The highest graded example of the rare 1917 Collins-McCarthy Babe Ruth card sold for $204,000 late Sunday night as Robert Edward Auctions closed out its third and final catalog sale of 2019. The card was graded 4.5 (VG-EX+) by PSA and stands as the highest graded example on that company’s census.
Never available in set form, the Collins-McCarthy cards were distributed by a San Francisco candy maker and in much smaller quantities than Ruth’s similar and more well-known 1916 M101-4 and M101-5 rookie issues.
The REA sale included 3,111 lots and took in $8.4 million, according to company president Brian Dwyer. In all, more than 59,000 bids were placed with eight lots selling for $100,000 or more and 115 netting at least $10,000.
“Collectors turned out in full force last night and the prices realized reflect the incredible demand for top-quality items,” Dwyer told SC Daily on Monday.
There was plenty of demand for the pre-War cards REA is known for but a slew of vintage game-worn jerseys from Hall of Famers also generated some of the revenue. An autographed 1965 Hank Aaron home jersey from the Braves’ last season in Milwaukee sold for $138,000, a 1950 Ted Williams home Red Sox jersey soared to $111,000, a circa 1928 George Pipgrass Yankees road flannel reached $75,000, and a 1972 Nolan Ryan Angels home jersey netted $43,200. Football collectors chased a 1960s Jim Brown road jersey, which ended at $37,200.
Two PSA 10 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter rookies were sold Sunday night: one by Heritage Auctions established a record; another sold by REA just a few hours later broke that mark at $168,000.
Other sales included:
- 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams rookie card PSA 9 $132,000
- 1933 Goudey autographed Babe Ruth card 4126,000
- 1939 Hall of Fame First Day Cover signed by Ruth, Cobb, Wagner and others $105,000
- 1954 Topps Ernie Banks PSA 9 $78,000
- 1948-49 Leaf Satchel Paige PSA 7 $75,000
- 1970-71 Topps basketball 2nd series wax box $75,000
- 1957 Eddie Mathews Milwaukee Braves jersey $40,800
Complete results are on REA’s website. The company’s next auction will be in the early spring of 2020.
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