By J.L. Kirven

Attendees at this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention can take home some fantastic memorabilia, but some will require a hefty check. With so many excellent items for sale, can you guess which were the most expensive? Take your best shot. 

1930 Babe Ruth autographed baseball vs. 1961 John F. Kennedy autographed baseball

Babe Ruth was undoubtedly one of the most famous figures of his time. His competition is steep, however. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was one of the most influential men of the 1960s. Although Kennedy’s time in office was short, his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights Movement cemented his legacy. 

Winner: While the Ruth baseball was valued at a hefty $11,000, Kennedy’s baseball is over 12 times more expensive, costing a whopping $140,000.

1996 Kobe Bryant autographed high school shoes vs. 2003 Shaquille O'Neal autographed All-Star Game shoes

You can’t say Shaq without Kobe, so it’s only fitting that we’d pit these two NBA legends against each other. Bryant made waves in 1996 after coming out of Lower Merion High School and being drafted No. 13 overall by the Charlotte Hornets. We all know where Bryant eventually landed, but before the Purple and Gold, the NBA titles, and the lucrative Nike contract, Bryant was just a high schooler who preferred to play in Adidas. Shaq also went against the grain and walked away from his first sneaker brand when he left $40 million on the table from Reebox to start his own line. His size 23 shoes dwarf any sneaker you can find in a Foot Locker.

Winner: O’Neal’s game-worn All-Star Game sneakers are a rare find, and $4,000 is nothing to scoff at. But the rarity of the late, great Bryant’s high school kicks take this one. If you want to tap into this Mamba mentality, it’ll cost you about $5,000.

1955 Sandy Koufax rookie card vs. 1954 Hank Aaron rookie card

This matchup pits the former home run king against one of the greatest pitchers the game has ever seen. Throughout their careers, Aaron batted .362 against Koufax, who won four World Series and three Cy Young awards in just 11 seasons. Rookie cards for either player can cost more than a house, but which all-timer edges out the other?

Winner: Defense wins championships, but offense wins auctions. While Koufax’s PSA Mint 9 card is valued at an astronomical $300,000+, Aaron’s Mint 9 rookie card is expected to go for even more: $400,000+.