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≡ FOSBURY SOARS AT AUCTION ≡
The family of famed Mexico City ‘68 men’s high jump winner Dick Fosbury of the U.S. placed his Olympic gold medal, participation medal and uniform top on auction, closing quite successfully late Saturday night.
Part of the Heritage Auctions Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, the three items all sold:
● Fosbury’s uniform, the iconic ‘68 dark blue with red-on-white “USA” lettering, was the only one he was issued for the Games and was projected to bring $50,000. With 90 minutes left in the initial “overtime” bidding period, it was at $39,000, but ended at $52,500 plus the 22% buyer’s premium, so $64,050 overall.
● His Mexico City ‘68 participation, a unique, copper square, has the “MEXICO 68″ logo and the pictograms of the 20 sports at the Games. It was expected to sell for about $20,000, but ended at $6,710, including the buyer’s premium.
● His Mexico City ‘68 Olympic gold medal was expected to bring as much as $200,000, and was at $82,500 with 90 minutes left in the “overtime” bidding period. Interest picked up quickly, and the final sale was at $130,000 plus the buyer’s premium, so $158,600 in all.
There was no reserve on the items, so they were clearly going to be sold; the total sale brought $188,000 plus the buyer’s premiums ($41,360). Fosbury passed away in March 2023, at 76.
Also closing on Saturday was a unique Michael Jordan item, the Converse shoes he wore during the gold-medal game of the 1984 Olympic basketball tournament in Los Angeles. Jordan starred in the 96-65 rout of Spain at The Forum, just before starting his NBA career in Chicago.
After the game, Jordan gave the shoes to Patrick Knight, son of American coach Bobby Knight, in the winning locker room. On auction, the pair was projected to bring $40,000, but bidding was already at $42,000 with 90 minutes left in the “overtime” bidding period.
The final price was $52,500, plus the buyer’s premium, or $64,050 in all.
There are other items still available, including Olympic torches from Los Angeles 1984 and Rio de Janeiro 2016, as remaining auction items will close late on Sunday, in U.S. Central time.
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