Ten Valuable Sports Movie Posters

Sports movies date back to the earliest days of motion pictures. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey, boxing, track and field and auto racing are just some of the sports covered by Hollywood through the decades.

Here are ten valuable/collectible sports movie posters that would brighten and enhance any den or sports bar. Some of these paper gems are very pricey while others remain affordable...

Babe Comes Home (1927) One Sheet Movie Poster

This super rare one sheet poster (27x41-inches) dates from the 1927 silent baseball flick Babe Comes Home, starring New York Yankee slugger Babe Ruth and Swedish film beauty Anna Q. Nilsson. Only two of these one sheet posters are known to exist today, with one example professionally mounted on linen for preservation purposes bringing $47,800 at auction.

Babe Comes Home (1927) one sheet poster $47,800

The Pride of the Yankees (1942) Lobby Card Set

Gary Cooper earned a Best Actor nomination for his role as New York Yankee great Lou Gehrig in this moving baseball film directed by Sam Wood. A complete set of eight theater lobby cards promoting the picture sold at auction for $1,553.50.

The Pride of the Yankees (1942) lobby set $1,553.50

Idol of the Crowds (1937) One Sheet Movie Poster

In one of his more unusual roles John Wayne plays Johnny Hanson, a professional hockey player who becomes involved with gangsters. A bribe is offered to Johnny to throw the big game, but he refuses to take the bait. A great one sheet poster (27x41-inches) picturing The Duke in hockey attire and in fine/very fine condition brought $2,760 at auction.

Knute Rockne – All American (1940) Midget Window Card

Pat O'Brien – Hollywood's Irishman-in-residence – has the title role of the legendary Notre Dame football coach who died in a 1931 plane crash. Ronald Reagan plays the doomed George Gipp – as in "Win one for the Gipper." A midget window card (8x14-inches) displayed in businesses in order to promote the picture was offered for auction in fine+ condition, bringing a top bid of $179.25.

Knute Rockne – All American (1940) midget window card $179.25

Raging Bull (1980) International One Sheet Movie Poster Style B

Robert De Niro won a Best Actor Oscar playing former middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta in this hard-hitting fight film. An international one sheet movie poster style B (27x41-inches) sold at auction for $119.50.

Raging Bull (1980) international one sheet poster style B $119.50

Roogie's Bump (1954) Three Sheet Movie Poster

Robert Marriot plays "Roogie" Rigsby, a kid who is magically endowed with a special "bump" which enables him to pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Real-life "Brooklyn Bums" Roy Campanella, Billy Loes, Carl Erskine and Russ Meyer make appearances in this fantasy baseball movie. A big three sheet poster (41x81-inches) in fine condition and preserved on linen brought $322 at auction.

Roogie's Bump (1954) three sheet poster $322

Jim Thorpe – All American (1951) One Sheet Movie Poster

Burt Lancaster turns in a stellar performance as the great Jim Thorpe, who won gold medals at the 1912 Olympic Games in both the pentathlon and decathlon. Thorpe went on to play both professional football and baseball. A one sheet poster (27x41-inches) in fine/very fine condition brought a reasonable $71.70 at auction.

Jim Thorpe - All American (1951) one sheet poster $71.70

The Harlem Globetrotters (1951) One Sheet Movie Poster

Abe Saperstein's the Harlem Globetrotters strut their stuff in this entertaining basketball flick. The Trotters are all here – Marques Haynes, Reece "Goose" Tatum, Roscoe Cumberland, Louis "Babe" Pressley, William "Pop" Gates, et al. – along with Thomas Gomez who plays founder Abe Saperstein. A one sheet movie poster (27x41-inches) in very fine- condition sold at auction for $155.35.

The Harlem Globetrotters (1951) one sheet poster $155.35

The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) Lobby Card Set

Jackie Robinson appears as himself in this Eagle Lion movie recounting his early life and historic breaking of baseball's "color line" as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. A complete set of eight lobby cards in very fine condition brought $632.50 at auction.

Le Mans (1971) One Sheet Movie Poster

Steve McQueen plays Michael Delaney, a Formula One driver for Porsche who competes in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. McQueen did much of his own driving in the movie. A one sheet poster (27x41-inches) with artwork by Tom Jung in very fine+ condition brought $262.90 at auction.

Le Mans (1971) Steve McQueen one sheet poster $262.90

Credits & Top Image

• All auction results and images courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas
• Top image: The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) lobby card $71.70