The ongoing Hank Aaron memorabilia auction drama just took another wild turn, and this time, the Atlanta Braves are taking serious action. In a move that’s sure to shake up the sports memorabilia world, the Braves have filed a lawsuit against two of their former employees, a father-son duo. They accusing them of unlawfully possessing some of the most iconic pieces of baseball history.
Now, we’re not just talking about any memorabilia here—these are the actual bases and home plate from the night Hank Aaron made history with his 715th career home run, shattering Babe Ruth’s long-standing record to become the all-time home run leader.
The bases are currently held by Heritage Auctions, a Texas-based auction house that was all set to auction them off before this legal storm hit. The Braves are demanding the immediate return of these precious items and, on top of that, seeking damages. They’ve even asked for a jury trial and want a clear ruling that they are the “rightful owners” of these bases.
This lawsuit comes after an August standoff when the Braves first tried to stop the auction with a cease-and-desist letter. That move sparked the initial fire, as questions about the authenticity of the memorabilia arose. At one point, the National Baseball Hall of Fame even claimed to have the third base from that legendary game.
However, reports indicated that the second base had been auctioned off way back in 2002. The Braves weren’t backing down, and they reached out to the former employees at the heart of this lawsuit on August 30 to recover the memorabilia. When the Acrees refused, the legal gloves came off.
Bill Acree, one of the employees in question, isn’t just some random staff member. He’s a former Braves employee of 50 years with a long history inside the organization. Over the decades, Acree wore many hats. These include visiting clubhouse manager, home clubhouse manager, equipment manager, director of team travel, and even senior advisor.
According to the lawsuit, Acree took the bases without authorization and handed them off to his son, Ben. Ben then passed them on to Heritage Auctions in hopes of cashing in on a hefty payday.
The Braves aren’t taking this lightly. In a statement to Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta, they emphasized just how important it is to protect the legacy of their legendary players, particularly someone as monumental as Hank Aaron.
They described the situation as a “deliberate effort to profit” from stolen memorabilia. They are determined to bring those bases back where they believe they belong—with the team, as part of Hank Aaron’s legacy. After all, this is about preserving a piece of baseball history, not just for the Braves but for fans of the sport who recognize the significance of Aaron’s achievements.
Heritage Auctions, on the other hand, is playing it cool, letting their legal team handle the matter. So far, they’ve offered no further comments beyond their official statement. But you can bet this saga is far from over. So what’s next?
Well, all eyes are now on the courts to see how this high-stakes memorabilia battle will play out. One thing’s for sure, the legacy of Hank Aaron and the battle for his memorabilia are making headlines once again. This story is shaping up to be just as dramatic as the home run race that made Aaron a legend in the first place.
