Heritage Auctions files suit against Braves in Hank Aaron memorabilia case

On Wednesday, Heritage Auctions filed the lawsuit with four causes of action, including defamation, commercial disparagement, intentional interference with contractual relations and intentional interference with future commercial relations.

In a statement to the AJC, Heritage Auctions said: “We do not comment on pending litigation. However, Heritage Auctions prides itself on transparency and authenticity and stands behind every item we offer at auction.”

In a statement to the AJC, a Braves spokesperson said: “We intend to vigorously defend the ownership rights to our property in court and will not comment further as this is an ongoing legal proceeding.”

The lawsuit alleges that the Braves are damaging Heritage's reputation as an honest and reputable seller of authentic items. It also alleges that the Braves are damaging Heritage's relationships with other consignors of the auction that includes the 715 bases and other memorabilia, which may be sold at a lower price due to the doubt created by the cease and desist letter and subsequent media coverage.

In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the Braves are damaging the relationships of Heritage's affiliates with bidders at any Heritage auction who may doubt whether items sold by Heritage are authentic and not stolen, and are harming Heritage and its affiliates by charging lower commissions on items sold for lower amounts and reducing future consignments.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, reimbursement of attorneys' fees and a court ruling that the Braves' allegations are false.

The items are part of the Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction Friday through Sunday. Before the deadline set in the cease-and-desist letter, Heritage Auctions released a statement to the AJC saying, “The Braves did not have all the facts regarding the Braves items in the upcoming auction. Heritage Auctions is currently forwarding this information to the Braves' attorney and we hope to resolve this expeditiously and amicably.”

The AJC first questioned the possible authenticity of the home plate and bases after reporting that an Aaron exhibit featuring third base from the night he hit the historic home run has existed at the Baseball Hall of Fame since 2009.

The Hall of Fame initially issued the following statement to the AJC when contacting the museum about the auction: “The third-base bag from Hank Aaron's 715th home run game, presented to him after his record-breaking home run, was donated by Aaron to the Hall of Fame in 1982. He subsequently donated his entire collection to the Hall of Fame.”

The game's home plate and first and second bases are not found in the Hall of Fame. Lelands reportedly sold the game's second base at auction in 2002. The bat and ball from the historic home run are at Truist Park.

Heritage Auctions insisted on the authenticity of the items in an earlier statement to the AJC, saying the company first learned of a potential problem in the AJC article.

An early bid of $45,000 was placed on the home plate and bases, up $1,000 since the dispute was announced, before bids were withdrawn. An early bid of $7,250 was placed on a 1974 cap, up $750 since earlier this week. An early bid of $110,000 was placed on a 1974 jersey, up $5,000 since earlier this week. An early bid of $862,500 was placed on a 1954 jersey, up $62,500 since earlier this week.