Sports Legends Auction Set for QM2

Baseball Legend Babe Ruth’s Brooklyn Dodgers Uniform, worn by Ruth during the 1938 season. (Cunard)

(PRESS RELEASE)_VALENCIA, Calif., July 25, 2019 – Luxury cruise line Cunard and famed celebrity auction house Julien’s Auctions will be offering an exclusive auction exhibition of Sports Legends Memorabilia onboard Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Crossing, from New York to Southampton, England, September 15-22, 2019. The auction exhibition will feature coveted sports collectables including American baseball legend Babe Ruth’s Brooklyn Dodgers coaching uniform from the 1938 season.

Julien’s Auctions’ highly anticipated sports auction event will offer 350 pieces from a private collection, amassed over 30 years, and will take place on Thursday, November 14, at the Standard Oil Building in Beverly Hills and live online at juliensauctions.com. This multi-volume catalog set also features a signed baseball from Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, five Babe Ruth single-signed baseballs and a pair of Muhammad Ali boxing shorts from 1980 with a handwritten message from Ali.

Guests on Queen Mary 2’s seven-night Transatlantic Crossing, Sept 15-22, will enjoy:

• A daily, rotating exhibit with highlights from the collection
• Exclusive opportunity to bid on choice items in advance of the November general auction
• Q&A with Brett Hughes of Julien’s Auctions and Collector Dr. Goodman Espy

 
“Julien’s Auctions brings exclusive events to our guests onboard furthering our mission of creating lasting memories for our passengers,” said Josh Leibowitz, SVP Cunard North America.  “It will be a thrill for Queen Mary 2 passengers to see up close famed sports memorabilia from the greats such as Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali.”

Highlights of the auction include:

• Brooklyn Dodgers Babe Ruth uniform worn by Ruth during the 1938 season (estimate: $300,000-$500,000)
• Baseball signed by Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe during their marriage (estimate: $100,000-$200,000)
• Five Babe Ruth single-signed baseballs, two of which are in near perfect condition (estimate: $40,000-$60,000)
• 1980 Muhammad Ali boxing shorts with a handwritten message from Ali (estimate: $20,000-$40,000)
• Charlie Gehringer jersey worn by him during the 1934 U.S. tour of Japan (estimate: $100,000-$200,000)
• Mickey Mantle New York Yankees Jersey worn by him in a 1960 game (estimate: $60,000-$80,000)
• Lou Gehrig’s 1933 Major League Baseball contract, signed by Gehrig, club President Jacob Ruppert and Yankee’s General Manager E.G. Barrow (estimate: $80,000-$120,000)
• Lou Gehrig signed Goudey card from 1934 (estimate: $30,000-$60,000)
• New York Mets Manager Casey Stengel’s 1962 pinstriped home coaching jersey (estimate: $40,000-$60,000)
• Hank Aaron 1974 Atlanta Braves jersey, retired by the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers (estimate: $60,000-$80,000)

The top item in the sale, Babe Ruth’s coaching jersey, is part of the fastest growing alternative investment sector in the auction world; recently, a Babe Ruth New York Yankees road jersey sold for $5.64 million.

“These items represent the dreams and ambitions of the sportsmen who captured the hearts of millions,” said Brett Hughes, Managing Director of Global Sports for Julien’s Auctions. “To own any of these items will doubtless be a dream come true for the lucky buyers. For true fans, the value of each lot is beyond price and will become a family heirloom.”

For more information about Cunard, or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Advisor, call Cunard at 1-800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com.

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