DALLAS, TX.- Sports collectors' most anticipated auction event of the season will offer an elite lineup of game-used lumber, including important bats from Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Josh Gibson, Mel Ott and Joe DiMaggio, in Heritage Auctions' Feb. 24-25 Platinum Night Auction now open for bidding and closing in Extended Bidding format.

"This is really the best of the best," said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. "We have the only documented Josh Gibson bat in existence and a 1941 DiMaggio gamer that is attributed with a high degree of probability to his celebrated 56-game hitting streak."

The greatest slugging triumvirate of the pre-war game also supplies Hillerich & Bradsbys to the event, with a Ruth bat from his earliest Yankees years (est. $600,000+), a late-career gamer from Gehrig (est. $300,000+) and a splendid Jimmie Foxx representation sourced directly from his family (est. $50,000+). Also on offer is the earliest known Major League bat from Mickey Mantle (est. $200,000+) and another important rookie model from fellow 500 Home Run Club member Mel Ott (est. $200,000+).

Trading card collectors will discover a PSA NM-MT 8 example of the essential 1952 Topps Mantle (est. $400,000+), and Mint 9 rookies from Stan Musial (est. $250,000+), Hank Aaron (est. $200,000+) and Joe Namath (est. $200,000+). The tobacco age is well-represented by some of most coveted rarities in cardboard, including the T206 Cobb with Cobb back (est. $500,000+) and high-grade tributes to Cy Young (est. $120,000+) and Walter Johnson (est. $120,000+).

Other highlights include, but are not limited to:

· A 1903 World Series Game Eight Program — the finest known example of the first World Series program (est. $150,000+)

· A 1923 New York Yankees Team-Signed Baseball with Lou Gehrig the earliest pinstriped appearance of the Iron Horse (est. $100,000+)

· A 1939 Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Class-Signed First Day Cover, PSA/DNA Mint 9 (est. $100,000+)

· Babe Ruth's 1945 Game-Worn Coaching Uniform from Esquire Magazine's "All-America Game" (est. $200,000+)

· Jackie Robinson's 1949 Signed Brooklyn Dodgers Contract, National League MVP Season — the only Dodgers/Robinson contract ever to appear at auction (est. $200,000+)

· Bobby Hull's 1958-59 Game-Worn Chicago Blackhawks Jersey — the earliest known Hull Blackhawks gamer (est. $80,000+)

· Billy Casper's 1959 US Open Championship Trophy from his first major championship (est. $100,000+)

· A 1959 Johnny Unitas NFL Championship Game-Worn Baltimore Colts Jersey, MEARS A10 Photo-Matched (est. $80,000+)

· Dallas Cowboys Running Back Doug Dennison's 1977 Super Bowl XII Championship Ring (est. $30,000+)

· The 1978 Affirmed Triple Crown Trophy Presented to Trainer Laz Barrera — an extraordinary rarity in racing history (est. $250,000+)

Heritage Auctions' Feb. 24-25 Platinum Night Auction is now open for bidding and will close in Extended Bidding format at 10 p.m. CST Feb. 24 and 25.