Specialist Spotlight: James E. Smith

Freeman’s | Hindman: What was your first sports-related memory? 

James E. Smith: In 1978, Muhammad Ali fought Leon Spinks for the second time to regain his heavyweight championship. My introduction to Ali was months before through a Saturday morning cartoon titled “I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali”. Because of the cartoon, I believed Ali was a superhero and was amazed to see the bout and discover he was a real person. My admiration for him only grew — it’s great to know that sometimes heroes can be the real thing. 

FH: What is your favorite piece of sports memorabilia that you own? 

JS: A hand-drawn piece by Muhummad Ali that features him fighting Joe Frazier, surrounded by a crowd of spectators. The drawing was gifted to me by the champ himself, which makes it incredibly personal and meaningful. Ali was the son of a sign painter in Louisville, so his artistry in the ring carried over to the canvas with paint and brush. 

FH: What drew you to becoming a specialist and translating your passion into your career? 

JS: As a longtime buyer of sports memorabilia, working on this side of our industry felt right. I had served 30 years as a journalist. I was shifting careers when I realized I could offer a very specialized knowledge and skill set due to my lifelong passion for collecting sports memorabilia. I was given an incredible opportunity to join Freeman’s | Hindman and learn the ins and outs of the auction world, then launch the sports memorabilia department with a solid foundation. 

FH: Describe a typical workday for you at Freeman’s | Hindman. 

JS: The lion's share of my day is dedicated to connecting with clients, reviewing collections, and placing estimates. One of the most essential duties is facilitating items for authentication. In this category, third-party authentication is paramount to maintaining our business's integrity, and we work closely with the leading third-party authentication companies to ensure this. 

FH: Can you describe a collection of sports memorabilia you are proud to have brought to auction? 

JS: Discovering an unopened box of 1986 Fleer basketball cards in a client's collection. A piece like this is one of the grails in sports memorabilia, as this box contained at least four untouched Michael Jordan rookie cards. I was onsite initially to review other material in the collection. Discovering this box and achieving an exceptional price for the client was truly gratifying. 

FH: Freeman’s | Hindman’s Sports Memorabilia auction is now open for bidding through June 27. Can you tell us about some of your favorite lots in this sale?