Police bust burglary ring that stole Yogi Berra, Roger Maris memorabilia

Authorities arrested eight people who were alleged to be involved in a burglary ring that stole high-profile items, including those from New York Yankees legends Yogi Berra and Roger Maris, per NJ.com.

In 2014, several World Series rings, two MVP plaques and other valuable items were stolen from the Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair, N.J. However, this alleged ring stole memorabilia from multiple locations throughout the country, including items from another Hall of Famer, Christy Mathewson.

From NJ.com (via the Scranton Times-Tribune):

Dombek and the others were members of a group that for about 20 years burglarized museums and other institutions, including in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Washington D.C., to target priceless works of art, irreplaceable sports memorabilia and other artwork.

They also targeted local institutions, such as the Everhart Museum, Keystone College, the Lackawanna County Historical Society, Cade’s Coins in Exeter, Antique’s Exchange in Hawley and the Country Club at Scranton.

Items stolen locally include Jackson Pollock’s “Winter in Springs,” Andy Warhol’s “La Grande Passion,” a jersey worn by Factoryville native and baseball great Christy Mathewson, two contracts signed by Mathewson, trophies awarded to golfer Art Wall Jr., antique coins and jewelry.

While the whereabouts of the missing items were not published, the Berra family may certainly feel better knowing that someone was held accountable for the theft. The news comes on the heels of a well-reviewed documentary about Berra's life, "It Ain't Over," which debuted in theaters in May.

The Berra and Maris items were not the only stolen Yankees memorabilia that made the news this year. A Mickey Mantle baseball card worth $15,000 was stolen from a Panama City, Fla., store in March. Also that month, over $1 million in collectibles, sports and otherwise, were taken from a Los Angeles area card store.

Sports memorabilia, in particular baseball cards, can be a risky venture to get into — not only because of fluctuating values and fickle trends, but because of actual thefts.