Heritage Auctions has opened its March Spring Showcase Auction, with one of the hobby’s most coveted pre-War rarities joining dozens of complete sets, popular rookie cards, unopened material and key ticket stubs in the lineup.
Over 1,000 items are up for grabs, including a 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie graded PSA 4 that’s expected to sell for $50,000 or more. Bidding was already nearing $30,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
The Lajoie card was created by Goudey in response to a missing number inside the company’s 1933 set. The company created Lajoie’s card as #106 while producing its 1934 cards and mailed it to frustrated collectors of the ’33 set who asked.
Other vintage cards on the block include a 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Babe Ruth graded PSA 6, a 1948-49 Leaf Jackie Robinson, complete sets of 1941 Play Ball, 1961-62 Fleer basketball and 1965 Topps, among others.
There is a 1984-85 Star Company basketball set still in the team set bags from the factory, multiple 1986-87 Fleer Basketball sets and several single Michael Jordan rookie cards.
Current era highlights include a 1/1 Patrick Mahomes 2017 National Treasures Rookie NFL Gear Combo Materials (PSA 5) that could bring $50,000 or more.
Unopened product is plentiful, topped by a 1987-88 Fleer Basketball wax box, 1981 and ‘86 Topps Football rack pack boxes, a 1975 Topps Mini Baseball wax box and a 1993 Upper Deck SP Baseball box.
The red hot ticket market is already focused on a 1919 World Series ticket stub, a ticket from the 1979 NCAA Basketball semi-finals ticket signed by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the highest graded ticket from Tom Brady’s 1996 University of Michigan debut and another from his first NFL start for the New England Patriots.
Bidding runs through March 26 on the Heritage Sports website.