The photo, taken by Frank W. Smith, was sold by Christie’s and Hunt Auctions in New York as part of the auction, Extra Innings: A Private Collection of Important Baseball Memorabilia.

What makes this piece so unique is that, according to Christie’s and the card and memorabilia grading giant PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), this is the only photograph of Joe Jackson in existence that was signed by Jackson himself.

Notably, Jackson was illiterate, and as such, preferred to avoid signing documents if he could. Oftentimes, his wife would sign on his behalf.

Mike Heffner, president and partner at Lelands Auctions, put the value of the signed photograph into perspective, explaining: “Just his signature on a slip of paper is worth $50,000 to $100,000.”

Sold in 2015 with Heritage Auctions for $179,250, this unique photograph has skyrocketed in value, more than 720% in six years.

Other vintage items that have been sold by Christie’s and Hunt include a Babe Ruth professional model baseball bat with eight home run notches. This piece sold for a price tag of $1.05 million.

The post Signed ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson Photo Sells For $1.47 Million appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

After three Minor League seasons and a 2020 campaign that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tebow announced on Wednesday that he was stepping away from the sport.

Tebow played baseball in high school at a very high level, which is why after his NFL career came to a close, he decided to fulfill a childhood dream and sign a contract with the New York Mets.

Starting off as any other “prospect” would in the low minor leagues, Tebow worked his way all the way up to the AAA ranks in the 2019 season, just one step below the Major Leagues.

The Florida native began to show signs of promise in 2018 at AA, batting .273 with 6 home runs in 84 games. However, he stalled out and struggled at the highest level of the Minor Leagues in 2019, posting just a .163 average in 77 games with the Syracuse Mets.

The outfielder never achieved his goal of playing at the Major League level, but certainly accomplished more than many thought he would after rising all the way to the top of the Mets’ minor league ranks. For now, Tebow is expected to stay busy with charitable endeavors and broadcasting work.

The post Tim Tebow Hangs Up His Cleats in Retirement from Baseball appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Tatis Jr. broke onto the scene in the second half of the 2019 season, establishing himself as one of the top young talents in the game. His 2020 season, while abbreviated by the COVID-19 pandemic, was even more impressive.

The 22-year-old star batted .277 with 17 home runs and 59 games, compiling 45 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He finished in fourth place in National League MVP voting and led the Padres to their first playoff berth in over a decade.

Tatis Jr.’s accomplishments are almost unprecedented at such a young age, and so is his shiny new contract extension. It is the third-most valuable in the history of Major League Baseball, surpassed only by Mike Trout’s current deal with the Los Angeles Angels and Mookie Betts’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that he signed last year.

The Dominican shortstop is set to be one of the leaders of a Padres team that looks poised to compete for championships both now and in the future.

After signing his new whopping contract, Tatis Jr. is now expected to report to Padres Spring Training next week.

The post Fernando Tatis Jr. and Padres Agree to Massive 14-Year, $340 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Allen was selected in the 23rd round of the 2011 Draft by the Indians, with whom he made his big league debut in 2012. Allen quickly became a fixture in the team’s bullpen as a reliable right-handed arm.

He took over as the team’s regular closer in 2014 and excelled, posting a 2.07 ERA and 24 saves in his debut campaign in the role. He continued as the team’s closer through 2018, posting a sub-3 ERA in each season with Cleveland with the exception of his final one.

He finished his tenure in Cleveland as the franchise’s all-time saves leader with 149, and also set marks for the most relief appearances (456) and strikeouts (564) in the team’s history.

Allen’s final Major League season was in 2019 with the Angels, where he struggled with walks and injuries, posting a 6.26 ERA in 25 appearances.

His decision to retire comes after a 2020 season in which he did not appear in the Majors, being released by the Rangers and Cubs at different points during the pandemic-shortened season.

Allen’s career was an incredible success for such a low draft pick, and he will be remembered fondly by Cleveland fans as a key part of their mid-2010s run of playoff appearances.

The post Former Star Reliever Cody Allen Announces Retirement appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The addition of Pillar to the mix in Queens represents an important addition of a right-handed bat and a strong defensive outfielder to a group that was previously heavily-slanted towards lefties.

Pillar joins an outfield mix that also includes Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Dominic Smith. The California native had a strong season in 2020 with the Red Sox and the Rockies, who acquired him in a trade deadline deal. He batted .288, the highest average of his eight-year career, with 6 home runs and 26 RBIs.

The Mets will likely opt to mix-and-match their four top outfield choices, with Pillar looking like a good bet to see time in all three positions. He should be especially useful in a potential platoon with Brandon Nimmo, who has struggled mightily against left-handed pitching in his career.

