SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.- Sports memorabilia collectors know the season has changed as the weather begins to cool down and Grey Flannel Auctions announces their holiday auction. That time has come, with almost 850 generously illustrated, premium-quality lots now available to peruse and bid on through December 19 at www.GreyFlannelAuctions.com. All major sports are represented, as well as US presidential documents with an uncompromising emphasis on provenance, authenticity and rarity.

Opening the sale is a beautiful, all-original 1954 flannel jersey worn by Yankee icon Mickey Mantle, with attribution to the 1953 World Series. Mantle first established his reputation for dominance in the ’53 Fall Classic, hitting two home runs (including a grand slam) and posting seven RBI in the six-game series. The jersey offered by Grey Flannel is autographed by the Yankee legend and is the earliest all-original Mantle home jersey the company has ever handled. It has been graded a perfect A10 by Dave Grob of MEARS. Offered as Lot #0, it has a current bid of $36,603.

Headlining the auction is a collection of Larry Gardner’s early 20th-century World Series Championship jewelry. The jewelry includes Gardner’s 1912 Boston Red Sox player’s Championship watch fob (current bid: $6,050), his 1916 Red Sox Championship pocket watch (current bid: $5,000), and his 1920 Cleveland Indians player’s Championship pin (current bid: $2,750), which is the only known example to enter the marketplace. This grouping of exceedingly rare jewelry has come directly from the Gardner family.

Lot #11 is a Ted Williams game-used home jersey from the 1954 season. It is in fantastic condition and comes with impeccable provenance. The consignor, who was an adolescent in the 1950s, developed a friendship with Williams through his grandfather, who worked one block away from Fenway Park. A few years after meeting and spending time with Williams, he was presented with this Ted Williams game-used jersey. A true one-of-a-kind piece of baseball history, it has a current bid of $6,655.

Lot #273 is “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky’s 1991 NHL All-Star Game jersey worn at Chicago Stadium as captain of the Campbell Conference. Gretzky remains the top point-scorer in NHL history – with more assists than any other player has points – and is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season, a feat he accomplished four times. This visually appealing jersey has been photo-matched by the team at Photo-Match.com and is accompanied by Hockey Hall of Fame documentation. Current bid: $6,490.

Mickey Mantle has one of the most distinguished and elegant signatures in the history of baseball. In 1985, Mantle attended a signing show in New Orleans and was visibly frustrated at the lack of attendance. As the show was closing, a disgruntled Mantle signed his final ball at the event, adding the inscription, “This is the last f***in ball in N.O.”. As unique and rare a baseball as one will ever find, it is offered as Lot #194 with an opening bid of $2,500.