Auction figures don’t come cheap

How much will Troy Smith’s Heisman Trophy be worth 27 years from now?

Charles White’s 1979 Heisman was purchased for $293,750 by an undisclosed West Coast collector from an auction conducted by Grey Flannel Auctions that ended Thursday.

It was the second time in recent years that White’s trophy came to market. Initially, it sold for $184,000.

Old-school jerseys were big sellers at the auction. A San Francisco 49ers jersey from the late 1950s worn by Y.A. Tittle sold for $31,485. An early 1960s Dallas Cowboys jersey with stars on the shoulders worn by Don Meredith, went for $31,279.

By contrast, a 1973 San Diego Chargers jersey worn by Johnny Unitas sold for only $9,694. But then, Unitas didn’t do a whole lot in that jersey.

Who was the most valuable quarterback, Dan Marino or Joe Namath?

Grey Flannel scored it this way: $19,550 for a 1974 Namath jersey, $12,199 for Marino’s complete game-used uniform (signed).

In a similar showdown, a Wayne Gretzky game-used white Los Angeles Kings jersey from 1990-91 went for $15,448, with a Superman costume worn by Christopher Reeve going for $10,823.

Superhero scoreboard reads: Great One 1, Superman 0.

Trivia time

What is the record amount paid for a Heisman Trophy at auction?

Curry to go ... and go ... and go ...

A group of homesick English cricket fans watching their team play in Australia began craving their favorite curry so much that they placed an order to the restaurant -- located 9,000 miles away in Bath, England -- and the restaurant managers promised to deliver, in person.

Nasir Abdul, manager of the Bombay Nights restaurant, told Reuters, “We were shocked when we first got the order and thought someone was having a laugh, but then we realized it was genuine.” Abdul said he and his business partner planned to fly to Perth today to deliver the order of lamb tikka masala, lamb dhansak, mushroom pilau, tarka dhal, sag aloo and pratha bread.

Normal cost of the order: About 140 British pounds, or roughly $275 U.S.

Cost of the order including delivery: 1,500 pounds, or $2,933.

Got caffeine?

A researcher for Sheffield Hallam University Center for Sports Exercise Sciences has calculated that the energy generated by Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney during a soccer match is enough to boil water for 16 cups of tea.

In a companion study performed by researchers in Los Angeles over last summer, it was determined that 16 cups of tea did not generate so much as a muscle twitch from outfielder J.D. Drew.

Trivia answer

Minnesota halfback Bruce Smith’s 1941 Heisman Trophy was purchased for $395,240 in 2005.

Other Heisman trophies to be sold at auction include Yale end Larry Kelley’s 1936 prize ($328,110) and O.J. Simpson’s 1968 award ($230,000).

And finally

During a roast for retiring Angels outfielder Tim Salmon last month, co-emcee and Daily Pilot publisher Tom Johnson took time to wander through the audience, eventually stopping at Angels General Manager Bill Stoneman’s table.

Johnson asked a man seated to Stoneman’s right and a man seated to his left to stand up.

Johnson then asked the men to change places.

After they did as requested, Johnson turned to Stoneman and quipped, “Hey, Bill, I wanted you to see what a trade looks like.”

*

mike.penner@latimes.com