Top 10 High Dollar Baseball Items

ajw

From ESPN Page 2

FROM LEFT FIELD
The bat Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium history was auctioned off last week for $1.26 million (his pants fetched $109,250), the third-highest price ever paid at auction for baseball memorabilia. A glance at some of the highest prices paid by baseball collectors:

Year Item
1998 Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball ($3 million)
2001 Honus Wagner baseball card ($1.265 million)
2004 Babe Ruth's bat ($1.26 million)
2004 Barry Bonds 700th home run ball ($804,129)
2001 Joe Jackson's bat ($577,610)
1996 Eddie Murray's 500th home run ball ($500,000)
2003 Barry Bonds 73rd home run ball ($450,000)

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Eddie Murray? Are you kidding me?

Allen

I remember all the hype around Murray's 500th HR Ball. I guess he was one of the last legitimate members of the 500 HR Club. To me that ball signifies the end of an era.

Skinpinch

Eddie Murray, you better believe. He played in the most difficult era in baseball history to dominate the league, without question! He did quite well. From 1981 to 1984 he nearly won a four year triple crown in the AL. He was first in homers, RBI, and second in average over that span. That dominance is just an example of how good he actually was. His numbers get lost to guys in the easy eras to dominate, like pre 1940 and post 1995. Using the standard measuring vs. the league average puts Murray's era superstars at a big disadvantage vs. the current era, and pre 1940 era. Those leagues were far easier to dominate. I have strong evidence to back that up(though you will have to wait for it)


Did you know that from 1982 to 1985 Eddie Murray hit over .340 with men on base?
Even though Murray never won an MVP, only Barry Bonds has more top five finishes than him since 1970. Murray should have won the 1983 MVP, and possibly the 1984(he certainly deserved it over Willie Hernandez).

Did you know that during Ripken and Murray's tenure in the 3-4 slot, that Ripken was only intentionally walked one time with Murray in the on deck circle? That is quite amazing being that Murray was a good double play candidate, and that Ripken was a good hitter himself. Of course, Murray was voted the most feared hitter in baseball in 1985, so I geuss that is why.
The best quote ever about Murray was that he was "Jim Rice and Rod Carew rolled into one!"

The common perception is that Murray was a compiler. That is wrong. It is his dominance that is most impressive, especially when you consider the era he dominated in. I have some good stuff on that.

RedHeart54

If I recall, the Murray ball was purchased by the guy who started one of the psychic hotline companies. It'd be too easy to make a joke about him so I'll be going now.

DirtyHarry

I guess all is relative to the amount of gish you have, but the McGwire 70 HR ball buyer can't be a happy camper.

helionaut

Todd is doing fine. If he is ever hurting for money, he just has to say he'd like to draw Spider-man or Spawn again for a few months. Cha-ching.

duner

i'm sure he's got plenty of money leftover since the bonds ball didnt really cost him that much (relatively speaking).

ajw

Sorry...I didn't mean to imply that Eddie Murray wasn't a great player. In fact, he may well have been my first "favorite player" in 1983 or so. But, would you really have expected to see his name on this list?

phreakydancin

<< <i>If I recall, the Murray ball was purchased by the guy who started one of the psychic hotline companies. It'd be too easy to make a joke about him so I'll be going now. >>

I knew you were going to say that.