If you can afford a pair of World Series tickets, you could probably also afford to buy the late Stan Musial’s wallet.
His wallet and scores of other personal items are being auctioned by Heritage Auctions of Dallas. His family agreed to auction the items “to settle his estate.” I doubt Musial was broke nor are his close relatives; I’ve never understood why these auctions occur if the respective families or former players didn’t need the money.
If ever I were to hit the Powerball, I’d purchase personal items of living or deceased athletes—and return them to individuals or relatives.
Among the Musial items you can purchase are a Babe Ruth autographed baseball given to Musial when he was a minor leaguer, a handwritten letter to Musial penned by Ty Cobb, a set of golf clubs, and various clothing items. The Cardinals honored Musial with World Series rings from 2006 and 2011, and they're now both on the auction block. (As of this morning, bids on the two rings were at more than $25,000 each; bidding ends November 8.)
When it comes to Cardinal Nation, Musial’s family is not alone in separating with athletic and personal items. It also isn’t the first time I’ve been disappointed to hear similar news.
In 2009, former Cardinals ace and Baseball Hall of Fame member Bob Gibson put many of his most precious belongings up for auction. Among the items: the 1968 MVP Award, the 1968 and 1970 Cy Young awards, his 1964 and 1967 World Series rings, his Hall of Fame induction ring, all of his player contracts, and a game-used ball from his first Major League victory. Gibson said the auction “would be a great way to share my keepsakes with collectors everywhere.” (The Cardinals purchased several of the items from Gibson’s lot.)
Hall of Famer and former Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith put more than 100 pieces of memorabilia up for auction last November. Smith parted with all 13 of his Gold Gloves and 11 All-Star Game rings. Also auctioned off were his National League Championship rings from 1985 and 2004. Like Musial, his Cardinals World Series rings from 2006 and 2011 were auctioned off as well.
For many years, several of Smith's Gold Gloves were on display at Ozzie’s Restaurant in Westport Plaza. My late father was one of the pressmen who printed the original menus. I still have a broad-size, pre-fold menu that's in the same condition as when it came off the press. It's since been laminated, and I would never part with it. Yet Smith gave up his Gold Gloves?
Today, my World Series giddiness is tempered a bit knowing that the great Stan Musial’s wallet—complete with a photo of his late wife—is on an online auction block.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
