirt
Sold by Sotheby's in May 2022. Maradona wore the shirt in the World Cup quarter-final that included the 'Hand of God' goal.
NBC News report on the 2022 sale ↗ - 05$6.18M
Muhammad Ali's 1965 Sonny Liston rematch gloves
Sold by Heritage Auctions in August 2024. Ali wore the gloves in the rematch remembered for the 'phantom punch.'
ESPN report on the 2024 sale ↗
THE COLLECTOR TAKEAWAY
PROVENANCE IS PART OF THE PIECE.
The highest-profile results are not simple signature sales. They are objects with unusually clear stories, often supported by period photographs, team or event documentation, expert research, and a traceable chain of ownership.
For a signed collectible at any level, apply the same mindset. Review the whole item, the autograph, the authentication, and any proof that connects the piece to the signing before it earns a place in your collection.
READ THE AUTHENTICATION CHECKLIST ›SOURCES + METHOD
HOW THESE RECORDS ARE CHOSEN.
This reference includes widely reported public auction results for sports-related collectibles. Each figure is paired with the reporting source and month of sale. Results are retained as historical sale records and are not adjusted for inflation. This page is reviewed regularly so source links and record context can be kept current.
Autographed with Proof, “Sports Memorabilia Auction Records,” updated September 21, 2026, https://autographedwithproof.com/memorabilia-auction-records.