Pillar’s new contract with the Mets is reportedly worth $5 million and includes an option that could give him a second year in Queens at the same $5 million price tag.

The 32-year-old veteran will report to Port St. Lucie, Florida, for Spring Training over the next couple of weeks.

The post OF Kevin Pillar Signs 1-Year Deal with Mets appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Turner has been Los Angeles’ primary third baseman for the past seven seasons, transforming himself into one of the game’s best and most consistent hitters after a disappointing beginning to his career with the Orioles and Mets.

The Southern California native, a 2017 NL All-Star and the owner of a career .292 batting average, was up to his old tricks with the Dodgers in 2020. In 42 games, Turner batted .307 with a .400 on-base percentage, to go with 4 home runs and 23 RBIs. He was a key part of the team’s postseason success, as well, batting .250 with 3 home runs, including 2 in the Dodgers’ World Series triumph over the Rays.

While there was some speculation that Turner could sign with a team like the NL rival Atlanta Braves, it turns out that he is set to spend his next two seasons as he has for the better part of the last decade, manning the hot corner for one of the best teams in the game.

The post 3B Justin Turner Sticks with Dodgers on 2-Year, $34 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“King Felix”, once one of the most dominant starters in the league in the late 2000s and early 2010s, was set to get a chance to play for the Atlanta Braves in the 2020 season and looked sharp in Spring Training before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the start of the season and ultimately led the Venezuela native to opt out of the season.

The 34-year-old veteran had a bittersweet departure from Seattle as he became gradually less and less effective. After making six All-Star appearances between 2019 and 2015 and winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2010, he began to see a dip in effectiveness in 2015 and saw his ERA soar above 4 every year since 2017.

He was a shell of his former self in 2019, putting up a dreadful 6.40 ERA along with a 1-8 record in 15 starts.

If there’s any place where Hernandez could get a fair shot to get his career back on track, it is in Baltimore. The team has plenty of rotation openings heading into the 2021 season, and the former star is nearly certain to get a chance to pitch in the Big Leagues again.

The post Felix Hernandez Signs Minor League Deal with Orioles appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Curacao native and the Phillies reportedly agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract according to MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal.

Gregorius was wanted back by Philadelphia throughout the offseason, largely because of how much of a bright spot he was on a disappointing Phils team in 2020. The infielder batted .284 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs, providing a left-handed power threat alongside Bryce Harper in the team’s lineup.

Gregorius, who will turn 31 later this month, provides the Phillies with a proven commodity at shortstop instead of having to rely on unproven youngsters like Scott Kingery at the position. He impressed the Phillies’ brass and teammates throughout last season thanks to his reliability and positive clubhouse presence.

Philadelphia, who also signed catcher JT Realmuto to a big contract extension last week, will hope that Gregorius will play a key role as the team looks to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season.

Fresh off signing his new contract, Gregorius will report to Phillies Spring Training in Florida later on this month.

The post Didi Gregorius Returns to Phillies on a 2-Year, $28 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The former Braves and Angels shortstop is a defensive wizard, known for producing some of the best up-the-middle plays of anyone in the league. Throughout his Major League tenure, he has been an inconsistent hitter but most of those woes have always been canceled out by his premier defense.

Simmons posted a .297 batting average with the Angels last season with no home runs and very little power production. However, his glove remained as reliable as always, saving plenty of hits up the middle for his team.

The Twins will plug Simmons into the shortstop role next season and move long-time infielder Jorge Polanco to second base. The team hopes that Simmons will help improve its defense and give its team’s pitchers a nice boost. Any offensive production from Simmons would be considered a bonus, but that isn’t a priority for a Twins team with one of the best lineups in baseball.

The newest Twin is set to report to Spring Training in Florida over the next few weeks after the deal is officially announced.

The post Twins Add SS Andrelton Simmons for 2021 Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hand, formerly of the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Cleveland Indians, became a free agent earlier this offseason after Cleveland decided to decline its club option for his services next season despite his outstanding 2020.

The Minnesota native fired 22 innings for Cleveland, posting an outstanding 2.05 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only four walks. This past season was the fourth in the past five in which Hand has posted an ERA under 3, with his only “slip-up” occurring in 2019 when it was still a very respectable 3.30.

Hand is expected to take over as the Nationals’ primary closer option, supplanting Sean Doolittle who has struggled in the role over the past two seasons.

The Nationals knew that they needed to acquire a top-flight lefty reliever to counteract bats like Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, and Michael Conforto, just three of the outstanding left-handed hitters in the NL East.

Hand will report to West Palm Beach, Florida over the next couple of weeks with his new teammates to begin preparations for the upcoming season.

