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SCP Auctions is a sports memorabilia auction house founded in 1979 by David Kohler in Orange County, California that consigns primarily vintage items.

History
David Kohler started trading baseball cards in high school with fellow enthusiasts and he quickly realized the value of the hobby. Looking to make a profit, he started selling them out of his bedroom and at card shows. After a year in college with goals to study medicine, Kohler dropped out to pursue his passion full time. He opened up his own store in Huntington Beach, naming it SportsCards Plus and traveled to card shows across the nation. Slowly he began to collect and sell other sports memorabilia along with auctioning it off at the store. In 2000 the sale of the T206 set from collector Kirk Harris (ref) solidified SCP’s standing in the auction world. A multi-year partnership with Sotheby’s in 2004 was formed for the sale of Babe Ruth’s bat. Since then, SCP has represented athletes’ personal collections as well as historically significant items like Jesse Owens' only known existing gold medal.

Auction Process
SCP Auctions runs online auctions only, which last just over two weeks. Anyone can view the live auction and catalogue but to bid individuals must register and be approved by the company. The auction is divided into two parts: the initial bidding period and the extended bidding period. The initial bidding period allows participants to bid, which acts as a place holder. Extended bidding begins in the evening of the final day of the auction and is only for people who have placed a bid during the initial bidding period and they can only bid on the items previously bid on. No new lots can be chosen. For the auction to close there must be 15 minutes elapsed in which no bid has been placed on any one item up for auction. Auctions have been known to last until 2AM or 3AM.

Historically Significant Items Sold
Honus Wagner, Jesse Owens, Babe Ruth jersey, T206 baseball card set.

Athlete Collections
Some of the athletes that SCP has worked with includes Goose Gossage, Julius Erving, Kirk Gibson, Casey Stengel, Bob Cousy.

In the News
ESPN GWR

Philanthropy/Foundations SCAI – founding member of Sports Collectibles Association International