Key rookie cards of Tom Brady and LeBron James sold for over $3.4 million combined in Goldin Auctions’ April Premium Card Auction late Saturday night.
Brady’s 2000 Playoff Contenders Autographed Championship Rookie Ticket was #95/100 and graded BGS 8.5 with a 10 autograph grade. Bidding opened at $500,000 and 20 bids were made for the card, which is considered the best of numerous first year cards of the seven-time Super Bowl champion. The sale came just three weeks after another Brady CRT sold for a record $2.25 million.
The 2003-04 UD “Exquisite Collection” Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph (RPA) James card (#9/99) was rated BGS MINT 9 with a 10 autograph and the $1.7 million price set a record. Fifteen bids were made before the auction closed after also opening at $500,000.
The sale came several weeks after Goldin sold another of the 99 Exquisite LeBron RPAs for a little over $1.5 million.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest of all time so it’s no surprise that his cards continue to smash records,” said Ken Goldin, Founder and Chairman of Goldin Auctions. “What’s really incredible is the massive enthusiasm that we’re seeing across other sports and categories. Prices for cards across sports like golf, soccer and hockey, and for trading card games like Pokémon, have absolutely taken off and we’re just scratching the surface!”
In all, two dozen cards in the auction sold for $100,000 or more. The premium trading card auction closed $13.4 million in total sales.
A 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain rookie card soared to $461,250, the most ever paid for a card of the Hall of Fame center. Among the other vintage cards sold was a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie graded PSA 9. It went for $248,460.
PSA 10 Michael Jordan rookie cards appear to have settled in to the $400-$500,000 range for now as Goldin sold a well centered copy of the popular Fleer issue for $430,500. Meanwhile, another popular card of the era–a 1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Rookie Refractor graded PSA 10 hammered at $270,600.
A 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Tim Duncan graded BGS 8 sold for $223,860–a record for any Duncan card while a 2009-10 Topps Chrome PSA 10 Steph Curry rookie netted $136,530.
Additional notable items from this auction included:
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2001 SP Authentic Golf “Authentic Stars” Autograph #45 Tiger Woods Signed Rookie Card (#810/900) – PSA GEM MT 10, PSA/DNA 10 sold for $105,780, a record price for that issue.
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2004-05 UD “Exquisite Collection” Dual Scripted Swatches #JJ Michael Jordan/LeBron James Dual Signed NBA All-Star Game Used Patch Card (#4/5) – BGS NM-MT+ 8.5/BGS 9 sold for $124,230, a new high mark.
- 2004-05 Mundicromo La Liga #617 Lionel Messi Rookie Card – PSA GEM MT 10 sold for $59,040, also a record for the card.
Prices include a 23% buyer’s premium. However, winning bidders who pay on time and don’t use a credit card actually pay 20%.
Goldin Auctions has now sold over $150 million worth of cards and memorabilia so far in 2021.
Complete results are here.
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