Jerseys That Broke The Bank
They say you can’t buy greatness...that is, unless someone sells you the jersey someone great wore. Sports jerseys have evolved from sweaty uniforms to collectible artifacts, representing legendary moments, personal stories, and cultural icons. Whether from baseball, basketball, soccer, or other sports, certain jerseys fetch eye-popping sums at auction. Below are 25 of the most valuable.
Babe Ruth’s 1932 “Called Shot” Jersey
This might be the holy grail of sports memorabilia. In 2024, the gray road jersey Babe Ruth supposedly wore when he gestured to the outfield before hitting a home run (the so-called “called shot”) sold for nearly $24.12 million at Heritage Auctions, setting a new record for a sports collectible. Its astronomical value comes from the combination of iconic moment, confirmed provenance, and the mythos surrounding Ruth himself.
Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series jersey sells for $24.12M at auction, CBS New York
Michael Jordan’s 1998 Bulls Game 1 Finals Jersey
This is huge in the basketball world. In 2022, Jordan’s red Chicago Bulls jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals (his Zenith “Last Dance” season) sold for $10.1 million. It’s one of the most expensive game-worn sports items ever.
UNBOXING: Jordan Finals Jersey by Mads Channel
Diego Maradona’s 1986 “Hand Of God” Jersey
A momento of soccer lore: this shirt, worn by Maradona in the 1986 match where he scored the “Hand of God” goal, has sold for about $9.28 million at Sotheby’s. It symbolizes one of the most controversial moments in sporting history.
Kobe Bryant’s Rookie / Debut Lakers Jersey
In 2025, Sotheby’s sold a Kobe Bryant jersey from his 1996–97 rookie season (photo-matched to several games including debut) for $7 million. That puts it high in the ranks of the most expensive basketball jerseys ever sold. Part of the appeal is that it captures the dawn of an all-time great’s career, before his legend was fully formed.
Kobe Bryant rookie jersey sells for $7 million at New York auction, CBS New York
Babe Ruth’s 1920 Yankees Jersey
One of his older uniforms, this jersey (or variations of it) has been ranked among the most iconic and expensive — sold in past auctions for about $5.64 million (for a Ruth Yankees road jersey). Because Ruth items are so rare and so steeped in baseball mythology, they always draw huge interest.
Underwood & Underwood, Wikimedia Commons
Tom Brady Game-Worn Jersey
In 2022, a game-used Tom Brady jersey (from late in the 2020 season) sold for $480,000. While that’s smaller than some of these multi-million dollar sales, it’s the highest documented for an NFL jersey to date.
$1,800 Rare 2013 Tom Brady Jersey is a STEAL (Season 21) | Pawn Stars, Pawn Stars
Muhammad Ali Training Or Fight Jerseys
While Ali was known for his trunks and robes, some training gear or warm-up tops associated with him have hit the auction block, often selling in the six-figure range. Ali’s immense cultural impact ensures any wearable linked to him is valued far beyond just the fabric.
Mark McGwire’s 1998 Home Run Chase Jersey
During the summer of 1998, McGwire and Sammy Sosa electrified baseball. Jerseys tied to McGwire’s record-breaking home runs, particularly those photo-matched, have reached high six-figure ranges. The historical importance of breaking Roger Maris’s record still holds strong collector value.
Jon Gudorf Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wayne Gretzky Game-Worn Jerseys
The “Great One” is hockey’s most iconic player, and his jerseys (especially from his time with the Edmonton Oilers or Los Angeles Kings) can sell for $100,000 to $200,000. Jerseys tied to major moments like his final Oilers games or Stanley Cup wins are especially prized.
Wikimedia Commons, Randy Stern
Pelé’s World Cup Jerseys
Pelé is soccer royalty, and his jerseys from the 1958, 1962, or 1970 World Cups have reached $1 million+ in certain sales. They symbolize not just soccer excellence, but Brazil’s dominance and Pelé’s role as a global sports ambassador.
Diego Maradona’s Early Argentina Jerseys
Beyond the “Hand of God,” other Maradona jerseys from the late 1970s and early 1980s are also highly collectible. Some have been auctioned in the six-figure range.
