Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s bloody sock will go up for auction in February. Reports the Wall Street Journal.  Because of Schilling’s video game company’s bankruptcy, the bloody sock he wore in the 2004 World Series will hit the auction blocks.

A Bloody Sock Worth $100,000?

The sock was once on loan to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Chris Ivy, director of sports at Texas-based Heritage Auctions, says it could sell for at least $100,000.

What? I mean, I understand sports memorabilia — a Super Bowl ball, a signed jersey, or a player’s helmet — but a bloody sock? Yes, it’s from the second game of the World Series, the year the Red Sox broke their 86-year drought. But still, a sock for $100,000? That’s hard to believe.

When Auctions Go Wild

You never know what can happen at an auction. Back in May, the famous “Bill Buckner ball”—the one that rolled through the Red Sox first baseman’s legs in the 1986 World Series—was expected to bring in $100,000.
Instead, it sold for a shocking $418,000 to an anonymous bidder. I almost fell off my chair reading that!

Divorce and Valuable Memorabilia

Sometimes, valuable items like this end up in auctions because of bankruptcy or divorce. During a divorce, a court may order couples to sell their shared property to fairly divide assets.

But what if you bought that $100,000 bloody sock before marriage and later got divorced? Who gets to keep it?

Who Owns What in a Divorce?

In most states, marital property includes anything bought during the marriage. So if you purchased something before the wedding, it remains yours. That means — congratulations — you get to keep the bloody sock!

What if you inherited the sock from Uncle Cletus? In most cases, as long as you keep inherited items separate (not in a joint account), they remain your personal property after divorce.

The Takeaway

Even though selling a bloody sock might sound strange, selling assets can sometimes be necessary — whether due to bankruptcy or divorce. It’s always better if both parties can agree on who keeps what.

If a judge has to decide, they often take the simplest route: sell everything and split the money.

Whenever you face legal uncertainty during a divorce, it’s best to consult a professional for advice.