In SCP Auctions’ latest catalog, over 140 items from basketball legend Julius Erving, known as Dr. J, were sold for an impressive total of $3.5 million. The auction, initially scheduled to close on Saturday, extended into the early hours of Sunday due to fierce bidding. In total, the auction generated $6.5 million, featuring rare and valuable memorabilia not only from Erving’s career but also from baseball and other sports. A notable highlight was that 16 items sold for over $100,000 each, setting records for various sports collectibles.
David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions, expressed pride in the sale, calling it “the most incredible auction we have been a part of,” thanks to the inclusion of such historically significant items. Many of these items were part of Julius Erving’s personal collection, which he consigned to the auction house earlier this year. Much of the memorabilia, including uniforms and awards from his illustrious career, had been in storage before being sold to the public, further adding to their rarity and value.
Erving’s collection dominated the auction, with five of the six highest-selling items coming from his career. Among the most valuable was his 1974 New Jersey Nets ABA championship ring, which fetched $460,471, setting a record for the highest price ever paid for an authentic sports championship ring. Other notable items from Dr. J included his 1983 76ers championship ring ($244,240), his 1983 All-Star Game MVP trophy ($115,242), his game-worn jersey from his final game in 1987 ($88,826), and his 1974-75 ABA MVP trophy ($173,106). All these prices included a 20% buyer’s premium.
The auction also featured significant items from other sports, including a historic baseball bat believed to be the last one used by Lou Gehrig. The bat, consigned by actor Bing Russell’s estate, sold for $403,664, attracting considerable attention due to its storied connection to one of baseball’s legends. Other prominent items included the 1887 Mike “King” Kelly Banquet Program, which went for $214,936, and Muhammad Ali’s fight-worn trunks from the iconic “Fight of the Century” against Joe Frazier, which sold for $173,102.
Other memorable sales from the auction included Mickey Cochrane’s 1934 American League MVP trophy ($125,332) and a Ted Williams Boston Red Sox game-worn jersey, which garnered $77,820. These rare pieces of sports history helped make the auction one of the most successful and memorable in recent years, drawing collectors from various sports and pushing the total earnings to a staggering $6.5 million.
