"How do you split it up four ways?" said Robin Jr., whose younger brothers are Dan, Rick and Jim. "We thought of having an NFL-type draft, but who gets the first pick?"
So they decided to sell it.
Tomorrow night, at Citizens Bank Park, the Roberts collection will be dispersed in a live auction conducted by Hunt Auctions, the Exton-based sports memorabilia company. David Hunt, the proprietor of the firm, called it one of the finest Phillies player collections to ever enter the collecting marketplace.
Highlights of the collection include: Roberts' Hall of Fame induction ring (estimated value $15,000-$25,000), Roberts' 2008 World Series ring ($20,000-$40,000), Roberts' 1950 NL championship ring ($5,000-$7,500), and Roberts' 1952 All-Star Game-used bat ($3,000-$4,000).
But Hunt said there is "something for everybody."
"Usually in a sale such as this, you will have one item that goes for $200,000 or so," said Hunt. "But we have a cross section of offerings, from the high-end rings [that] will go for $15,000 to $20,000 down to the $100 Richie Ashburn-signed print. Or, you can have one of the 'win' baseballs for $100 to $300."
Robin Jr. said the "win" balls are "kind of special."
"Catcher Stan Lopata would take the ball from each winning game and color it," said Robin Jr. "And he would decorate them with a box score, what number win it was or even a little poem. My parents used to display them at the house."
The Babe Ruth ball is estimated to be worth $10,000 to $15,000.
"The year dad came up with the team, 1948, the Phillies had two coaches who had played with Babe," said Robin Jr. "Babe came by training camp that year and signed balls for everybody. Dad gave it to my grandmother - who had it on display at her house - but when my grandparents passed away, Dad got it back and it has been sitting in a safety deposit box for 30-some years."
Is there a personal favorite that Robin Jr. has in the collection?