The post Reliever Brad Hand Joins Nationals For 1 Year, $10.5 Million appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The photo, taken by Frank W. Smith, was sold by Christie’s and Hunt Auctions in New York as part of the auction, Extra Innings: A Private Collection of Important Baseball Memorabilia.

What makes this piece so unique is that, according to Christie’s and the card and memorabilia grading giant PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), this is the only photograph of Joe Jackson in existence that was signed by Jackson himself.

Notably, Jackson was illiterate, and as such, preferred to avoid signing documents if he could. Oftentimes, his wife would sign on his behalf.

Mike Heffner, president and partner at Lelands Auctions, put the value of the signed photograph into perspective, explaining: “Just his signature on a slip of paper is worth $50,000 to $100,000.”

Sold in 2015 with Heritage Auctions for $179,250, this unique photograph has skyrocketed in value, more than 720% in six years.

Other vintage items that have been sold by Christie’s and Hunt include a Babe Ruth professional model baseball bat with eight home run notches. This piece sold for a price tag of $1.05 million.

The post Signed ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson Photo Sells For $1.47 Million appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

After three Minor League seasons and a 2020 campaign that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tebow announced on Wednesday that he was stepping away from the sport.

Tebow played baseball in high school at a very high level, which is why after his NFL career came to a close, he decided to fulfill a childhood dream and sign a contract with the New York Mets.

Starting off as any other “prospect” would in the low minor leagues, Tebow worked his way all the way up to the AAA ranks in the 2019 season, just one step below the Major Leagues.

The Florida native began to show signs of promise in 2018 at AA, batting .273 with 6 home runs in 84 games. However, he stalled out and struggled at the highest level of the Minor Leagues in 2019, posting just a .163 average in 77 games with the Syracuse Mets.

The outfielder never achieved his goal of playing at the Major League level, but certainly accomplished more than many thought he would after rising all the way to the top of the Mets’ minor league ranks. For now, Tebow is expected to stay busy with charitable endeavors and broadcasting work.

The post Tim Tebow Hangs Up His Cleats in Retirement from Baseball appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Tatis Jr. broke onto the scene in the second half of the 2019 season, establishing himself as one of the top young talents in the game. His 2020 season, while abbreviated by the COVID-19 pandemic, was even more impressive.

The 22-year-old star batted .277 with 17 home runs and 59 games, compiling 45 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He finished in fourth place in National League MVP voting and led the Padres to their first playoff berth in over a decade.

Tatis Jr.’s accomplishments are almost unprecedented at such a young age, and so is his shiny new contract extension. It is the third-most valuable in the history of Major League Baseball, surpassed only by Mike Trout’s current deal with the Los Angeles Angels and Mookie Betts’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that he signed last year.

The Dominican shortstop is set to be one of the leaders of a Padres team that looks poised to compete for championships both now and in the future.

After signing his new whopping contract, Tatis Jr. is now expected to report to Padres Spring Training next week.

The post Fernando Tatis Jr. and Padres Agree to Massive 14-Year, $340 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Allen was selected in the 23rd round of the 2011 Draft by the Indians, with whom he made his big league debut in 2012. Allen quickly became a fixture in the team’s bullpen as a reliable right-handed arm.

He took over as the team’s regular closer in 2014 and excelled, posting a 2.07 ERA and 24 saves in his debut campaign in the role. He continued as the team’s closer through 2018, posting a sub-3 ERA in each season with Cleveland with the exception of his final one.

He finished his tenure in Cleveland as the franchise’s all-time saves leader with 149, and also set marks for the most relief appearances (456) and strikeouts (564) in the team’s history.

Allen’s final Major League season was in 2019 with the Angels, where he struggled with walks and injuries, posting a 6.26 ERA in 25 appearances.

His decision to retire comes after a 2020 season in which he did not appear in the Majors, being released by the Rangers and Cubs at different points during the pandemic-shortened season.

Allen’s career was an incredible success for such a low draft pick, and he will be remembered fondly by Cleveland fans as a key part of their mid-2010s run of playoff appearances.

The post Former Star Reliever Cody Allen Announces Retirement appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The addition of Pillar to the mix in Queens represents an important addition of a right-handed bat and a strong defensive outfielder to a group that was previously heavily-slanted towards lefties.

Pillar joins an outfield mix that also includes Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Dominic Smith. The California native had a strong season in 2020 with the Red Sox and the Rockies, who acquired him in a trade deadline deal. He batted .288, the highest average of his eight-year career, with 6 home runs and 26 RBIs.

The Mets will likely opt to mix-and-match their four top outfield choices, with Pillar looking like a good bet to see time in all three positions. He should be especially useful in a potential platoon with Brandon Nimmo, who has struggled mightily against left-handed pitching in his career.

