Presidential Baseballs Sell for $3M
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- 21 presidential autographed baseballs sold for $3,055,000 at Hunt Auctions' MLB All-Star live auction, forming a complete set from Theodore Roosevelt onward.
- Unnamed consigner spent three decades assembling the collection, each ball authenticated by James Spence Authentication or Professional Sports Authenticator.
- Theodore Roosevelt-signed baseball from 1918 includes a letter of provenance from Edwin Collins, son of a former General Motors Cadillac executive, and is one of only two known examples.
- John F. Kennedy-signed baseball comes with a letter from Whitey Ford describing how JFK signed three balls for Yankees players during a 1960s visit to Joseph Kennedy’s home in Palm Beach.
- David Hunt of Hunt Auctions called the collection a 'labor of love' that reflects deep appreciation for baseball’s historical ties to the U.S. presidency.
Why it matters: The $3 million sale underscores the premium placed on politically significant sports memorabilia with verifiable provenance, benefiting collectors who prioritize authentication and historical narrative over mere celebrity signature. The JFK ball’s unique backstory gives it outsized value within the set.
