On the renowned PBS daytime series Antiques Roadshow, an extraordinary encounter took place in Omaha. An expert was truly captivated by a guest's early 20th-century baseball memorabilia. Among the items presented by the descendant of the former professional baseball player Les Nunamaker was a fascinating bat that immediately caught the attention of expert Simeon Lipman.

Family History and Baseball Heritage

The guest shared the rich family history, stating, "My great-great uncle, Les Nunamaker, played professional baseball from around 1911 to 1920 with teams such as the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, St Louis Browns, and Cleveland Indians." This connection to the baseball world added a unique charm to the collection.Lipman was fascinated by the bat on display and remarked, "He was one of the best pinch hitters of the day. He was also an exceptional catcher." The significance of these skills was evident in the context of baseball history.He then glanced at the bat and noted, "He is a well-known ball player and this is his bat. Now, there was a player named Jack Theis who played in 1920." This anecdote further enhanced the story behind the memorabilia.

Tragic Incident in Baseball History

The guest shared a tragic event in baseball history, recalling, "On August 16 of that year, Ray Chapman was killed. He was the player that got hit in the head by Carl Mays and died a day after being hit." This event added a somber note to the collection.He also mentioned a doubleheader played by the Cleveland Indians in Boston on August 23, 1920. Alongside this, he showcased two cufflinks from the 1912 Red Sox and 1912 Cleveland Indians championships. These cufflinks were a testament to the team's success.Most notably, he presented a 1912 Boston Red Sox championship medal awarded to his great-great-uncle, which had been engraved. He emphasized the significance of the 1912 Red Sox team, stating, "The 1912 Red Sox were a highly important team. They had just moved into their new ballpark, Fenway Park, and they celebrated its opening in a grand way. They won 105 games and defeated the New York Giants to win the World Series. It was a momentous occasion and probably one of the most significant Boston championships."

Appraisal and Value of the Memorabilia

Lipman estimated the values of the items, saying, "So you have wonderful pieces here. This ticket stub is probably worth about $1,500. The lifetime pass is likely worth around $800 to $1,200. This piece [referring to the baseball-shaped cufflink], we're not quite sure what it is, but it's worth at least $500. These two are wonderful, these two little championship cufflinks. They're probably worth at least $3,000, but this piece right here [the medal] is truly remarkable. I know of a couple in existence. I've never seen one outside of the Hall of Fame or a historical society."He further explained, "Now, the players got diamonds in their championship medals. This one has had the diamond removed. The good news is that the metal can be replaced, but this metal can never be replicated. And looking at the whole collection here, I would ensure its value for no less than $25,000. It's truly a remarkable collection of things and what a wonderful thing to have in your family. It's simply amazing."The guest laughed and asked, "That's wonderful, it's just great. What's that one worth?" Lipman confirmed the appraisal for this piece was $20,000 on its own, and the owner replied with a touch of emotion, "$20,000? Oh, I got a tear in my eye."