Summer Premier Auction 2014
Wed, Aug 6, 2014 08:00PM EDT - Sun, Aug 24, 2014 11:00AM EDT
Timed Auction
Lot 239
JULY 16, 1961 BATON CARRIED BY USA WORLD RECORD 4X100 METER RELAY TEAM - USA VS. USSR DUAL MEET IN MOSCOW (HELMS/LA84 FOUNDATION)
Sold for
$471.60
Sold Price includes BP
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The relay baton featured here is not only a significant piece of sports memorabilia. It represents an important moment during a critical period of world history. The four American men who carried the baton to a 1st place finish in new world record time were more than just athletes; they were part of something so much more.
The USA and USSR men's and women's track and field teams squared off in dual meet in Moscow July 15-16 1961 the 3rd meet of the Cold War Track Series held annually from 1958 to 1965. There were seven dual meets in the series (a gap in the Olympic year of 1960) which alternated its venue between the U.S. and Russian soil. Each meet produced some of the most intense competition in the history of track and field. Sports Illustrated called it "the most important track meet the U.S. takes part in except for the Olympic Games."
The USSR mens team had won the first two meets of the series but this time it was the USA who turned the tables. Attracting crowds of 60000 and 70000 respectively for the two days at Lenin Stadium the U.S. men triumphed 124-111 and broke three world records in the process. Hayes Jones Frank Budd Charles Frazier and Paul Drayton won the 4 x 100 meter relay in a spectacular 39.1 seconds breaking the old record of 39.5. Reports were that the stunned Russian fans sat in silence for several seconds when the time was announced. It couldn't have come as too big a surprise for Frank Budd and Paul Drayton who went 1-2 in the 100-meter dash earlier in the meet. In fact one month prior Budd had earned the title of "worlds fastest human" when he clocked 9.2 in the 100-yard dash coming off a 5th place finish at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. The Villanova grad would later play two seasons in the NFL. (Budd recently passed away on April 29 2014.) Drayton would pick up two medals at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo (Gold in 4 x 100 meter; Silver in 200 meter.
The close-ended (solid interior) baton is made of a fine smooth reddish-brown wood and 12 inches in length and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. It has two pieces of brown self-adhesive tape reading "U.S.A. VS. RUSSIA 400 METER RELAY BATON" and "1961 AT MOSCOW WORLD RECORD 39.1 SEC". Overall the wooden baton is in excellent condition uncracked and essentially as-issued.
Includes a Letter of Provenance from the Helms Athletic Foundation/LA84 Collection.
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