Young fans of bubble gum and trading cards got a sports history lesson each time they opened a pack of 1933 Goudey Sport Kings. Ty Cobb batted leadoff but the complete set went beyond baseball to include football legends, great golfers of the era, boxers, swimmers and even the first great female athlete of the 20th century. Now, 50 of the highest graded cards from this Depression-era issue are about to hit the auction block.
Heritage Auctions will offer them separately in its upcoming Summer Sports Trading Card Auction, set to open July 9.
The collection includes some of the highest graded examples of the ’33 Sport Kings Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Knute Rockne, Jim Thorpe and Bobby Jones cards. All have been graded by PSA or SGC.
The PSA 9 Thorpe is expected to bring $100,000 or more.
Most of the cards were part of a single-owner collection that was on PSA’s Set Registry.
There are two Mint 9 Rockne cards in the auction, each representing the highest graded examples at both PSA and SGC.
The Ruth card is the only one graded 8.5 by PSA with just two higher. It’s expected to sell for at least $75,000. The Cobb is one of three PSA 9s on the population report and it estimated at $60,000 and up. One of four PSA 9s, the Grange is expected to bring $30,000 or more.
Bidding will close over a two-day period, July 30 and 31.
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