Historic Auction to Feature Hunting and Fishing Gear of Legendary Red Sox Player Ted Williams
Edward Pierz 04.18.12
Fans of baseball and the outdoors have an incredible chance to remember legendary Red Sox player Ted Williams on Saturday, April 28th at Fenway Park in Boston. Hunt Auctions will be hosting a historic auction of Ted Williams’ belongings, scheduled to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Williams’ death and the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. The auction is set to include 794 items inherited or otherwise acquired by his daughter Claudia Williams. Given that Williams was an avid outdoorsman, the collection includes a number of firearms and fishing gear.
Here are some of the highlights:
- Rare and exceptional Custom Made Winchester Model 21 Side by Side Shotgun.
- Pre War Griffith & Howe New York CustomSpringfield1903 Bolt Action Rifle in Caliber 30 Govt. 06.
- Pre War W.W. Greener 12 Gauge Side By Side Factory Cased Shotgun.
- First Year Production Winchester Model 21 Side by Side Shotgun.
- Presentational Smith & Wesson Pre War .38 Hand Ejector pistol with photographic provenance of Ted receiving the gun at Fenway Park.
- Browning Auto – 5 Ducks Unlimited Sweet Sixteen Autoloading Shotgun.
- Custom Made Antoni Zoli 2-Barrel Over Under Shotgun Set.
- Ted Williams custom made Fin-Nor fishing reel ($500-$1,000)
- Ted Williams personal fishing tackle box c.1970s ($1,000-$2,000)
- Ted Williams fly fishing reels ($750-$1,500)
- Ted Williams personal fishing vest ($750-$1,250)
- Ted Williams International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame award ($500-$750)
- Ted Williams vintage Ted Williams personal wooden fly fishing rods and travel case
- Ted Williams trophy mount fish
- Ted Williams personal fishing rods with reels
Original press release issued by Hunt Auctions:
Hunt Auctions, one of the nation’s premiere sports memorabilia auction companies based in Exton, PA, has opened pre-bidding and released the full list of over 700+ items being sold in the upcoming historic Ted Williams Collection at Live Public Auction on Saturday, April 28th at Fenway Park. Williams’ personal items including his 1949 Most Valuable Player Award estimated at $150,000 to $250,000, his 1956 American League Batting Champion Silver Slugger Award estimated at $100,000 to $200,000 and a Babe Ruth single signed baseball personalized to Ted Williams will headline the auction. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the auction will be donated to The Jimmy Fund, a prestigious Boston charity which is forever affiliated with Ted Williams, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Boston Red Sox. A complete list of items as well as descriptions and estimated values is available online at www.HuntAuctions.com. Catalogs can be ordered by calling 610.524.0822.
“As a baseball historian and fan of the game, there are few names within the history of the game that evoke such excitement and reverence as that of Ted Williams. His reign of excellence during the Golden Age of baseball is nothing short of superlative and we are deeply honored to have been chosen by the Williams ‘family to represent his distinguished name in this historic offering. Furthermore, the grouping of firearms and fishing equipment within his collection are fittingly of an excellent quality one would expect from a man such as Ted Williams. ” remarked David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions.
Williams is widely regarded as the greatest batsman in Major League history holding numerous distinctive records and accomplishments to include (18) All-Star Game appearances, (6) AL batting Championships, Most Valuable Player for 1946 and 1949, Player of the Decade from 1951-60, .344 Career Batting Average, and an iconic .406 batting average in 1941. He is also arguably the greatest professional sports athlete in the storied history of the city of Boston playing his entire 22 year career with the Red Sox (1939-1960). The auction will reflect the career of Ted Williams as well as many of the baseball greats he came into contact with. The auction will appropriately take place during the celebration of the 100th Anniversary season of Fenway Park in which Ted Williams played for his entire career.
In addition to his notoriety on the baseball field, Ted Williams admirably served his country as a United States Marine during World War II and the Korean War. Many items will reflect his service. All of the items from the personal collection of Ted Williams are being offered for the first time to the public. There are numerous pieces of historic significance that have not previously have been displayed or known including his Korean War Flight log c. 1943-1945.
“The time has come in my life to let go of some of my father’s awards and personal memorabilia. I have struggled with this decision for the past 10 years, but the reality is, these items have remained locked away in a storage unit where his deserving fans and esteemed collectors are denied the right to enjoy them and share in a piece of American history. So many people have asked to view these items or obtain them for their own personal collection. It is for these reasons that I felt it best to conduct an auction in a fashion that will share the history of my father’s accomplishments with all the many fans he so appreciated. It is very important to me to ensure that there will be several public viewings so that everyone will have a better opportunity to enjoy the pieces that chronicle the life of my dad from his baseball career to his fishing exploits to his military service. So many people know my father as a baseball-hitting great, but few know and appreciate his loyalty and allegiance to our great country while serving twice in the U.S. Marine Corps, during World War II and the Korean War. I would like to bring to light and share with his fans the incredible military stories made while serving to protect our nation. It is also dearly important to me to include The Jimmy Fund in this event as it was at the center of my father’s heart for so many years. I am proud to say, a portion of all proceeds will be given to The Jimmy Fund in memory of my father and my brother. The accomplishments of The Jimmy Fund and the hope it continues to offer thousands of young people stricken with cancer will always be appreciated and supported by my family.”
~ Claudia Williams, daughter of Ted Williams
Notable Items Not Part of the Ted Williams Collection
Aside from the Ted Williams collection, Hunt Auctions appropriately will feature a small offering in honor of the centennial celebration of baseball in the city of Boston. Highlights will include the April 20th, 1912 Fenway Park Opening Day First Pitch baseball which began with initial pre bidding interest pushing the price to $140,000 within hours of the beginning of online bidding. In addition, a scarce 1903 World Series Game One program at Boston valued at $100,000 to $200,000 will be among the fine pieces offered at the April 28th Live Auction.
Auction Activities Info
Four days of auction festivities will begin on Wednesday, April 25th at Fenway Park as all 700+ items will be on display at the State Street Pavilion within Fenway Park. The display will be open to the public on Wednesday, April 25 through Friday, April 27th. Friday evening, a private preview party will take place within the viewing area. Live bidding will begin on Saturday, April 28th with two sessions. The morning session will run from 10:00am to 1:00pm. The afternoon session will begin at 2:30pm and run until all items are sold. The firearms and fishing collections will be offered during the second session.
Bids will be accepted in person at the live auction, or absentee bidding can be done via phone at 610.524.0822 or online at www.huntauctions.com. Absentee bids will be accepted up until 11 pm EST on Thursday, April 26th, 2012. More information about the auction and bidding instructions can be found online at www.HuntAuctions.com.
