Stars' Bats, Other Baseball Memorabilia Going Up For Auction At Christie's

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some of baseball's greatest memorabilia can be yours for the right price.

As CBS2's Steve Overmyer reported, it is all part of a collection up for auction at Christie's in Midtown.

Among the items is Shoeless Joe Jackson's famous bat, Black Betsy. It was made out of an old hickory tree in his backyard, and used for his entire career – with the Philadelphia Athletics, the Cleveland Naps and later Indians, and most famously the Chicago White Sox.

Most bats used today are around 28 ounces. They are kept light so batters can get around on a Noah Syndergaard 100 mph fastball.

Black Betsy was 48 ounces – one heavy piece of lumber.

Also up for auction is a bat used by Cap Anson of the Chicago Colts – a late 19th-century predecessor to the Chicago Cubs. The bat has nails in the barrel to prevent cracks.

Another bat used by Jackie Robinson is also up for auction, with the tip shaved off to lighten it up.

Shoeless Joe Jackson is famous for being one of the most natural hitters, but also for being illiterate. He once said, "You don't need to learn to read and write to make a fella a better ball player."

But there are documents with Jackson's signature, one of them up for auction. It is a bill for sale for his cigar store.

The collection is also full of cards and other treasured vintage memorabilia for player such as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, and Cy Young. The items are worth a combined $7 million to $10 million.

The auction will be held next Wednesday and Thursday.