Sports briefs for November 30, 2004

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004 | 10:56 a.m.

1914 baseball cards sell for $800,000

A collection of 1914 Cracker Jack baseball cards found inside a shoebox of a New York woman's home has sold for $800,000, a record for a complete set of cards.

The 144-card set, still in its original envelope, includes players such as "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson.

The seller and the collector who purchased the set asked to remain anonymous. The sale was arranged by MastroNet Inc., a consignment auction house in Willowbrook, Ill. The highest previous sale price for a complete set of baseball cards was $375,000, MastroNet President Doug Allen said.

"In my job I get to handle a lot of really cool memorabilia and cards," Allen said. "You rarely find when you can combine condition and rarity. These were in great condition and extremely rare."

Cracker Jack, a brand of PepsiCo Inc., issued baseball cards in boxes of their caramel corn in 1914 and 1915. The rare complete set of 1914 cards belonged to the New York woman's uncle, who died during World War II, and her father kept them until his death last year.

Hamilton booted

Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton's pro cycling team fired him after he failed doping tests. The International Cycling Union said today in Aigle, Switzerland, that the Phonak team told it the American rider's contract had been terminated last week. Phonak was refused a racing license today by the UCI, prohibiting it from competing in the Tour de France and other elite events.

Heisman boss retiring

Rudy Riska, the Heisman Trophy's executive director, will retire after the presentation of the 2004 award on Dec. 11. He has been associated with the Downtown Athletic Club in New York and the Heisman Trophy in various capacities for 44 years.

1976 champ dies

Mark Haymore, who played on Indiana's undefeated 1976 national championship team before transferring to Massachusetts, was found dead in his Amherst, Mass., apartment. He was 48 and had a history of heart problems.

Finalists set

Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko were announced as the three finalists for FIFA's World Player of the Year award. The female finalists are Mia Hamm, Birgit Prinz and Brazlian youngster Marta.