As we reported last week, a newly discovered 1915 Cracker Jack advertising poster is headlining Mile High Card Company’s new auction, but we now know some of the cards from the first two sets will also be up for grabs when the auction opens Monday morning.
A 1914 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb PSA 8 NM/MT has been consigned along with several other high-grade specimens including a 1915 examples of #3 Joe Tinker NM/MT+ 8.5, #32 Mordecai Brown NM+ 7.5, #93 Derrill Pratt MINT 9, #99 Hal Chase MINT 9, and #161 Edd Roush MINT 9.
The poster could be a six figure item. Once used as a display piece in local candy shops to promote the Cracker Jack baseball card offered with each purchase of a box of the caramel covered popcorn, there are now less than five known to exist.
“It’s only fitting that such a rare and incredible piece of history starts off this event, but there are so many world-class items in what is one of our deepest auctions to date.” said MHCC President and CEO Brian Drent.
The auction also has over 75 T206 cards including Christy Mathewson with a Carolina Brights advertising back, a Hal Chase Holding Trophy Black Lenox back and two Green Portrait Ty Cobb cards. There is also a complete T206 set (minus the ‘Big Four’).
Three extremely scarce W600 Sporting Life Cabinets will also be offered: 1902-11 W600 Sporting Life Napoleon Lajoie PSA 6 EX/MT, 1902-11 W600 Sporting Life Honus Wagner VG/EX 4 and 1902-11 Sporting Life W600 Christy Mathewson GOOD+ 2.5.
With over 140 1952 Topps cards graded PSA 8 or PSA 9, including a Willie Mays PSA 8 and Joe Black PSA 9, Set Registry specialists will find plenty of opportunity to increase their ranking. The auction also includes a well- centered 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle PSA 6.5 EX/MT+, a 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko Black Back PSA 7 NM and a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle FAIR 1.5 for the more modest collector.
Other high-profile cards include 1954 Topps #128 Henry Aaron rookie card PSA 8, 1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth NM, 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle PSA 7, 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan rookie card PSA 9, 1952 Red Man Tobacco #15 Willie Mays PSA 9, 1973 O-Pee-Chee #615 Mike Schmidt PSA 10, 1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 and 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky graded 9.
Also available in individual lots are cards from one of the finest Roberto Clemente collections in the hobby, including a 1955 Topps rookie card graded PSA 8 and PSA 9 MINT Topps examples from 1960, 61, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73.
Fans of pre-War cards will also find a 1933 Goudey Near Complete Set (237/240) with two Ruths and both Gehrigs All PSA 4 VG/EX, a high-grade 1965 Topps near complete set (424/598) with all cards graded PSA 8 or 9, a 1968 Topps Football near complete master set (214/220) ranked second on the PSA Registry and over 50 other complete and near complete baseball and football sets.
Memorabilia in the auction includes a 1934 New York Yankees team-signed baseball with 24 signatures including Ruth and Gehrig; a Gehrig single-signed ball, a 1960s Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves game-used batting helmet from the Delbert Mickel Collection and a 1962 Bobby Richardson New York Yankees game-used jerseys, possibly worn during his catch in the 1962 World Series.
The auction will close May 5 at MileHighCardCo.com.