Mastro Auctions
The sports memorabilia market has been transformed by the Internet, i.e. online auctions. The Mastro Auctions warehouse stores athletic treasures before they are sold to collectors around the world. It is the paradise for sports-collectibles junkies, with incredible finds like authentic old-school seats from different stadiums, 30-year-old sports-themed arcade games, and even a turnstile from the entry gates of Wrigley Field.
Started in 1996 by Bill Mastro, a former sports auction consultant for Sotheby’s, Mastro Auctions (based in Burr Ridge) sells almost $50 million worth of sports and Americana memorabilia through six online auctions each year. Many items sell for thousands, even millions, of dollars. I guess when you’re a collector, cost is sometimes the least of your concerns. Baseball is the sport that really drives this market. While football, basketball, and hockey are also popular (especially vintage material), they trail baseball by a large margin when it comes to collectibles.
Hearing about all these generations-old memorabilia, I know what you’re thinking. “What should I save?” Doug Allen, the president of Mastro Auctions, suggests you “save the things you like.” Save the mementos that mean something to you because, in all honesty, they will have more sentimental value than financial value. The things that are being created today that have value are players’ bats, players’ uniforms, home-run baseballs, milestone baseballs, etc. There just aren’t a lot of collectibles being generated today, which is unfortunate.
One modern-day collectible is was a very controversial baseball. Chicagoans will remember the infamous “Bartman Ball,” the foul pop-up that was caught by a spectator in the stands of Wrigley Field in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins. That foul ball, which was just inches away from being caught by Cubs left fielder Moises Alou, was blamed for the Cubs’ failure to advance to the World Series. Mastro Auctions sold the infamous baseball for over $110,000 to Grant DePorter on behalf of Harry Caray’s Restaurant, where it was publicly destroyed in 2004.
Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) kimberly_hurst, The G-Tastic 7
Mastro Auctions: 7900 S Madison St (Burr Ridge); 630-472-1200
http://www.mastronet.com/
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1 opinion for Mastro Auctions
Auctions - Murco Recycling: Demolition Auctions | historys.info
Aug 16, 2007 at 10:15 am
[...] Mastro AuctionsThe sports memorabilia market has been transformed by the Internet, ie online auctions. The Mastro Auctions warehouse stores athletic treasures before they are sold to collectors around the world. … [...]
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