The photo that became Wayne Gretzky's rookie card was not taken at a "rookie photo shoot" or at a legendary NHL venue. No, it was one of a bunch of photographs taken by photographer Steve Babineau late in the 1978-79 season, not long after the teenage star of the World Hockey Association was sold to the Edmonton Oilers. Hockey Docs has just produced a five-minute story … [Read more...]
Ty Cobb Bat Nets Big Price in Private Sale
A Louisville Slugger Ty Cobb bat from more than 100 years ago is changing hands after a private sale brokered by Mile High Card Company. The price of the bat, which dates from the first part of Cobb’s long career and was graded GU 9.5 by PSA/DNA, was $325,000. The bat dates to the period of Cobb’s run of nine consecutive American League batting titles. “With … [Read more...]
Ruth Farewell Photo Among RMY Auction Headliners
You've seen the famous photo of Babe Ruth making what would be his final appearance at Yankee Stadium on June 13, 1948. Nat Fein's Pulitzer Prize-winning image was far from the only photo to emerge from that afternoon, though. RMY Auctions is offering a unique angle of the Babe greeting the crowd in its current auction. Taken from the stands, elevated above the … [Read more...]
Notes: Zion Autographs Hit Market; Topps, Upper Deck Set Conferences; Paper’s Hobby Story
Zion Williamson autographed memorabilia has hit the marketplace. SportsMemorabiia.com and its parent site, Fanatics, are showing off a group of newly signed items from the NBA’s number one draft pick, who continues to rehab an injured knee. Among them are framed and unframed Williamson signed jerseys (three different), basketballs (three different) and … [Read more...]
TV Story on Big Pull, Thurman Munson, Cool Baseball History, Hofstra Show; MeiGray Auction
Earlier this month, we wrote about Jimmy Mahan, the collector who pulled a 1/1 Williamson/R.J. Barrett card out of Panini Contenders. It sold for $15,000 after Mahan (@KentuckyCards) pledged to donate the proceeds to a North Carolina children’s home. The story reached mainstream media in the last several days with the story below airing on the ABC affiliate in Raleigh. Check … [Read more...]
Milestone Brady Jersey Up for Bids at NFL Auctions
The jersey Tom Brady wore when he passed Peyton Manning for second place on the NFL’s career passing yardage list is up for auction with proceeds going to charity. NFL Auctions is offering the shirt Brady was wearing when he threw for 334 yards and ran for two touchdowns to lead the New England Patriots to a 35-14 win over the New York Giants at Gillette … [Read more...]
Mantle Wire Service Photo Identical to 1952 Topps Image Sells for Record Price
An original photograph of Mickey Mantle featuring the iconic image which was utilized for his 1952 Topps baseball card has been sold privately through Hunt Auctions for a record-setting $375,000. It’s the most ever paid for a PSA/DNA authenticated Type I unsigned post-War baseball image. The photo is one of only three Type I examples known to exist. It had previously … [Read more...]
Fans Flocked When Young Babe Ruth Signed Baseballs Sold for Charity
The autographed baseball as a fundraiser may not have originated with Babe Ruth but it’s pretty clear he spent a lot of time signing balls for that purpose. Paging through some newspapers from a century ago, I stumbled on a few clippings that make it clear there were plenty of Ruth signed baseballs in circulation by the time he completed his first calendar year with the … [Read more...]
Mantle, Other Vintage Jerseys and Bats Top Slugger Auction
Hundreds of pieces of baseball history found new homes Saturday in the 16th Annual Louisville Slugger Factory & Museum Auction. Headlined by items from the long-time collection of Ohio native Bob Crotty and relics from early Pittsburgh broadcaster Rosy Rowswell, the live portion of the auction inside the museum drew a crowd of collectors. A packed house … [Read more...]
Best Known Example of the ‘Holy Grail of Boxing Cards’ Hits Market
The best known example of the “Honus Wagner of Boxing Cards” has hit the auction block. Heritage Auctions is selling one of perhaps fewer than ten 1948 Leaf Rocky Graziano cards in its Fall Trading Card Catalog. Graded PSA 6.5 (EX/MT+), the card stands as the highest graded in the hobby and could sell for as much as $150,000 or more when bidding concludes next … [Read more...]