OUR STORY
“Featuring over one million mementos from the world’s greatest athletes”
Sports Immortals is the lifelong vision and effort of Joel Platt. For Joel, sports represents the best of the human spirit–every individual striving to reach their maximum potential. With that as a philosophy, Joel has built a sports memorabilia organization that celebrates the accomplishments of the world’s greatest athletes.
Injured in a gasoline explosion at the age of four, Platt’s parents provided baseball cards to entertain their son during his many months of rehabilitation. Inspired by Babe Ruth’s words in a dream, “kid never give up”, Joel made a full recovery. Joel dedicated his life to achieving two dreams; first to be a professional baseball player, and the other to develop the most immersive and compelling sports attraction in the world. An arm injury while playing shortstop at Duquesne University ended his major league aspirations. To achieve his Sports Immortals Hall of Fame dream Joel has traveled over one million miles to curate over one million mementos, the largest and most valuable collection on all sports in the world. Joel and his son Jim’s ultimate goals are to develop the Sports Immortals brand and to make enshrinement as a Sports Immortal the greatest honor achievable in sports.
Depicted on Canvas by Artist Yuri Liaboh
Pictured around the perimeter of the painting are Joel’s favorite Sports Immortals: (Clockwise from top-left) Roberto Clemente, Muhammad Ali, Satchel Paige, Red Grange, Jesse Owens, Gordie Howe, Honus Wagner, Sid Luckman, Babe Didrikson, Jim Thorpe, Ted Williams, Pelé, and Mickey Mantle.
FOUNDERS
Joel Platt
Founder, Sports Immortals
Graduated from Duquesne University in 1959, where he majored in Finance and Commercial Real Estate and was an outstanding shortstop on the varsity baseball team. Mr. Platt became a successful business entrepreneur, excelling in the areas of Commercial Real Estate, Merchandise Sales, and Amusement Attractions. His Sports Immortals Collection has been featured in Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, Forbes, New York Post, Discovery Channel, ESPN and numerous national television features. The Smithsonian Institution has recognized the Collection as “…absolutely the most outstanding collection on all sports…” With over 60 years of experience, Mr. Platt is a renowned authority in the field of sports curation. He is a consultant, appraiser and historian. Joel was elected to the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Jim Platt
President, Sports Immortals
Mr. Platt has extensive experience in the areas of strategic marketing, strategic management, curation, preservation, and valuation of vintage sports memorabilia. He is currently in charge of business development for Sports Immortals, specifically in the areas of immersive exhibits, merchandising, and content creation. Both an avid sports enthusiast and writer, Jim Platt’s first book, Sports Immortals, Stories of Inspiration and Achievement, has already been purchased by over 150,000 sports fans. Mr. Platt received his BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from the University of Miami.
TESTIMONIALS
“The greatest sports collection on earth!”
Tom Ricketts
Chairman, Chicago Cubs
“A Great, Great, Great sports collection.”
Senator Bill Bradley
NBA Hall of Famer
“Joel Platt and The Sports Immortals Collection are the G.O.A.T.”
Alex Rodriguez
Baseball Legend
“The most outstanding single collection of sports of every type I have been privileged to view.”
Carl H. Scheele
Smithsonian Institution
“The Sports Immortals Collection is the largest, most comprehensive and most historical of its kind in the world.”
Mike Heffner
President, Lelands Sports Auctions
“The most significant and diverse sports collection I have ever witnessed.”
Ken Goldin
Founder, Goldin Auctions
“The finest and most comprehensive private collection that I have had the opportunity to tour”
Chris Ivy
Director of Sports Auctions, Heritage Auctions
“The depth and breadth of The Sports Immortals Collection is second to none, as is Joel Platt’s passion as a collector.”
Rob Rosen
Vice President, Heritage Auctions
“The finest collection in the world… bar none!”
Josh Evans
Founder, Lelands Sports Auctions