The sequel to the “Beer Box Find” will get much of the attention when Mile High Card Company opens its big fall catalog auction Monday but if unopened boxes from decades ago aren’t your thing, there is plenty of other high-end material in what could be the biggest auction in the company’s 20+ year history.
Led by an ultra-high end DeLong complete set, a 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays rookie card graded SGC 92 NM/MT+ 8.5 and dozens of rare cards and top grade vintage rookies and sets, the “other stuff” in the catalog isn’t bad either.
“While the continuation of the Beer Box find certainly drives this auction, it’s also one of the best high-grade sports card events we’ve ever had. We expect this auction to break all MHCC records for sales,” said MHCC CEO and President Brian Drent.
Among the vintage cards being offered is a 1917 Boston Store #87 Walter Johnson SGC 84 NM 7, a 1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth Series of 80 PSA 3.5 VG+, a 1922 W575-2 Ruth hand cut PSA 5 EX, a 1948 Bowman #36 Stan Musial rookie graded SGC 96, a 1948-49 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson rookie graded SGC 84, a 1948-49 Leaf #8 Satchel Paige SGC 80; a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle SGC 35 GOOD+ 2.5, a 1952 Topps #407 Ed Mathews PSA 8 NM/MT, a 1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 NM/MT, a 1956 Topps #79 Sandy Koufax PSA 9 MINT, a 1960 Morrell Meats Koufax PSA 9 MINT, a1962 Kahn’s Wieners Roberto Clemente PSA 9 MINT, a 1963 Fleer #61 Bob Gibson PSA 10 GEM MINT and many others.
Other key items include a 1910-15 Eddie Collins Game-Used 40K Kork Grip Louisville Slugger bat, a high-end Babe Ruth single-signed OAL (Barnard) Ball with 1927 notation, a Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker Signed ONL (Heydler) ball, the seventh best 1965 Topps baseball set on PSA’s Set Registry, a 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set with all cards graded PSA 9 or 10, a 1965 Topps Football set ranked sixth finest on PSA Set Registry, the tenth best 1957-58 Topps Hockey set and a rare 1966 Topps USA Test Hockey Uncut Proof Sheet with the Bobby Orr rookie card.
As we’ve detailed before, “Beer Box II” is the second of a two-part find of unopened boxes and packs dating back decades that emerged from a Tennessee attic earlier this year and brought international attention to the hobby. The first part of the find, sold in June, included a partial box of 1948 Bowman Baseball packs. A return trip to the attic by the consignor led to Part II of the find which is led by a 1965 Topps Football unopened box of 24 packs, the only complete box known to exist. There’s also a second ’65 Topps football box with 21 of the 24 packs still inside.
Other highlights include a 1960 Leaf Baseball full box, a 1962 Topps Baseball Bucks box missing just one of the 120 packs, two 1964 Topps Football near complete boxes, a 1964 Topps Baseball Photo Tattoos box with 103 of 120 packs, a 1971 Topps Baseball box with 23 of 24 packs and the only known 1968 Topps Test Basketball unopened pack. All have been evaluated and authenticated by Baseball Card Exchange (BBCE).
The second find also includes an unprecedented assortment of non-sports material, led by a 1964 Topps Outer Limits full wax box. Other items include 1960s Topps Real Wood Plaks partial box (20/24), a 1963 Topps Beverly Hillbillies near complete box (23/24), a rare 1964 Beatles Plaks partial box, a 1965 Fleer Gomer Pyle complete box, a 1965 Topps Gilligan’s Island partial box (15/24), a 1967 Topps Funny Travel Posters box with 23 of 24 packs, a 1968 Topps Batty Bookcovers box also missing just one pack, a rare 1969 Topps Wacky Ads partial box (21/24) and a 1970 Topps Funny Doors nearly complete box (21/24).
Separate from “The Beer Box Find,” MHCC is offering another group of unopened wax, vending and cello boxes and cases from the 1970s-1980s that includes a 1970 Topps Football first series vending box, a 1979 Topps Baseball unopened tray case (192 three-packs), a 1980 Topps Baseball unopened rack pack case, a 1980 Topps Football unopened case, a 1981 Topps Football retail rack display case of 192 with Montana and other stars showing, 1984 Topps Football unopened rack and wax cases, a 1986-87 Fleer Basketball unopened box and a group of three rare 1948 Leaf Boxing unopened packs.
The auction will run through Thursday, September 14.
The consignment deadline for Mile High Card Company’s next auction is October 25. To consign, call (303) 840-2784 or visit the company’s website, www.milehighcardco.com.