During the 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Hunt Auctions ran its standard vendor playbook used at card shows, including The National, by setting up a booth and offering fans the chance to interact with and purchase vintage baseball items.
The game was in Philadelphia, just an hour drive from Hunt’s headquarters in Exton, Pennsylvania, so the auction house worked with the Phillies to set up during the weekend. That arrangement carried over to subsequent games until Hunt eventually approached MLB to be its official auction house of the All-Star Game.
That was in 2005.
More than 20 years later, the partnership is still running strong, with this year’s live auction highlighted by a post-career Jackie Robinson jersey and one of the finest autographed Babe Ruth baseballs from his playing days. The auction begins Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET.
When Hunt Auctions founder David Hunt first approached MLB about the partnership, he remembered the league being receptive.
“They have done a really good job at celebrating and recognizing their past is unequaled by any other American sport,” Hunt told cllct.
This recognition allowed Hunt to find its footing during the All-Star festivities. Hunt Auctions, which is primarily known for vintage baseball memorabilia, stays true to itself in its offerings, but also adapts to the locales of each year’s game.
When the game came to Yankee Stadium in 2008, Hunt sold the Whitey Ford Collection. This year, Tuesday's auction consists of a number of large private Braves collections.
One of the other unique aspects of the event is the appraisal fair, which allows fans to bring items to the experts at Hunt to get an idea of the value.
It’s also key for the relationship with MLB to keep the auctions tightly curated and not allow any items that might shine a poor light on the league.
“You know, you don't enjoy a two decade-plus relationship with the league by doing things the wrong way,” Hunt said. “So, we've always been very, very, very strict about what can be sold and only selling things that are appropriate to sell. And guaranteeing everything we sell, because those values clearly align with the way that Major League Baseball conducts themselves, and that's something that they rightfully demanded from Day 1.”
Hunt Auctions has always been known for its live auction events, a rarity in today’s online world. While phone and internet bidders are allowed at the yearly event, Hunt sees the live aspect as invaluable.
“One thing that we've been known for for the entire 35 years of our company is physical live auctions, a true live auction with bidding paddles and excitement and adrenaline and, you know, the whole nine yards,” Hunt said. “And we believe in it. I mean, it's sort of the foundation of our company.”
Especially in the context of the MLB All-Star Game live auction, which sees plenty of fans without specific interest in collecting watching the event for a few minutes before carrying on, the live aspect can act as a tool in recruiting new collectors.
Then, of course, there is the ability to hold the memorabilia in your hands.
“Physically handling a piece and seeing it in front of you, there is no technology that will match that,” Hunt said. “There just isn't. It's not possible. So, I think that's a really valuable piece, and if that costs us a bit more to bring that to collectors, we're happy to do it.”
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible content.