Auction of Sam Snead Memorabilia Tops $1 Million

The family of Sam Snead is auctioning off some of his memorabilia in a series of sales conducted by Heritage Auctions over the next year. The first auctions took place Aug. 1-2, 2013, in conjuction with the National Sports Collector's Convention in Rosemont, Ill.

And those first 14 lots, collectively, sold for $1,106,868.

You'll understand why when you hear what some of those items were. A Claret Jug, for example. The Masters Trophy. The Wanamaker Trophy (not the originals, obviously, but the copies given to Snead for him to keep after those victories). Snead's three major championship trophies plus a Ryder Cup trophy were the "big four" in the first round of auctions. Here's what they went for:
  • Claret Jug presented to Snead for winning the 1946 British Open: $262,900
  • Masters Trophy presented to Snead for winning the 1954 Masters: $191,200
  • Ryder Cup trophy presented to Snead as captain of the American 1959 Ryder Cup team: $179,250
  • Wanamaker Trophy presented to Snead for winning the 1951 PGA Championship: $119,500

The other 10 items sold in this initial phase were:
  • 1939 Masters runner-up silver medal: $23,900
  • 1942 PGA Championship winner's gold medal: $50,787.50
  • 1947 U.S. Open runner-up silver medal: $26,290
  • 1949 Masters winner's gold medal: $50,787.50
  • Plaque presented to Snead by Augusta National for his three Masters wins: $38,837.50
  • Putter Snead used in winning 1954 Masters: $41,825
  • 1969 Ryder Cup captain's jacket: $31,070
  • Golf Hall of Fame plaque given to Snead at his induction in 1974: $26,290
  • 1998 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award: $23,900
  • Tournament-used Snead golf bag autographed by Masters champions: $40,331.25

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