Grey Flannel Auctions’ team of experts will conduct a free appraisal event – Sports Appraisals at Center Court – from 2-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. The specialists who will be on hand include Nick Coppola (uniforms), Joey Esposito (cards and programs), and Jimmy Spence (autographs). To add to the experience, any individual who brings in a sports item or items for complimentary evaluation will also be given free admission to the Basketball Hall of Fame, which ordinarily costs $16 for adults. The event marks the launch a new partnership between the Basketball Hall of Fame and Grey Flannel, whose experts will soon be visiting other areas of the country.
All types of sports collectibles, equipment, apparel, cards and autographed items will be welcome at the event. “Our company has had a long involvement with vintage and collectible items from all major sports – baseball, football, hockey, basketball and others,” said Grey Flannel’s president, Richard E. Russek. “We’re excited to see what will turn up at our appraisal event, whether it’s from already established collections or straight out of people’s attics. This will be a great opportunity for anyone owning a collectible sports item to find out exactly what it’s worth, and free of charge.”
Widely recognized for its staff’s scrupulous and uncompromising methods in authenticating professional sports memorabilia, Grey Flannel Auctions is the official appraiser and authenticator for both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. Sotheby’s appointed Grey Flannel to authenticate the largest and most important baseball uniform collection ever to come to auction, the Barry Halper collection. Among the many history-making items that have been entrusted to Grey Flannel Auctions are the 1978 Heisman Trophy, which sold for $300,000; and Babe Ruth’s immortal New York Yankees “called shot” uniform, which realized more than $1 million. For additional information on Sports Appraisals at Center Court, call 631-288-7800 or e-mail [email protected]. Visit Grey Flannel’s Web site at www.GreyFlannel.com.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is located at 1000 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield, MA 01105, and is easily accessible from Boston, Hartford and Albany. For detailed driving directions, log on to www.hoophall.com. Tel. 413-781-6500 or tollfree 1-877-4HOOPLA.