Over the weekend, Heritage Auctions' Winter Sports Card Auction made history with its remarkable sales. The standout item was the premiere SGC graded 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card, which sold for an astounding $630,000. This rare card, rated 5.5 by SGC, is one of only seven known examples within SGC's records. The auction itself was a monumental success, amassing a total of over $11.1 million in sales. Among the incredible treasures sold, seven items each fetched upwards of $100,000, including the buyer's premium. Notably, a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card, graded PSA 10, achieved the highest sale price for a Gem Mint PSA graded copy since September 2021.
The auction featured an impressive collection of vintage, still-sealed boxes, with one particular highlight being a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box containing cards from the second, third, and fourth series. This box, originating from the collection of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., descendant of the renowned Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, was sold for $336,000 after authentication by BBCE. Rupp Jr.'s collection also included a 1953 Topps Willie Mays card, graded PSA 8, which commanded a price of $186,000.
Furthermore, the auction showcased several unopened boxes from a collection that had recently come to light, acquired towards the end of the previous year. Among these, a 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box broke records with a sale of $105,000, a 1968 Topps Football 1st series 36-pack cello box set a new benchmark at $99,000, and a 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box was sold for $18,600. The initial offerings from this collection, tied to a former Topps employee, fetched $284,455, with expectations of reaching into the seven figures as more items are sold in the coming months.
The auction also featured around two dozen vintage autographed cards, amassed by Mike Greenbaum during their original release, which garnered significant interest. A standout piece was a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card, graded 1.5 with an autograph grade of 8, selling for $117,000. Similarly graded, a signed Roy Campanella card from the same set fetched $69,000.
Among individual card sales, a T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait, graded PSA 6 with a Piedmont advertising back, sold for $105,000. A 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded PSA 9, reached $80,533, while a 1962 Topps Manager's Dream card, showcasing both Mantle and Mays, sold for $75,000.
Complete sets were also on offer, with the highest-rated set of 1909-1912 Colgan's chips discs selling for $54,000. The 16th ranked 1969-70 Topps Basketball set garnered $93,000, and an all-PSA 8 1952 Bowman baseball set was acquired for $84,000, highlighting the diverse and valuable selections in the auction.
In conclusion, Heritage Auctions' Winter Sports Card Auction made waves by setting records with its exceptional sales. The Babe Ruth rookie card and the Michael Jordan rookie card were the stars of the show, fetching remarkable prices. The auction also featured a treasure trove of vintage, still-sealed boxes and autographed cards, as well as complete sets that captivated collectors and investors alike. This historic event demonstrated the continued passion and value attached to sports cards in the market.
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