Cricket Great Don Bradman's Green Blazer Slams Century at Auction

Sixty-seven years after he played his last Test match at the Oval, Don Bradman is still scoring a century. He may not be alive, but the Don's personal belongings - a woolen blazer - has scored its own ton!(10 Amazing Facts of Bradman)

The green jacket worn by Bradman during his first Test series as Australian captain, against England in 1936-37, has sold at auction in Melbourne for a hammer price of $100,000 (Australian), well above the $70,000 estimate, according to a report in the Guardian. When the buyer's premium and GST is added, the anonymous collector paid $132,000.(Bradman's Relatives Disagree With Expanded Museum)

The green woolen blazer with gold piping and the Australian coat of arms on its breast pocket is embroidered "D.G. Bradman".

"This is the first (Bradman) blazer we've had up for auction, which is possibly why it sold so well," auctioneer Max Williamson said after Monday's auction. "It went beyond our expectations ... we're still shaking."

There were two active bidders, one by phone. Bidding opened at $50,000. It was sold to the bidder in the room.

Williamson said he could understand the blazer's appeal because it was tailored for Bradman, who was 5 feet 7 inches tall.

"You don't get that from a bat or a cap but the blazer, everyone who looks at it says 'boy I've got a son who is 14 and is bigger than that'," he said. "It is shocking to realise how small he was."

Bradman, who scored 29 Test centuries at a mind-boggling average of 99.94, had the blazer made for him by Sydney department store Farmers. He donated it in 1974 to be sold as part of a charity auction. Bradman died on February 25, 2001 in Adelaide, aged 92 years and 182 days.

(With agency inputs)