Bodnar’s 2-Day Online-Only Auction Event
January 26 & 27, 2022 • Live Broadcast!
www.bodnarsauction.com
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MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. — McGreevy’s Bar, originally opened in 1894 as the 3rd Base Saloon, was known as Boston’s first sports bar. It housed one of the most extensive collections of baseball history of its time with photos, clippings and other baseball memorabilia. Michael T. McGreevy’s nickname, “Nuf Said,” was given to him because that was what he usually shouted to end barroom disputes, usually about the Boston Americans and the Boston Braves. The saloon soon became the hip place to be with many celebrities, ball players and politicians always being seen at the establishment. He named it the Third Base saloon because like third base, it was the last stop before home.
After Prohibition, the bar was closed and most of the contents were donated to the Boston Public Library. In 2008 the bar was reopened and replicated to what it looked like in the early Twentieth Century, getting permission from the library to photocopy many items that were in the archives. Covid-19 has again shut down the bar, and now the hanging History of Boston Baseball must find new homes. On January 26, Bodnar’s Auction will offer the contents of the bar in an online-only auction.
Highlights of the sale include about a dozen or so items that are original to the early 1900s McGreevy’s Bar, including the first lot to be sold, an original portrait on glass with painted highlights of 3rd Base Saloon founder McGreevy that hung above the back bar from 1903 to 1920 ($15/25,000). A 1903 Boston Base Ball program/scorecard has on its front cover a photo of Hall of Famer Jimmy Collins and McGreevy advertising his 3rd Base Saloon ($2/4,000), a cabinet photo circa 1903 of Hall of Famer Jimmy Collins on the back in pencil states “Post, run cover” ($800-$1,200).
An original 1903 World Series display of three items hung in the original McGreevy’s 3rd Base Saloon. In the middle is a large cabinet photo of Royal Rooters at Hunting Grounds, on the left is a collage of the Boston American team players made from original photos and on the right is an original cartoon drawing from artist Wallace Goldsmith, who was a member of the Royal Rooters. There is only one other original 1903 World Series cabinet photo known of this photo, which is in the McGreevy collection at the Boston Public Library. The photo is titled “The Rooters on the field at the Huntington Grounds, 1903 World Series” ($3/5,000). A moose head that hung in McGreevy’s 3rd Base Saloon comes on a mounting board ($400/600). Besides these items there are more than 300 items that hung on the walls with estimates ranging from $50 to $100.
Bodnar’s Auction, 30 years in the auction profession, was also shut down due to Covid-19 restrictions and moved its operation to online-only events. “Online-only auctions have been the new future in the auction industry, and we are leading this front with live broadcasts of the sale, so you still feel like you’re in the action,” said owner Joe Bodnar. The online-only auction has pre-bidding now with all lots staring at $10, and on January 26, the sale begins at 11 am with a live simulcast broadcast of the auction with auctioneers calling the bids and other staff describing the items they are selling on several platforms, including LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, AuctionZip and on a platform from the firm’s website. For information, 866-349-7378 or www.bodnarsauction.com.
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600 Lots Will Be Offered in 2 Days!
Baseball History!
Contents of
Historical McGreevy’s
Sports Bar from
Boston, MA!
Estate Collection of
Quality Diecast Cars
New in Box!
BODNAR’S AUCTION SALES
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