Big Hitters
We will wrap up our Barrrett-Jackson coverage with legends in pinstripes...
Mr. October electrified the assembled throngs at the Barrett-Jackson automobile auction this past weekend, even throwing in a few baseball bats gratis to anyone willing to pay up for his 1969 Chevrolet ZL-1 COPO Camaro.
The car brought $800,000...roughly equal to $5,755 for every strike out Alex Rodriguez had last season
But Reggie was not the only big hitter in the crowd
Famed investor Ralph Whitworth of San Diego-based Relational Investors LLC took a break from hammering Home Depot’s (HD-NYSE) board of directors, dropping $300,000 on a priceless piece of rock and roll history, a 1917 Brambach Baby Grand Piano that was presumably a centerpiece at John Lennon’s Central Park West apartment throughout the 1970’s.
Ralph certainly seems like our kind of guy, appearing relaxed on television while sporting a stylish Steve McQueen T-shirt.
Whitworth is no doubt a Beatle fan, teaming up with eligible bachelor Sir Paul several times to raise money for victims of buried land mines in war-torn countries.
Whitworth might be a rock star on Wall Street, but is also known to hobnob with other big-time musicians, including Sheryl Crow and James Taylor, in admirable philanthropic efforts.
Rock memorabilia collecting is on a roll; Jimmy Page’s Fender Stratocaster sold for $11,500 as well
Kudo’s are in order, by the way, to Speed channel for their excellent coverage of this unique event.
We had fun with our auction coverage, and want to thank Hemming’s Auto Blogs and Richard Sloan for breaking into his photo album
If you look closely at the picture above you can see Reggie Jackson with a red jacket and red hat. We were haggling over a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 that I ended up buying from him. Back then there was as much action outside the tent as inside.
Late 1980’s B-J auction photo/Richard Sloan
Ralph Whitworth is a rock star money manager...and now he is a curator.
We would bet Ralph will maintain the piano in pristine condition...but he is merely its custodian.
It belongs to all of us after all…
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The content contained in this blog represents the opinions of underthecounter. This commentary in no way constitutes a solicitation of business or investment advice. It is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader, and the author. Underthecounter has no positions in any securities mentioned above.
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