Pillar’s new contract with the Mets is reportedly worth $5 million and includes an option that could give him a second year in Queens at the same $5 million price tag.

The 32-year-old veteran will report to Port St. Lucie, Florida, for Spring Training over the next couple of weeks.

The post OF Kevin Pillar Signs 1-Year Deal with Mets appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Turner has been Los Angeles’ primary third baseman for the past seven seasons, transforming himself into one of the game’s best and most consistent hitters after a disappointing beginning to his career with the Orioles and Mets.

The Southern California native, a 2017 NL All-Star and the owner of a career .292 batting average, was up to his old tricks with the Dodgers in 2020. In 42 games, Turner batted .307 with a .400 on-base percentage, to go with 4 home runs and 23 RBIs. He was a key part of the team’s postseason success, as well, batting .250 with 3 home runs, including 2 in the Dodgers’ World Series triumph over the Rays.

While there was some speculation that Turner could sign with a team like the NL rival Atlanta Braves, it turns out that he is set to spend his next two seasons as he has for the better part of the last decade, manning the hot corner for one of the best teams in the game.

The post 3B Justin Turner Sticks with Dodgers on 2-Year, $34 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“King Felix”, once one of the most dominant starters in the league in the late 2000s and early 2010s, was set to get a chance to play for the Atlanta Braves in the 2020 season and looked sharp in Spring Training before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the start of the season and ultimately led the Venezuela native to opt out of the season.

The 34-year-old veteran had a bittersweet departure from Seattle as he became gradually less and less effective. After making six All-Star appearances between 2019 and 2015 and winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2010, he began to see a dip in effectiveness in 2015 and saw his ERA soar above 4 every year since 2017.

He was a shell of his former self in 2019, putting up a dreadful 6.40 ERA along with a 1-8 record in 15 starts.

If there’s any place where Hernandez could get a fair shot to get his career back on track, it is in Baltimore. The team has plenty of rotation openings heading into the 2021 season, and the former star is nearly certain to get a chance to pitch in the Big Leagues again.

The post Felix Hernandez Signs Minor League Deal with Orioles appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Curacao native and the Phillies reportedly agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract according to MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal.

Gregorius was wanted back by Philadelphia throughout the offseason, largely because of how much of a bright spot he was on a disappointing Phils team in 2020. The infielder batted .284 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs, providing a left-handed power threat alongside Bryce Harper in the team’s lineup.

Gregorius, who will turn 31 later this month, provides the Phillies with a proven commodity at shortstop instead of having to rely on unproven youngsters like Scott Kingery at the position. He impressed the Phillies’ brass and teammates throughout last season thanks to his reliability and positive clubhouse presence.

Philadelphia, who also signed catcher JT Realmuto to a big contract extension last week, will hope that Gregorius will play a key role as the team looks to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season.

Fresh off signing his new contract, Gregorius will report to Phillies Spring Training in Florida later on this month.

The post Didi Gregorius Returns to Phillies on a 2-Year, $28 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The former Braves and Angels shortstop is a defensive wizard, known for producing some of the best up-the-middle plays of anyone in the league. Throughout his Major League tenure, he has been an inconsistent hitter but most of those woes have always been canceled out by his premier defense.

Simmons posted a .297 batting average with the Angels last season with no home runs and very little power production. However, his glove remained as reliable as always, saving plenty of hits up the middle for his team.

The Twins will plug Simmons into the shortstop role next season and move long-time infielder Jorge Polanco to second base. The team hopes that Simmons will help improve its defense and give its team’s pitchers a nice boost. Any offensive production from Simmons would be considered a bonus, but that isn’t a priority for a Twins team with one of the best lineups in baseball.

The newest Twin is set to report to Spring Training in Florida over the next few weeks after the deal is officially announced.

The post Twins Add SS Andrelton Simmons for 2021 Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hand, formerly of the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Cleveland Indians, became a free agent earlier this offseason after Cleveland decided to decline its club option for his services next season despite his outstanding 2020.

The Minnesota native fired 22 innings for Cleveland, posting an outstanding 2.05 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only four walks. This past season was the fourth in the past five in which Hand has posted an ERA under 3, with his only “slip-up” occurring in 2019 when it was still a very respectable 3.30.

Hand is expected to take over as the Nationals’ primary closer option, supplanting Sean Doolittle who has struggled in the role over the past two seasons.

The Nationals knew that they needed to acquire a top-flight lefty reliever to counteract bats like Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, and Michael Conforto, just three of the outstanding left-handed hitters in the NL East.

Hand will report to West Palm Beach, Florida over the next couple of weeks with his new teammates to begin preparations for the upcoming season.

The post Reliever Brad Hand Joins Nationals For 1 Year, $10.5 Million appeared first on yoursportspot.com.