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Dan HajduckyMar 4, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
- Dan Hajducky is a staff writer for ESPN. He has an MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University and played on the men's soccer teams at Fordham and Southern Connecticut State universities.
Late New York Mets legend Tom Seaver's 1969 World Series ring recently sold via Heritage Auctions for $854,122 (including buyer's premium), a record paid for any Seaver collectible and the third-highest sum paid for any sports championship ring.
Seaver, a 12-time All-Star and three-time NL Cy Young winner, died from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19 in August 2020. He was 75.
Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage, said the "time was right" for the Seaver family to share a bit of Tom's legacy.
"A lot of this stuff is sentimental, emotional and important to Tom's family," Ivy said. "It's always a tough decision, and [the items are] going to go to people that are ultimately going to love, cherish, enjoy and display this stuff."
Seaver's 1973 Mets National League championship ring ($201,300), his Baseball Hall of Fame induction plaque ($170,800), a Mets hat he wore from the late 1969 season through 1971 ($79,300) and his 1967 BBWAA National League Rookie of the Year Award ($50,020) were among the items sold. Also included were his rings from the 1975 ($26,840) and 1981 All-Star Games ($22,570), his 1986 American League championship ring ($31,720) -- his last year as a professional, with the Boston Red Sox -- and a ring marking his 300th MLB victory with the Chicago White Sox in 1985 ($29,280).
"What makes the most sense is to put [his stuff] out there and let his fans enjoy it," Ivy said.
In total, nearly 200 items consigned by the Seaver family, each with a letter of provenance, sold over the weekend for more than $1.8 million.
