A Chicago Bears football jersey worn by the great, late Walter Payton is among the top lots at Heritage Auctions' sale on August 4.
The Bears' running back wore the jersey in his last regular season game: a win over the Raiders in Los Angeles in December 1987.
It is estimated at $40,000 but could make significantly more, such is the interest in rare game-worn memorabilia by the leading names at the moment.
The huge public affection for Payton, who died from liver disease in 1999, could help to boost the appeal of this lot, as will the fact that the sale is taking place in the Bears' home town of Chicago.
It is thought Payton wore the jersey for several other regular season games, due to the repairs to the numbers and shoulders.
 ‘Sweetness’ finally won a Super Bowl in 1985 |
A 1967 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl II Championship ring belonging to guard Frederick "Fuzzy" Thurston will also feature at the sale, with an estimate of $20,000.
There will also be plenty of other tantalising sports memorabilia at the sale.
A baseball uniform worn by New York Yankees star Lou Gehrig will feature highly.
Gehrig wore the uniform during a 1934 tour of Japan with many other greats of the US game. It has a $300,000 estimate.
"This is easily one of the finest groupings of sports memorabilia that the hobby has ever seen," comments Chris Ivy, director of Heritage Sports Collectible.
Make sure you check back here for a review of all the big talking points from next week's auction.
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