In a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood screenplay, an overlooked attic in Northeast Ohio revealed itself to be a time capsule of American nostalgia. What initially seemed like a forgotten cigar box, perhaps filled with mothballs or old photographs, turned out to be the Pandora’s box of card-collecting nirvana. Inside lay a treasure trove of vintage baseball cards, prominently featuring baseball’s colossal legend, Babe Ruth. Kiko Auctions, hailing from Stark County, facilitated the online auction that transformed these nostalgic paper artifacts into a cool $120,000.
The collective gasp of surprise and excitement began with the discovery made by siblings, who for reasons reserved for their own privacy, preferred to remain unnamed. Tasked with the bittersweet endeavor of sorting through their departed parents’ belongings, they stumbled upon the forgotten cigar box — packed not with stale cigars, but baseball history in the form of 1933 Goudey cards.
The 1933 Goudey Big League Gum set holds an esteemed position in the pantheon of collectible nostalgia. Revered among collectors, it was a pioneering series that paired the thrill of card collection with the elementary joy of chewing gum. These cards, often bedazzled with illustrious names of Hall of Famers, quickly became a treasure hunter’s red-letter target. It is this very blend of collectible allure and grassroots charm that has continued to chase the hearts of both veteran collectors and those yet to catch the bug.
The auction itself, a full-fledged event on the cyber calendar, unraveled between May 28 and June 2. Offering up 623 lots, with a hefty majority comprising baseball cards, Kiko Auctions effectively volleyed this collection into the digital sphere, inviting bids from enthusiasts everywhere. When the frenetic clicking of bids ceased and the virtual gavel found its mark, the slew of card enthusiasts had collectively shelled out $120,699. Throwing in some fiscal flair in the form of a 10% internet premium and a 6.5% sales tax, the final spending sprinted across the finish line, breaking the $140,000 tape.
High stakes were the order of the day, with one dexterous bidder, identified only by their internet alias, commandeering a sizable portion of the collection. The highlight reel of this auction was headlined by a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card. Its vivid red background seized the spotlight, fetching a handsome $8,000. All told, a quintet of Babe Ruth cards alone amassed a tidy sum of $35,250 prior to any fees and taxes.
Every card, while a slice of history, varied distinctly in condition, adding an element of suspense to each bid. None of these relics had been crowned with the seal of professional grading, an omission that adds its own layer of suspense and intrigue to the proceedings. For bidding aficionados, this gamble is less a burden and more a spice — a twist that flavors the vintage card trading narrative with unpredictability and allure.
Thus, a sibling trip down memory lane swiftly transformed into a footnote in the annals of baseball card tales. The migration of these cards from a dust-blanketed attic to the auction’s spotlight stitched a modern legend into the rich tapestry of baseball lore. This story serves as a compelling reminder that America’s love affair with baseball, tinged with nostalgia and history, still passionately embarks on a spirited home-run trot. For those attuned to the symphony of history and sport, these time-worn cards are far more than cardboard — they are narrative threads that link past to present, fan to fan, spectator to history.
