Barry Halper

Barry Halper was an extensive collector of baseball memorabilia.Cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-12-19-halper-obit_x.htm|title=Baseball collector Barry Halper dies|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=November 17|publisher=USA Today|year=2007|author=Associated Press] During the auction of the collection, Sotheby's Auction House called it the "World Series of Sports Auctions."Cite web|url=http://www.psacard.com/articles/article1511.chtml|title=Sotheby's Wins World Series Of Sports Auctions: Barry Halper Collection Totals $21,812,577 |accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=November 17|publisher=Collectors Universe, Inc.|year=1999|author=Collectors Universe, Inc.]

Collection

Halper's collection was thought of as the finest, being both extensive and unusual. Many items, such as the uncut strip of T-206 cards with a Honus Wagner, were one of a kind. Halper's collection was housed in his basement, which had been outfitted like a small museum, including a hidden switch to a swing open panel, behind which were some of his most game-worn jerseys of famous players. The collection of game used jerseys included the only known examples of such players as Pud Galvin, Christy Mathewson, Cap Anson, Mike King Kelly, Dan Brouthers, the famed trio of Tinker/Evers/Chance. The infamous Joe Jackson was represented with jerseys from his minor league team as well as his Cleveland Indians jersey. The collection of dead ball era player jerseys was unrivalved.

BEFORE COLLECTION

His first job he got as a stockbroker. Then he went into the postal mail business. He delivered about 8 hours a day.

Some of the notable items in Halper's collection included:

* Ty Cobb's by|1928 autographed Philadelphia Athletics Jersey. (Sold for over 300,000 USD.)
* Lou Gehrig's last baseball glove. (Sold for nearly 400,000 USD.)
* Cap Anson's Chicago White Sox jersey
* A glove from Mickey Mantle. (Purchased by Billy Crystal for over 230,000 USD.)
* Mickey Mantle's by|1956 New York Yankees World Series Ring.
* The by|1920 signed sale agreement that marked Babe Ruth's sale by the Boston Red Sox, to the Yankees
* A by|1903 ticket to the first World Series.
* Lou Gehrig's by|1930's Yankees hat.
* Ty Cobb's dentures.
*Mike King Kelly New York jersey
*Christy Mathewson's first minor league jersey(Taunton)

Following the Sotheby's auction, Halper remarked:

Sotheby's released a three-volume book, "The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia", that included over 1,500 color photographs of the collection, giving history for many of the items, details about Halper's collection through the years, and a history of baseball.cite book | last = Sotheby's | first = Sotheby's | title = The Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia | publisher = Sotheby's | location = New York | year = 1999 |pages=930 pages| isbn = 9780962258879 ] cite book | last = Golenbock | first = Peter | title = Barry Halper Collection of Baseball Memorabilia | publisher = Harry N. Abrams | pages=928 pages|location = New York | year = 2000 | isbn = 9780810967045 ]

ale

In 1998, Halper sold the collection, with Major League Baseball purchasing many items, donating them to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The rest were auctioned off by Sotheby's for a record 21.8 million USD.

Death

Barry Halper died at the age of 66, in 2005 due to complications from long-standing health issues.

References