Tom Seaver’s 1969 World Series ring headlines $1.8M memorabilia auction

Late New York Mets legend Tom Seaver’s 1969 World Series ring recently sold via Heritage Auctions for $854,122 (including buyer’s premium), a record paid for any Seaver collectible and the third-highest sum paid for any sports championship ring.

Seaver, a 12-time All-Star and three-time NL Cy Young winner, died from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19 in August 2020. He was 75.

Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage, said the “time was right” for the Seaver family to share a bit of Tom’s legacy.

“A lot of this stuff is sentimental, emotional and important to Tom’s family,” Ivy said. “It’s always a tough decision, and [the items are] going to go to people that are ultimately going to love, cherish, enjoy and display this stuff.”

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Seaver’s 1973 Mets National League championship ring ($201,300), his Baseball Hall of Fame induction plaque ($170,800), a Mets hat he wore from the late 1969 season through 1971 ($79,300) and his 1967 BBWAA National League Rookie of the Year Award ($50,020) were among the items sold. Also included were his rings from the 1975 ($26,840) and 1981 All-Star Games ($22,570), his 1986 American League championship ring ($31,720) — his last year as a professional, with the Boston Red Sox — and a ring marking his 300th MLB victory with the Chicago White Sox in 1985 ($29,280).

“What makes the most sense is to put [his stuff] out there and let his fans enjoy it,” Ivy said.

In total, nearly 200 items consigned by the Seaver family, each with a letter of provenance, sold over the weekend for more than $1.8 million.