Michael Jordan's "Flu Game" sneakers are part of a lot to be auctioned by a New York based auction house that once sold the road jersey worn by Babe Ruth at the time of his "called shot" home run for more than $1 million.
Westhampton-based Grey Flannel Auctions will host the Dec. 11 event, which will also offer such pieces as game-used jerseys worn by LeBron James, George Gervin, Miami Dolphins running back Larry Csonka, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, Pittsburgh Penguins center Mario Lemieux and the boxing gloves worn by Sugar Ray Leonard in his 1984 win over Kevin Howard.
Grey Flannel director of operations Michael Russek easily sees Jordan's shoes as the prize of the lot. "We do not publish estimates, but I expect these to be one of the highest priced items in the sale," he told Yahoo Sports.
Legend has it Jordan was battling a 103-degree fever the night of the June 11, 1997 Game 5 battle against Utah in the NBA Finals. Despite having to be helped to the bench by teammates on several occasions, Jordan finished with 38 points, seven rebounds and five assists, including swishing a game-winning 3-pointer during his 44th minute of action
The performance still ranks as one of Jordan's and league's greatest in history. As he was leaving the floor that night, Yahoo! reports Jordan took off and signed the sneakers before handing them over to a Jazz ball boy
According to Russek, since then the now grown man has kept the red-and-black size 13 Nikes under lock and key
"We were approached by the ball boy because of our affiliation with the Basketball Hall of Fame," Russek told BDL. "He never looked to sell them before now. I think he recently realized that he was getting a little older and was more curious than anything to see if people still cared about the story."
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