Inside the Collection: Meet Grant DePorter
Grant's collection is a slam dunk! Take a look.
Aug. 18, 2024
As the owner of Chicago Sports Museum, Grant DePorter has combined his two passions—sports and pop culture—into a paradise for sports enthusiasts and pop culture fans alike.
Grant has been collecting sports memorabilia and related items since he was a child. What began as a labor of love has now become his full-time job.
He’ll show us some of his one-of-a-kind sports collectibles, including the basketball hoop where Michael Jordan made his last shot, a familiarly famous volleyball, and a Ghostbusters jumpsuit that keeps his museum safe from ghosts.
He also has the cursed Cubs ball that some say, cost the Cubs the chance to go to the 2003 World Series. Grant subsequently destroyed that ball and proudly displays its carnage in his museum for all Cubs fans to enjoy.
Today, Grant's collection is every sports fan’s dream! Take a look at this "W" collection
1. Bill Murray's Ghostbusters II Jumpsuit
This is Bill Murray's screen-used jumpsuit from Ghostbusters II (1989). Murray's character, Dr. Peter Venkman, was a favorite for many fans of the films.
Bill Murray was a huge Cubs fan who originally grew up near Chicago in Wilmette, Illinois.
He and Grant shared a passion for both the city of Chicago and its sports teams. He knew he had to have this piece and his Chicago-based collection.
This jumpsuit holds special meaning for Grant. The original runtime for Ghostbusters II was 108 minutes, and it took the Chicago Cubs 108 years to finally win a World Series. Like fate, this piece is now displayed in his iconic collection.
Don't worry, there are no ghosts in this collection.
Our expert valued piece of film history at $100,000.
2. Wilson the Volleyball from Cast Away
Everyone, say hello to one of the most iconic volleyballs in movie history.
This is Wilson, as seen in the film Cast Away (2000), starring Tom Hanks. We feel like we're in the presence of a celebrity. Wilson was considered the greatest co-star to Tom Hanks.
Grant received this piece from a friend, who donated it to his Chicago-based museum for display.
According to Grant, Wilson was placed in the Cubs' locker room during the time when the team won the World Series. The Cubs had a player named Wilson Contreras, who thought it would be funny to place the volleyball with the same name above his jersey in the locker room.
It was like the good luck charm that helped the Cubs break their losing streak and end the team's "curse."
According to our expert, there are only five to 10 of these volleyballs in existence, but this one has a history and a story that makes it even more meaningful.
Our expert valued this item at $750,000.
3. Basketball Hoop from Michael Jordan's Last NBA Finals Game
Grant's collection is in a league of its own!
The most-watched game in NBA history was during the 1989 NBA Finals, where Michael Jordan made his famous final shot with the Chicago Bulls.
This net and basketball represent Jordan's sixth Finals MVP award, which came as he helped the Bulls win their sixth NBA championship.
According to Grant, there is no bigger statement in sports than Michael Jordan. He would do whatever it took to own this iconic hoop, which is now the centerpiece to his extensive collection of sports memorabilia.
Our expert valued this piece at $2,000,000.
4. Elvis Presley's Personal Glasses
These stylish glasses were fit for a King!
They belonged to The King of Rock 'N' Roll, Elvis Presley. The "EP" stands for Elvis Presley, while "TCB" stands for taking care of business, which is exactly what Grant did when he found this iconic item at an auction.
These glasses were previously on display at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame based in Ohio before joining Grant's pop culture paradise.
Elvis frequently wore a variety of sunglasses, adding to his already cool appearance. According to our expert, a similar pair was recently auctioned off for just under $40,000.
Plastic decays over time, so Grant is very careful when handling these sunglasses. In fact, before making a special appearance on Collector's Call, they hadn’t been removed from their protective cabinet for nearly a decade.
As the value of Elvis goes up over time, so will these glasses. Our expert valued this piece at $40,000.
5. Cursed Cubs Ball
This is the infamous cursed Cubs ball.
The Cubs set the record for the longest losing streak in baseball history, and as a Cubs fan, Grant said it was gut-wrenching to watch.
He bought this ball as a tribute to his fandom and then destroyed it for the same reason. His story of destroying the cursed ball even caught the attention of The Today Show, which wanted him to bring it to New York for an interview.
He blew up the ball to finally break the curse, and strangely, it seemed to work. In a way, you can thank Grant for the Cubs being the team they are today.
This ball isn’t just a personal item; it’s a tribute to all Cubs fans across the country. Although its condition may not make it valuable, Grant’s passion to end the curse makes it priceless.
6. Hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II
Grant took us back in time with his Marty McFly memorabilia!
This is the hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II (1989). As a huge fan of the film, Grant knew he had to have this item.
It was given to him as a gift because the Cubs won the World Series in the movie. Props like this are rare, adding to its overall value. It's screen-used and its value has been increasing over time.
Our expert has valued this piece at $500,000.
7. The total value of Grant's collection:
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