Ozzie Smith is auctioning off pieces of MLB history.
The man who backflipped his way out onto the field with as much flash as he played the game is selling some rather remarkable pieces of memorabilia.
ESPN reports the legend affectionately known as The Wizard is set to auction off items I have no doubt will fetch quite the handsome sum:
Hall of Famer and former St. Louis Cardinals great Ozzie Smith is selling his 13 Gold Gloves, 11 of his All-Star Game rings and more than 100 pieces of memorabilia from his personal collection in a November on-line auction.
When you have the career Smith had, you have quite the collection of hardware. While it’s sad to see Smith part with such items, baseball collectors have to be giddy at the prospects of owning a chunk of MLB history.
Baseball geeks with deep pockets, bust out that checkbook.
The report states the auction will begin on begin Nov. 14 and end on Dec. 1, and will be overseen by SCP Auctions of Laguna Niguel, Calif.
The 57-year-old former shortstop decided to sell the items “as part of his estate and family planning.”
In a statement, SCP Auctions managing director Dan Imler had this to say:
Ozzie Smith was one of the most entertaining and charismatic figures ever to play Major League Baseball. The items in this collection represent the honors bestowed on him for his many contributions to the success of the St. Louis Cardinals.
CBS Sports reports Smith made a solid amount in his playing days and has since had a couple of business ventures:
(Smith) made just under $32 million ($31,650,000) in his playing career, according to Baseball-Reference.com. He retired after the 1996 season and has had various entrepreneur ventures — like a restaurant and salad dressing — since his playing days.
He recently helped out as a special instructor to the Cardinals during spring training this past season.
For whatever the reason, one of the best fielders in the history of the game is letting some amazing accolades go to auction.
Cardinals fans, it may time to break out those piggy banks.
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