The Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia in History

Recently, U.S. media outlet *Boardroom* ranked the top five most expensive sports memorabilia ever sold at auction, with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls Finals jersey ranking third and Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey fourth.




Here are the specific rankings and auction prices:

1. **Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” Jersey from 1932** – $24.1 million  
  In the 1932 World Series between the American League champion Yankees and the National League champion Cubs, tensions escalated. Cubs fans mocked Ruth, who responded with a 490-foot home run. This may be the most iconic moment of Babe Ruth’s career. In 2005, the ball sold for $940,000, and this summer, the jersey was auctioned for a record $24.12 million.

2. **Mickey Mantle’s 1952 Baseball Card** – $12.6 million  
  This card of the Baseball Hall of Famer sold at auction in 2022. Mantle was the face of the Yankees in the 1950s and one of the most iconic stars for the post-war Baby Boomer generation.

3. **Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Chicago Bulls Jersey** – $10.1 million  
  Jordan’s Finals jerseys have always been highly sought after by collectors. 1998 was Jordan’s final MVP season before his initial retirement from basketball. Sotheby’s auctioned this jersey in September 2022 for $10.1 million. Notably, the auctioned jersey was from the first game of the series, which Jordan lost.

4. **Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” Jersey** – $9.3 million  
  Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals is one of the most iconic moments in soccer history. The jersey he wore during that match was auctioned in 2022 for $9.3 million, less than two years after the legendary Argentinian passed away.

5. **Olympic Manifesto Manuscript** – $8.8 million  
  This original handwritten manuscript by Pierre de Coubertin outlined his vision for the Olympic Games. Written in 1892, two years before he founded the International Olympic Committee, this rare document was auctioned by Sotheby’s in December 2022 for $8.8 million.

In addition to the top five listed by *Boardroom*, *Sportico* previously compiled a ranking of high-priced sports memorabilia, with notable items including:

6. **Lionel Messi’s 2022 World Cup Jersey Set (six jerseys)** – $7.8 million  
  Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup victory. The six jerseys (worn during the group stage, semi-finals, and first half of the final) were auctioned by Sotheby’s in December 2023 and purchased for $7.8 million by billionaire Steve Cohen.

9. **Muhammad Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” Belt** – $6.2 million  
  In 1974, Ali faced George Foreman for the world heavyweight title, knocking Foreman out in the eighth round. NFL owner Jim Irsay purchased the championship belt at auction in 2022 for $6.2 million.

10. **Kobe Bryant’s 2007-08 Lakers Jersey** – $5.8 million  
  During his only MVP season, Bryant wore this jersey in 25 games. In a 2023 Sotheby’s auction, an anonymous buyer purchased the jersey for $5.8 million.