5 Most Expensive Pieces of Sports Memorabilia Ever Sold at Auction
Collectors have always valued sports history, but the last few years have changed the scale. Authenticity tools have improved, investment interest has surged, and select items are now reaching eight-figure price tags.
Most of these rare artifacts are tied to specific, widely recognized moments in sports. Auction houses have responded by giving these items top billing, and buyers are showing up with massive offers. Consequently, the most expensive pieces reflect a combination of rarity, historical value, and emotional connection to iconic athletes or games.
Babe Ruth’s 1932 “Called Shot” Jersey – $24.12 Million
The jersey, believed to be worn by Babe Ruth during his 1932 World Series “Called Shot,” sold for $24.12 million in 2024 and ended up setting a new record for any piece of sports memorabilia. Disagreements over its authenticity continued for years, with mixed results from top photo-matching services. Eventually, two companies verified the match. The jersey’s story stretches back to 1990, when it was priced at $150,000. Later buyers re-examined its origin. By the time it got to the market again, enough confidence existed to send the price to record-setting levels.
Jordan And Bryant Dual Logoman Card – $12.9 Million
A basketball card featuring both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant represents a rare convergence of two of the sport’s greatest players on a single collectible. The 2007–08 Upper Deck “Exquisite Dual Logoman” stands out not only for its design but for what it contains: patches cut from game-worn jerseys and autographs from both stars. Jordan’s patch traces back to the Bulls’ 1996–97 championship season, while Bryant’s reflects his early years with the Lakers. After more than a decade in a private collection, this one-of-one card sold in 2025 for $12.9 million.
Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 Jersey – $10.1 Million
Everyone remembers the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls season, immortalized years later in The Last Dance documentary. It marked the culmination of Michael Jordan’s era, a final run that sealed his sixth NBA championship. During that season’s Finals against the Utah Jazz, Jordan wore a red Bulls jersey in Game 1—a game his team lost. Despite the defeat, the shirt became a symbol of that closing chapter and was auctioned off $10.1 million.
Maradona’s 1986 World Cup “Hand of God” Jersey – $9.28 Million
The jersey Diego Maradona wore during Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarterfinal holds a unique place in football history. In that single match against England, he scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal and followed it with the “Goal of the Century.” The shirt changed hands after the game, when England midfielder Steve Hodge swapped jerseys with him. It eventually drew $9.28 million in bidding in 2022, the highest figure ever reached for a soccer jersey. The item carries enormous cultural weight, particularly in Argentina’s national memory.
Olympic Games Manifesto by Pierre De Coubertin – $8.8 Million
Pierre de Coubertin’s 14-page Olympic Games manifesto, written in 1892 and presented at the Sorbonne, reached $8.8 million in 2019. The document outlines his early vision for international sport as a force for unity, two years before he founded the International Olympic Committee. It vanished for decades until a collector traced it to a Swiss bank vault in the 1990s. Before Babe Ruth’s jersey surpassed it in 2024, the manuscript held the highest price ever paid for any sports memorabilia at public auction.