Nuf Said will be replaced with Sold when the contents of McGreevy’s Bar from Boston cross the auction block on January 26, 2022!

McGreevy’s Bar originally opened in 1894 as the Third Base Saloon and was known as Boston’s first sports bar. It housed one of the most extensive collections of baseball history of its time with photos, clippings, and other baseball memorabilia.

Michael T. McGreevy’s nickname ‘Nuf Said’ was given to him because that was what he usually shouted to end barroom disputes, typically about the Boston Americans and the Boston Braves. The saloon soon became the hip place to be, with many celebrities, ballplayers, and politicians always being seen at the establishment. He named it the Third Base saloon because, like third base, it was the last stop before home! After Prohibition, the bar was closed, and most of the contents were donated to the Boston Public Library. In 2008, the bar was reopened and replicated to what it looked like in the early 20th century with permission from the Boston library to photocopy many items in the archives. COVID-19 shut down the bar for good, and now the hanging History of Boston Baseball must find new homes! On January 26th, 2022, Nuf Said will be replaced with Sold, as Bodnar’s Auction will be offing the bar’s contents in an online-only Auction.

Several highlights of the sale include about a dozen or so items that are original to the early 1900’s McGreevy’s Bar, including the first lot to be sold, an Original Portrait on Glass with Painted Highlights of 3rd Base Saloon Founder Nuf-Ced McGreevy that hung above the back bar from 1903-1920 and estimated at $15,000.00-$25,000.00.

Lot 8 is a 1903 Boston Baseball Program/Scorecard. The front cover is a photo of Hall of Famer Jimmy Collins and McGreevy advertising his 3rd Base Saloon on the cover estimated at $2000.00-$4000.00.

Lot 11 is a Cabinet Photo Circa 1903 of Hall of Famer Jimmy Collins used by a newspaper to copy an article. In pencil, on the back, it states, “Post, run cover, J Collins, photo by Horner” and is estimated at $800.00-$1200.00.

Lot 21 is an Original 1903 World Series display of 3 items and hung in the original McGreevy’s 3rd Base Saloon. In the middle is a large cabinet photo of Royal Rooters at Hunting Grounds. On the left is a collage of the Boston American team players made from original photos. On the right is an original cartoon caricature drawing from artist Wallace Goldsmith who was a member of the Royal Rooters.

There is only one other original 1903 World Series cabinet photo known of this photo, which is in the Nuf-Ced McGreevy Collection at the Boston Public Library. The photo is entitled “The Rooters on the field at the Huntington Grounds, 1903 World Series” and is estimated at $3000.00-$5000.00. If the Moose could talk, this is a fun item to own! Lot 32, Moosehead that hung in McGreevy’s 3rd Base Saloon. Comes on Mounting Board estimated at $400.00-$600.00. Besides these higher estimated items, there are over 300 items that hug on the walls estimated at $50.00-$100.00.

Bodnar’s Auction, 30 years in the auction profession, was also shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions and moved their operation to online-only auctions. “Online-only auctions have been the new future in the auction industry, and we are leading this front with live broadcasts of the sale, so you still feel like you’re in the action!” Owner Joe Bodnar said.

The online-only auction has pre-bidding now, with all lots starting at $10.00. On January 26th, 2022, the sale begins at 11:00 am with a live simulcast broadcast of the auction with Auctioneers calling the bids and other staff describing the items they are selling on several platforms, including LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Auction Zip, and on a platform from their website. They offer shipping options with local shippers and stand behind what they are selling so you can bid with confidence.