BALTIMORE - Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver is auctioning off 47 of his treasured keepsakes, including his 1966 World Series ring and jerseys received as gifts from Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray.
The former Baltimore Orioles skipper will earn tens of thousands of dollars from the sale, but Weaver says he doesn’t need the money and isn’t keeping any of it.
“I have four children. They have children, and their children have children,” said Weaver, who turns 81 in August. “I don’t know how to divide whatever memorabilia there is among them.”
It’s far simpler to split a pile of cash, so Weaver decided to sell the items and distribute the proceeds equally among the family.
“To me, it seems like the logical thing to do. I hate to depart with some of the things I’ve accumulated, but I think that’s the easiest thing for me to do before I pass,” Weaver said. “I don’t know what would happen then. The auction is the best way for me to take care of everything.”
Weaver won 1,480 games, four AL pennants and a World Series over 17 seasons with the Orioles. Along the way, he had five seasons with at least 100 wins, clashed with many an umpire in boisterous fashion and accumulated hundreds of mementos.
After his retirement, Weaver continued to garner valuable, meaningful souvenirs.
Upon being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996, he was presented with signed jerseys from Ripken and Murray. The gifts still gives him pleasure, but they’re difficult to divvy up in a will.
“That’s only two pieces and I’ve got four children,” Weaver said.
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