A 1914 Babe Ruth Baltimore Orioles original team photo – one of the only images of Ruth in an Orioles uniform known to exist – and an autographed 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card with a 10 autograph grade headline the Lelands 2024 Fall Classic Auction, which runs through October 19.
The 1914 Orioles team photo featuring Ruth is his earliest known original image as a professional player and the only one in existence. At the time, Ruth was a 19-year-old pitcher for the Orioles – then a minor league team in the International League – before his contract was sold to the Red Sox midseason. The young Bambino is pictured at the far right.
The photo was previously sold by Lelands for a record price of $190,000 in 2019. As of Monday afternoon, bidding in the current auction had already surpassed $55,000.
The signed 1951 Bowman Mantle is making its auction debut. The card itself rates only a PSA 1 but the card carries a bold, blue Sharpie Mantle autograph. Another signed Mantle rookie, with an ‘Authentic’ designation and PSA 9 autograph grade sold for sold for $121,200 through Love of the Game Auctions early Sunday.
The auction also features a one-of-a-kind Mantle autograph display signed 99 times with a cheeky inscription from Mantle that reads, “these pens suck.”
Collectors of vintage unopened material will see a rare 1967 Topps Baseball unopened first series 48-count cello box.
Additional lots featuring cards include a copy of the scarce 1948-49 Leaf Satchel Page rookie card graded PSA NM 7 and a 2020-21 Panini Prizm Basketball Gold Prizm #1 LeBron James #7/10 graded PSA 9.
Among the other memorabilia in the catalog are Shaquille O’Neal’s 1993 NBA All-Star Game Eastern Conference game-worn, photo-matched uniform from his rookie season, and Jimmie Foxx’s 1932 American League Most Valuable Player Award.
Among other auction highlights are a jersey worn by Aaron Judge in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, a Paul Molitor rookie year signed, game-worn, photo-matched jersey, a circa 1973-75 Thurman Munson Yankees game-used bat (PSA GU 10), a 1984 Michael Jordan NBA debut Bulls box office stub PSA EX-MT (Pop 1 of 1 highest graded), and a 1928 R315 Babe Ruth SGC MINT 9 (Pop 1 of 2 highest graded).
The auction includes more than 1,600 lots, including hundreds of lots featuring pre-and post-War baseball cards
Other items in the catalog are Danny Amendola’s Super Bowl XLIX signed, game-used helmet, a Mark Messier 1990 game-worn, photo-matched jersey (MeiGray and Oilers LOA), a 1951 Joe Louis signed fight contract vs. Rocky Marciano in what was Louis’ final fight, a circa 1964 Roger Maris batting helmet, and a 1998 UD Basketball Game Jersey Michael Jordan autograph card.
Additional auction highlights include:
- Nolan Ryan Angels one-game style game-worn signed jersey from April 13, 1978
- Barry Bonds #463, #631 and #711 home run balls (three separate lots)
- A 2022 Astros World Series ring
- Andruw Jones’ 2001 Rawlings Gold Glove Award
- A circa 1957 Browns jersey attributed to Jim Brown
- A Novak Djokovic signed used tennis racquet
Bidding runs through Oct. 19 at Lelands.com.
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