phillies world series ring

Someone needs money.

Last night, an eBay auction ended for the most peculiar of items: An A-style 2008 Phillies World Series ring.

What does A-style mean, you ask? It’s the exact ring given to players and front office folks, not the B-style ring handed out to the steerage employees. 

Translation: A fairly important front office member is hawking his apparently not-so-prized possession. Who?

Here’s the eBay listing: 

This is an AUTHENTIC 2008 Phillies World Series Championship Ring. It is an "A" style ring, meaning it is the exact same ring that was given to the players. Includes the wooden display box as well.

This specific ring belonged to a former Phillies front office employee. I did not included a photo of the one side of the ring to protect sellers identity (last name is on the side of the ring).

Ring size is approximately 10.5.

Ring Details:

-The ring is 14 karat white gold and contains 103 diamonds totaling 3.84 karats

-The 103 diamonds represent the 92 regular season and 11 postseason wins for the Phillies in 2008.

-The top of the ring is crowned with a ruby inlay and the Phillies signature "P". The "P" is inset with diamonds and sits upon a panel of pave set bright cut diamonds.The title "World Champions" is written along the rings top and bottom outer rim which is also bordered in diamonds.

-The left side of the ring features the team's name, Phillies, written in script across the front of the City of Philadelphia's most identifiable landmark, the Liberty Bell. The bell and clangor are inlaid with 11 diamonds, symbolic of the team's 11 wins in the 2008 postseason. The employees last name is written prominently above the bell. Crossed bats appear directly beneath the bell.

-Our championship year, 2008, stands out across the right top side of the ring. Two diamond baguettes have been placed within the zeros to signify the clubs two world championships. The World Series trophy rising out of Citizens Bank PArk signifies the tremendous support of our fans who cheered the team on throughout the entire 2008 regular season and postseason games. The 2008 World Series team logos and final score in games (4-1) are noted on either side of the trophy.

SERIOUS BIDDERS ONLY. Payment WILL be verified BEFORE shipping. Local pickup is also available AFTER payment has been received and verified.

PAYMENT BY CERTIFIED CHECK OR PAYPAL ONLY.

Please contact me with any questions!!!

 

Yeah, I have a question: Who are you?! 

The bidding started at $19,999, and the listing included an unspecified reserve, which means that the item wouldn't have been sold unless a certain threshold was reached. There were no bids.

The seller – from New Castle, Delaware – refers to the ring recipient in the third-person, implying (or wanting us to believe) that they are not the former front office employee.

The price tag was high. But, then again, there are many people with stupid money who could afford such trinkets. If the ring does sell somewhere, this former employee is going to make out like a bandit. But who is it?

Selling a World Series ring has to be considered some sort of a violation, though I can’t blame someone for wanting – or needing – $20,000. Not all front office employees are paid in the millions or even hundreds of thousands, meaning that, to some, a ring’s sentimental value probably doesn’t equal 20 Gs. 

2008 Phillies World Series rings have an interesting history. A few years ago, Director of Publicity John Brazer had his ring stolen by a janitor after he left it in a Citizens Bank Park bathroom. And, just last year, Kyle Kendrick’s ring was stolen and later found in a swamp. Now there’s one for sale on eBay.

Sad.

Time and reality continue to chip away at the fading memory of the 2008 World Fucking Championship.

UPDATE: Corrected the post: the auction ended last night, with no bids. Changed some of the tense from the original post.