James Naismith’s Basketball Rules

The sixth place in this list is the most important document in basketball history, James Naismith’s Basketball Rules. Dr. James Naismith wrote the legendary document in the winter of 1891 to create a winter sport for boys to play at a nearby YMCA. When his boss assigned him two weeks to come up with a new indoor activity for his gym class at the Christian organization, Naismith penned all 13 rules the night before the deadline. He then handed the list to his secretary, who copied it onto two pages, which Naismith then fastened to a bulletin board outside the gym.

This historic document that details the original rules of basketball was auctioned off for more than $4 million US at Sotheby's in New York in 2010. The $4.3 million sale price includes a buyer's premium. The money will go to the Naismith Foundation, which encourages sportsmanship and helps needy youngsters all around the world. David and Suzanne Booth bought it in the hopes of bringing the rules to the University of Kansas, where Dr. Naismith became the Jayhawks' first ever basketball coach in 1898.

Price: $4.3 million