History of Maris' 61st home run ball?

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Posted By: CoreyRS.hanus

My understanding is that prior to Sotheby's sale of Halper's collection, the HOF cherry-picked $8 million from the collection, which is now in the permanent collection (i.e., it is owned outright by the HOF). As to where they got the $8 million, I believe it was given to them by Major League Baseball. Halper for several years prior had been trying to have someone pay retail value for his collection, and at the same time promise to keep it intact. Toward that goal he had engaged a major investment bank to market the collection to prospective purchasers. When that effort failed he used his influence with Major League Baseball to have them buy, on behalf of the HOF, a much smaller portion of the collection.