Jim Irsay brings his priceless memorabilia collection to Navy Pier: Elton's piano, Ringo's drum set, Ali's belt and so much more!

Jim Irsay, the eccentric owner of the Indianapolis Colts brought his famous Irsay Collection to Navy Pier August 2, along with an all-star band. The 12+ member band accompanied a collection of Irsay’s sports and music memorabilia valued at over $100 million. The onstage performance included a surprise addition of a spry 86-year-old Buddy Guy, blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills and singer Ann Wilson.

The dazzling array of artifacts on display in the AON Grand Ballroom came from American history, music, sports, and the entertainment worlds and included Ringo Starr’s drum set from The Beatles first Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John Coltrane’s saxophone and a piano from Elton John (this was the piano he toured with for 20 years; it was also played by Paul McCartney and Freddie Mercury and was onstage at Madison Square Garden during John Lennon’s last live performance, a duet with Elton); Kurt Cobain’s guitar from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video; a bat used by Jackie Robinson and the belt won by Muhammad Ali in his bout with George Forman in Zaire (“Rumble in the Jungle”), which Irsay recently bought at auction for $6 million, among many other items. 

Historical items on display included letters from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth, the Atlantic Charter signed by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt,  author Hunter S. Thompson’s “Red Shark” 1973 Chevrolet Caprice convertible and an Apple computer manual signed by Steve Jobs.

Irsay is the son of the late Bob Irsay, who originally owned the Indianapolis Colts franchise. 

The event was free for the public to attend, provided they signed up before RSVPs reached capacity, which they did.