Anyone want to buy a WS Ring?

vladguerrero · September 14, 2009 8:58AM

Len Dykstra stuff hits Heritage Auction Block

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- Former New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra's 1986 World Series ring is up for sale.

Auctioneers say they plan to sell a trove of memorabilia the financially troubled All-Star left unclaimed at a Beverly Hills, Calif.-based pawnshop.

The items include the Mets championship ring and a trophy Dykstra won in a series most remembered for an error by Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, who let a ball roll through his legs. Each item could sell for more than US$20,000.

The items were consigned to Dallas-based Heritage Auctions Inc. by famed pawnbroker Yossi Dina.

Dykstra filed for bankruptcy protection in July, saying he owed more than $31 million and had about $50,000 in assets.

The auction is scheduled to take place in Texas and online Oct. 1 and 2.

Dykstra also played for the Philadelphia Phillies.

People may have heard about his financial troubles but this is a sad auction, he pawns the stuff then can't pay to get it back and Heritage Auctions it off for the pawnshop owner? Distasteful move by Heritage imo.

otwcards · September 14, 2009 9:03AM

Distasteful? Why?

Dykstra lived high on the hog claiming to be a financial genius. He did this by spending other peoples' money and then to try to cover some of the enormous debt he ran up, he pawned his stuff and basically signed away his rights to the material by being unable to meet his obligations to the pawn broker.

I feel no sympathy for Dykstra and see nothing wrong with Heritage being the auction house that sells off these items.

itzagoner · September 14, 2009 9:08AM

presumably, no one wanted to pay him the 2 million a week to stay at his pad with the butlers.

bbcemporium · September 14, 2009 9:09AM

I'd save your sympathy for Dykstra. From what I've read, he has screwed quite a few people over, and seems to be rather unapologetic about it.

ddfamf · September 14, 2009 9:09AM

...lived high on the hog claiming to be a financial genius. He did this by spending other peoples' money and then to try to cover some of the enormous debt he ran up....

...sounds like Congress

vladguerrero · September 14, 2009 9:11AM

I'm not defending Dykstra's character, and I didn't say anything about the legality of the situation, I'm just saying it's a sad situation to see a guy so desperate and imo it's a distasteful move by Heritage, would they do the same thing if it was Hank Aaron?

metrotheme · September 14, 2009 9:28AM

So when will we see Dykstra at a MAB celebrity show and I wonder how much they'll be asking for his auto.

itzagoner · September 14, 2009 9:29AM

<< <i>.....would they do the same thing if it was Hank Aaron? >>

if Hank was a classless douche, then yes.

otwcards · September 14, 2009 9:33AM

<< <i>I'm not defending Dykstra's character, and I didn't say anything about the legality of the situation, I'm just saying it's a sad situation to see a guy so desperate and imo it's a distasteful move by Heritage, would they do the same thing if it was Hank Aaron? >>

Why is it distasteful?

If Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Ken Griffey, Frank Thomas or any other player that had a significant career pulled the same stunts as Dykstra and hocked their wares, I wouldn't have any issue with an auction house selling off the material as long as the consignor had rightful ownership.

I would like to know what is so distasteful about assisting someone (the pawn broker) in auctioning material that: a.) is rightfully theirs (as Dykstra is unable to repay the loan to regain what he offered as collateral) and b.) most probably the pawn broker has no interest in possessing . . .

MAD · September 14, 2009 10:40AM

Lenny, probably should have given up the 'roids when he retired from the game.

TheHun · September 14, 2009 11:17AM

This is interesting about the 1986 N.Y. Mets -

1986 New York Mets
Most Games by Position

C Gary Carter (122)
1B Keith Hernandez (149)
2B Wally Backman (113)
3B Ray Knight (132)
SS Rafael Santana (137)
LF Mookie Wilson (78)
CF Lenny Dykstra (138)
RF Darryl Strawberry (130)

SP Rick Aguilera
SP Ron Darling
SP Sid Fernandez
SP Dwight Gooden
SP Bob Ojeda

RP Randy Niemann
RP Jesse Orosco
RP Doug Sisk
CL Roger McDowell

The paychecks:

1986 New York Mets
Salaries

George Foster $2,800,000.00
Gary Carter $2,160,714.00
Keith Hernandez $1,650,000.00
Dwight Gooden $1,320,000.00
Darryl Strawberry $945,000.00
Jesse Orosco $825,000.00
Mookie Wilson $700,000.00
Ray Knight $645,000.00
Bob Ojeda $550,000.00
Ed Lynch $530,000.00
Ron Darling $440,000.00
Danny Heep $350,000.00
Wally Backman $325,000.00
Doug Sisk $275,000.00
Rafael Santana $235,000.00
Howard Johnson $227,500.00
Tim Corcoran $220,000.00
Sid Fernandez $200,000.00
Tim Teufel $200,000.00
Roger McDowell $185,000.00
Rick Aguilera $130,000.00
Lenny Dykstra $92,500.00
Randy Niemann $83,000.00
John Gibbons $65,000.00
Kevin Elster $60,000.00
Ed Hearn $60,000.00
Lee Mazzilli $60,000.00
Kevin Mitchell $60,000.00

phelda · September 14, 2009 11:44AM

Nothing distasteful at all, makes perfect sense. How else do you expect the pawnbroker to reclaim his money? Certainly you don't think he/she has the means and expertise as well as the client list to have someone walk in off the street to buy Lenny's memorabilia. Love or hate Heritage or other auction houses, you would be foolish not to consign the items to them. They have the client lists, the financial advertising budget, and the means to recognize substantial sums for the items.

okposo21 · September 14, 2009 11:53AM

That's how pawn shops work. If you can't pay back the advance you forfeit the item..

I mean, unless theres another type of pawn shop I don't know about. I'm sure we'd all like some free money!

ripkenintheminors · September 14, 2009 2:22PM

Lenny was a beast though on RBI Baseball.

IchiroDeported · September 14, 2009 10:24PM

Dykstra was a scam artist, give him the shank.

Anyone want to buy a WS Ring?

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