ESPN.com’s Playbook recently launched a weekly video segment called “Mint Condition” which will focus on the hobby. Check it out.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

A circa 1920 New York Yankees road jersey worn by Babe Ruth sold for a record $4.4 million early this morning through SCP Auctions.

Including a buyer’s premium, the final price was $4,415,658 after 36 bids — the most ever paid for a single piece of baseball memorabilia by a wide margin. In 2007, SCP sold a PSA 8 Honus Wagner T206 baseball card for $2.8 million.

The auction opened with a $250,000 minimum bid and the winner of the jersey was another auction house, Lelands.com.

“We are ecstatic about the acquisition of what we consider one of the most important pieces of sports memorabilia in history,” said Lelands President Michael Heffner in a statement. “We are always on the lookout for high-quality sports memorabilia and this artifact represents the pinnacle.”

Ruth, of course, was one of the world’s most-recognizable athletes in his time and remains so today. His 714 home runs were an MLB record well beyond his playing days until Hank Aaron topped the mark in 1974.

The Spalding flannel has Ruth’s name stitched into the collar, and the placement of the New York patches on the front have been photo-matched to images included with the auction.

In 2005 Donruss/Playoff purchased a Ruth home gamer from around 1925 (one of three known pinstriped Ruth jerseys), which it cut up and placed into baseball cards. That jersey cost the company only $250,000.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Update: The auction brought in more than $2.4 million.

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By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

If you ripped wax in the early 1990s, you probably know Dmitri Young as a once up-and-coming prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals — a Rated Rookie back in 1993. Younger collectors might know him as a recently retired journeyman and the older brother of former No. 1 pick Delmon Young.

But what you might not know is that he’s been a serious baseball card collector for some time — a collector of only PSA 10 grade Gem Mint Rookie Cards.

Young’s stash ranges from Stan Musial, Roy Campanella and Ernie Banks to modern-day cards of Derek Jeter, Prince Fielder,  Ryan Braun and even his little brother. Now, through Laguna Niguel, Calif.-based SCP Auctions, he’s decided to part with his collection and some game-used memorabilia in a 497-lot auction that ends on May 18. (Need a Young checklist or OPG? Click here.)

“I love the hobby and what it has meant to my life,” Young told SCP before the auction opened. “I hope the legacy of this collection lives on for many years to come.”

The leader so far is his 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente RC at $139,015, while his 1963 Topps Pete Rose RC is at $89,568 — each with plenty of time remaining. His 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson RC is $87,304, while his Hank Aaron 1954 Topps RC is at $86,316 and his Banks RC from the same year is at $67,188. According to the PSA Population Report, the top three are the only cards to receive grades that high, while the Aaron and Banks are both one of only two cards in that grade.

But the collection also isn’t just about the rarest of the rare, but it’s also a who’s who of baseball history with Hall of Famers alongside memorable — and perhaps not-as-memorable — players. Flipping through the 112-page auction catalog is a time capsule — Al Kaline, Moose Skowron, Harmon Killebrew, Luis Aparicio, Whitey Herzog, Rocky Colavito, Brooks Robinson … the names just come page after page — all in PSA 10 condition.

Fast-forward to the early 1980s and you’ll find guys like Dan Petry, Rick Sutcliffe, Tim Raines, Harold Baines and, of course, Fernando Valenzuela. Later, you’ll find Canadian O-Pee-Chee and Leaf counterparts for many of the biggest stars of that decade before you’ll even find Young himself in lot No. 447 — his 1991 Upper Deck Final Edition card, which is up to $28 after two bids.

Cards from famous collections can carry a premium at times — whether they are Hall of Famers or commons. Nearly all of the PSA slips are marked with “Dmitri Young Collection” — so even lesser cards could command more than one might expect before the auction closes.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

A circa 1920 New York Yankees road jersey worn by Babe Ruth might fetch seven figures when it hits the auction block through SCP Auctions on April 30.

“This is simply the finest sports artifact we’ve handled in our 30-year history,” said SCP Auctions President David Kohler. “It has it all. You would be hard pressed to dream up a more desirable baseball artifact. The historical impact of Ruth’s emergence in the Big Apple in the early 1920s, combined with the jersey’s superb original condition, makes this a sports treasure of the highest order.”

It’s the earliest known gamer for The Bambino, and the bidding through the  Laguna Niguel, Calif.-based company will close on May 19.

Ruth, of course, was one of the world’s most-recognizable athletes in his time and remains so today. His 714 home runs were an MLB record well beyond his playing days until Hank Aaron topped the mark in 1974.

The Spalding flannel has Ruth’s name stitched into the collar, and the placement of the New York patches on the front have been photo-matched to images included with the auction’s preview information. More details will come when the auction opens.

“It has a definite aura about it,” said SCP Auctions Managing Director Dan Imler. “It is hard to put a value on an item of such singular importance. Ruth was a man of mythic proportions. More than any other man, he transcended sports, achieving a nearly unrivaled status as an American icon. In the process, he changed the game of baseball forever. To think this jersey was worn by him during the most pivotal years of his career, and arguably the most consequential years in baseball history, makes this one of the finest sports artifacts we’ll see in our lifetime.”

In 2005 Donruss/Playoff purchased a Ruth home gamer from around 1925 (one of three known pinstriped Ruth jerseys), which it cut up and placed into baseball cards. That jersey cost the company only $250,000.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor

One of the most iconic basketball figures sold off his entire collection in auction that ended Sunday.

Julius Erving – better known as Dr. J – got rid of everything from championship rings to watches to trophies and game-worn clothing. The 144 pieces netted Erving $3.5 million at SCP Auctions, based out of Laguna Niguel, Calif.

His 1974 New York Nets ABA championship ring received the highest bid, going for $460,741. Next was his 1983 Philadelphia 76ers championship ring that went for $244,240.

It may seem surprising to many that he would get rid of his collection, but Erving had a reason.

Back in October, he told the Associated Press he is sold the items because he had no used for them. He said he never looks at them and most items were in storage anyway. He said he planned to donate some of the proceeds to the Salvation Army.

Erving said a recent lawsuit and perhaps some money problems had nothing to do with the auction. He said he planned on doing for months.

Not all of the items will end up in private collections.

Philadelphia 76ers CEO Adam Aron tweeted Sunday morning the basketball team’s new ownership group bid on many items.

“Purchased 18 items in 10 lots,” Aron tweeted. “For display to our great 76ers fans.”

Some of the more obscure lots included a collection of signed photos and letters from former Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States to Erving. Included were Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Ted Kennedy, Walter Mondale, Al Gore and others. The bidding closed at $5,777.

Even a pair of customized Converse made for the movie “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh” sold for $3,355.

Susan Lulgjuraj is a contributing editor for Beckett Media. You can email Susan here. Follow her on Twitter here.