Sports and Americana items

Auction during Induction features sports and Americana items

SPRINGFIELD Close to 400 historic sports items in basketball, baseball, football, hockey along with Americana items will dazzle new and seasoned collectors during a special auction that will take place during the Induction Celebration at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball.

The sale will begin with Internet bidding at www.greyflannelauctions.com or ebay Live, beginning in early August followed by live bidding at the auction gala on Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Hall of Fame's Special Exhibit Gallery. Anyone attending the Induction Celebration or purchasing a Hall of Fame ticket can sign up for the auction at no additional charge.

Collector's items from the game of basketball will include Boston Celtics game-used and signed John Havlicek road jersey and a game-used and autographed Larry Bird home jersey. Also available are triple seats from the Boston Garden, signed by seven of the Celtic legends and assorted Bill Russell game-used gear. All basketball items will come with a letter of authenticity from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Among other basketball treasures are; Julius Erving's New York Nets game-used home jersey from 1970s, 'Pistol' Pete Maravich's LSU shooting shirt, which bears his name, 'Curly' Neal's Harlem Globetrotters game-used jersey, a Michael Jordan home Chicago Bulls game-used jersey from 1989, Earvin "Magic" Johnson's game-used jerseys with the Los Angeles Lakers (home) and his inaugural 1992 USA Dream Team jersey game-used and signed.

While basketball takes center stage during the Induction Celebration, the items from other major sports in the auction are just as impressive and exciting. Football fans will find Dan Marino's complete Miami Dolphins uniform from the Oct. 15, 1993 game vs. the Browns and a team-signed helmet by the 17-0 Dolphins in 1972, a Lawrence Taylor New York Giants jersey from 1981; game-used jerseys worn by Ray Lewis, Eric Dickerson and Deion Sanders.

From the world of baseball, the leading item includes an unusual autographed ball signed by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and boxing great Maxie Rosenbloom. The sale also features a piece of Green Monster padding from Fenway Park; an original turnstile from Forbes Field; a pair of Ebbets Field seats; an original Forbes Field seat signed by Ralph Kiner and Bill Mazeroski; a seat from Yankee Stadium; and a figural Polo Grounds seat signed by Willie Mays, Branca and Bobby Thomson.

There are also numerous Muhammad Ali items in the auction including a rare fight poster touting the February, 25, 1964, clash between Ali and Sonny Liston.

The Enshrinement Ceremony which takes place Sept. 8 will be broadcast live at 7:30 p.m. simultaneously on ESPN Classic and NBA TV. It will feature Hall of Famers, current NBA players and celebrities from the world of basketball as well as remarks from the Class of 2006: University of Connecticut Women's head coach, Geno Auriemma; former NBA Stars Charles Barkley, Joe Dumars, and Dominique Wilkins; former Big East Commissioner Dave Gavitt; and Italian National Team Coach Sandro Gambo.

The Induction Celebration takes place on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. and gives fans up-close access to the Class of 2006 and many returning Hall of Famers.

Grey Flannel serves as the official appraiser for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum in Springfield. It also worked with Sotheby's in authenticating the largest private collection of jerseys, the Barry Halper collection, part of which landed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.