Babe Ruth’s 1930s Red Sox Jersey
Before he was a Yankee icon, Ruth played for the Red Sox. Surviving Red Sox jerseys from his era are exceedingly rare, and when authenticated, they can sell for $1–3 million. Their scarcity, coupled with Ruth’s story, makes them almost mythical in sports collecting.
Michael Jordan’s UNC College Jersey
Jordan’s college career was short but legendary. Jerseys from his North Carolina days have sold for over $1.3 million. They represent not just Jordan’s beginnings, but also the rise of college basketball as a cultural force in the 1980s.
Michael Jordan Authentic Mitchell and Ness North Carolina Jersey, King Leonidas
LeBron James Finals Jersey
In 2023, a LeBron James Finals-worn jersey sold for $3.7 million at Sotheby’s. As one of the greatest NBA players of all time, any jersey tied to championship games or milestones will continue to appreciate in value.
Historic European Club Soccer Jerseys
Vintage jerseys from European clubs, such as Real Madrid, AC Milan, or Manchester United from the 1950s–1970s, are incredibly collectible. Depending on the player and match, they can bring hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Chris Deahr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Muhammad Ali’s 1960 Olympic Jersey
Ali’s early Olympic gear, worn when he was still Cassius Clay, is virtually priceless to collectors. Jerseys or tops connected to his gold-medal run have been valued in the six-figure range because of their unique place in sports history.
Jackie Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers Jersey
Robinson’s jerseys are among the most meaningful in sports memorabilia. A 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers home jersey was auctioned for $4.2 million. It represents not just baseball history, but a seismic cultural shift in American sports and society.
Brooklyn Dodgers Jackie Robinson Jersey, Virgil N
Bobby Orr Rookie-Era Bruins Jersey
The NHL’s golden boy, Orr’s rookie jerseys are scarce and incredibly popular. One rookie-era Boston Bruins sweater sold for $191,000.
1966 England World Cup Jerseys
Jerseys from England’s only World Cup win are national treasures. Some game-worn shirts from that final have been sold in the hundreds of thousands. They carry unmatched historical significance for English soccer fans.
Claire Greenway - The FA, Getty Images
Ty Cobb Game-Worn Jersey
Cobb’s jerseys from the early 1900s are almost museum pieces today. When authenticated, they command millions, reflecting both Cobb’s place in baseball history and the sheer rarity of pre-1920s uniforms surviving intact.
George Grantham Bain, Wikimedia Commons
Wilt Chamberlain’s Lakers Jersey
Chamberlain’s game-worn jerseys, especially from his 100-point game era, are exceedingly rare. Authentic examples have brought $200,000+ and continue to climb as Chamberlain’s legendary status endures.
FREDERIC J. BROWN, Getty Images
Joe Montana Super Bowl Jersey
Montana is synonymous with clutch performances, and his Super Bowl-worn jerseys have fetched six-figure sums. They encapsulate the rise of the NFL into a cultural juggernaut in the 1980s and 90s.
FREDERIC J. BROWN, Getty Images
Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts Jersey
Unitas, one of the NFL’s first great quarterbacks, is revered by football fans. His game-worn jerseys have brought hundreds of thousands at auction, showcasing the NFL’s rich history before the Super Bowl era.
Walter Payton Chicago Bears Jersey
Sweetness is one of the most beloved NFL players ever. Jerseys worn during his heyday are extremely collectible, often crossing the six-figure mark depending on condition and provenance.
NFL Jersey Review: Mitchell & Ness Walter Payton Chicago Bears 1985 Legacy, Tony C
Mike Eruzione’s “Miracle On Ice” Jersey
Few jerseys carry the patriotic punch of Mike Eruzione’s, worn during the 1980 Winter Olympics “Miracle on Ice” game, when Team USA stunned the heavily favored Soviet Union. Eruzione, the US team captain, scored the game-winning goal that cemented one of the greatest upsets in sports history. In 2013, his white home jersey (which became a symbol of national pride and triumph against all odds) sold for $657,250 at Heritage Auctions.
picture alliance, Getty Images
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