Mile High Card Company opened its Extra Innings Auction Monday with some iconic rookie cards and the highest graded example of Jackie Robinson’s 1948 R346 Blue Tint card all on the block.
The origin of Blue Tint cards are a bit of a mystery but collectors generally agree they were hand cut from strips of eight. Smaller in size than a standard card, they measure just 2″ by 2 5/8″. Likely created in the New York area, they may have been given away at carnivals and/or through other promotions at the time. The SGC 88 (NM/MT) card of the young Robinson offered in the auction stands atop the population reports.
MHCC’s Extra Innings events are usually geared toward modest budgets but some of the hottest and rapidly rising star cards are part of the mix this time.
Included among the key rookies are 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente PSA 8 NM/MT (OC), 1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax PSA 8 NM/MT (OC), 1967 Topps #581 Tom Seaver PSA 6 EX-MT, 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan PSA 9 MINT (OC),
1958 Topps #62 Jim Brown PSA 8 NM/MT (OC), and 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan PSA 9 MINT (OC).
High-grade set builders will also find a 1964 Topps #440 Clemente PSA 9, 1965 Topps #160 Clemente PSA 9 and 1965 Topps #120 Frank Robinson PSA 9.
Several lots of T206 cards, Fatima team cards, other post-War graded stars and rookies including several higher grade Ernie Banks cards, unopened material and autographs are also in the auction. To view all of the 400+ lots, visit MieHighCardCo.com. The auction continues through February 24.
MHCC will be set up at the shows in Philadelphia on Feb. 26 – Feb. 28 and Chicago on March 18-March 20 accepting consignments for its next major catalog auction, set to launch in April.