Hold onto your baseball caps and get ready to witness history in the making as Willie Mays’ iconic 1951 Bowman rookie card smashes records by selling for an astounding $390,935 at Robert Edward Auctions’ Summer Catalog Auction. This grand slam in the world of sports memorabilia saw fierce bidding, with eleven determined collectors vying for the prized cardboard treasure. The highest-graded example of its kind to hit the auction block in over 15 years, this card had enthusiasts swinging for the fences in anticipation.
With no PSA 10 Mays rookie cards known to exist and only eight in a PSA 9 grade, it’s no surprise that this rare find garnered so much attention. In comparison, a PSA 8 copy of the same Mays card sold for $207,400 just last week at Goldin, proving the ever-increasing demand for Mays’ rookie cards in the market.
Aside from making headlines with its record-breaking price tag, the consignor of this remarkable card is putting the proceeds towards a noble cause—a college scholarship endowment. This double win of making history in the sports memorabilia realm while contributing to a brighter future adds an extra layer of significance to this already extraordinary sale.
The Summer Catalog Auction turned out to be a home run in its own right, amassing over $13.3 million from a staggering 82,000 bids spread across almost 3,200 lots. Thirteen items soared past the six-figure mark, including a 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie PSA 4.5 that set a new record by selling for $162,000—an all-time high for that particular grade.
Amongst the heavy hitters were an autographed 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella rookie (PSA 3) with a PSA 9 signature grade, fetching $132,000, and a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card (PSA 7 with a 7 autograph rating) that commanded $120,000.
Not to be outshined, a 1936-1937 Dizzy Dean St. Louis Cardinals game-used road jersey scored a cool $114,000, establishing a new benchmark for Dizzy Dean memorabilia.
The auction also saw remarkable sales such as the 1933 R338 Sport Kings #2 Babe Ruth PSA NM-MT 8 going for $120,000, a 1915 Boston Red Sox Real-Photo Team Postcard featuring a Babe Ruth rookie fetching $114,000, and a 1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson Rookie graded PSA GEM MINT 10 selling for $111,000, among others.
President of REA, Brian Dwyer, expressed excitement over the exceptional results, stating, “This auction was a blast from start to finish, with new record prices being set left and right. We’re incredibly grateful to the consignors who trusted us with these amazing items and to the bidders who made this another record-breaking auction for us.”
If you missed the chance to participate in this thrilling event, fear not! REA’s next big auction, the September Encore Auction, is set to run from September 12-22, promising more excitement and record-breaking opportunities for avid collectors and enthusiasts. Mark your calendars and get ready to witness more historic moments in the world of sports memorabilia!
