beincrypto.com
More than 60 years after his last Major League at-bat, Ted Williams is still swinging for the fences.
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams is sliding head-first into the non-fungible token (NFT) memorabilia market.
With the auction of nine different digital cards, he becomes the next name in line to embrace the crypto market. The cards themselves chronicle the career of “Teddy Ballgame” from his first at-bat in 1939 to his HOF induction in 1966.
Artist Andre Maciel, aka Black Madre, was contacted directly by Ted Williams’ daughter to create the digital pieces. The Brazilian recently created NFT art for NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski with sales reaching $1.6 million in March.
The centerpiece of the auction is titled “The Splendid Splinter.” It’s accompanied by a signed bat and a trio of autographed photos. The winning bidder will also receive a one-of-a-kind Airbnb stay at Williams’ former Vermont residence aptly named “The Splendid Splinter.”
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Jimmy Fund, a children’s cancer charity that Williams has supported since his days on the field.
NFT craze continues
The Ted Wiliams estate is far from being the first name in sports to toss their hat into the Crypto/NFT market.
As touched on above, Rob Gronkowski recently made waves when his debut NFT earned more than $1.8M in sales on OpenSea. The one-of-one career refractor card was the crown jewel, composed of a collage of all the other cards and digitally signed. The card also came with a meet-and-greet and VIP tickets to Gronk’s next beach bash.
New York Mets first baseman, Pete Alonso, recently launched an NFT to help minor leaguers who were left jobless after COVID-19.
Not to be left behind, the NBA got in the game by creating a market named “Top Shot.” The joint venture between the NBA, NBPA, and Dapper Labs created digital basketball cards that feature highlights.
Described by Dapper Labs CEO Roham Gharegozlou as “collectibles that you can own forever,” pack prices range from $9 to $230. Some rare pulls, such as a Lebron James limited print, are selling in the high five-digit range.
What’s next for NFTs and sports?
The sky is the limit for the relationship between sports and NFTs as it stands. Athletes of this generation have proven time and again to be capable businessmen and women off the court. They often are young and have their finger on the pulse of emerging trends in fashion, media, and especially finance.
The professional leagues, team owners, and individual players will all be enticed by the success their peers have had ahead of them and are likely to try and jump on the proverbial money train.
From limited edition memorabilia, fan experiences, and digital media, the time of NFTs and sports is likely just beginning.