7. Arthur Ashes’ Runner Up Medal from 1971: Sold for $21,013
Arthur Ashe didn’t just write tennis history. He also wrote an important part of the history of segregation. Ashe was the first African-American to win Men’s Singles title at Wimbledon. And even until today, he remains the only one.
Retired in 1980, Ashe held a record of 51 titles (among them are three Grand Slam titles) with 818 wins and 260 losses. This puts him as one of the most successful US tennis player.
His first Grand Slam final was in 1971 Men’s Doubles. Despite losing the match, his runner’s up medal was sold at $21,013 at Nate D. Sanders auctioneers in 2013.
Ashe was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1988. Since then, he had been fighting to defeat AIDS for himself and others. He founded Arthur Ashe Foundation for that cause. He died in 1993 and a few months after, US President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
