Auction of Reggie Jackson items blocked

LAS VEGAS, July 7 (UPI) -- A Las Vegas judge has blocked an auction of memorabilia items at the center of a dispute between retired baseball star Reggie Jackson and his stepmother.

U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson issued a temporary restraining order against American Memorabilia Inc., Jackson's stepmother Resurrection Jackson and members of her family, the Las Vegas Sun reported Wednesday.

The stepmother has been attempting to sell a watch given to Jackson by the New York Yankees commemorating his 400th home run, as well as a 1977 World Series championship ring, the newspaper said.

Jackson says he gave the items to his father with the understanding they would remain in the family after his father's death.

Members of Jackson's stepmother's family insist the watch and ring belong to her after Jackson's father died in 1994, while Jackson says it was always understood he provided the jewelry for his father to wear while he was alive and that after his death the jewelry would revert to him.

"I have to determine if the gift was absolute or just a type of temporary possession,'' Dawson said during a hearing.