The historic trophy collection of Mexico’s Greatest Tennis player of All Time, Rafael Osuna has come to the auction block at Goldin Auctions. The collection features six of Rafael Osuna’s Wimbledon and US Open Trophies during his climb to the #1 World Ranking from 1960-1963. Nicknamed “El Pelón” (The Bald), Osuna was a former world No. 1 tennis player, the most successful player in the history of Mexico and an Olympian. He was born in Mexico City, and is best remembered for his singles victory at the U.S. Open Championships in 1963, winning the 1960 and 1963 Wimbledon Doubles championships, the 1962 U.S. Open Championships doubles, and for leading Mexico to its only Davis Cup Final round appearance in 1962. In 1969 at age 30, Osuna died in a plane crash tragically.
When Mexican Airways Flight 704 crashed into the mountains near Monterrey on June 4, 1969, it claimed the lives of 79 people including a national hero and one of the greatest players to wield a tennis racket, Rafael Osuna. Several years after Osuna’s victories, during the 1969 US Open Championships at Forest Hills, two months after his death, the US Open Committee declared 28 August to be Rafael Osuna Day, honoring the memory of the former champion. This was the first time the tournament had honored a tennis player in this manner. He was later elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Fans can read about Osuna’s career at the University of Southern California in the book “Trojan Tennis: The History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” here https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559823/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_3hxqEb888SGMC
The trophy collection comes directly to Goldin Auctions from Mexico where it was purchased from a family member of Osuna and is the first time these items have been offered for public sale. The awards offered in the sale include his 1960 Wimbledon Doubles Winners Sterling Silver Trophy, 1961 US Open Doubles Runners-Up, 1962 US Open Doubles Champion, 1963 US Open Men’s Singles (His Only Individual Grand Slam Victory), 1963 US Open Doubles Runner-Up, and 1963 Wimbledon Doubles Winner’s Award. The total collection is estimated to bring in an excess of $200,000 and can be found at the link below.
https://goldinauctions.com/Category/Rafael_Osuna_Wimbledon_and_US_Open_Collection-250.html
About Goldin Auctions
Sports memorabilia impresario Ken Goldin has sold more than $700 million in memorabilia from many of the biggest names in sports, history and pop culture and was the pioneer of using the medium of television to sell sports memorabilia. Over the past few years, Goldin Auctions sold a Honus Wagner T206 card for a public sale record $3.12 million, Babe Ruth’s 1918 contract for a record $1.02 million, the Mike Piazza Post-9/11 home run jersey for $365,000, and the 1979-80 Wayne Gretzky PSA GEM MT 10 rookie card for a record $465,000. Goldin Auctions strives to break new ground and offer collectors the best in collectible treasures up for auction in the marketplace. Goldin Auctions is the official auction partner of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. For more information, visit www.goldinauctions.com
