Heritage Auctions’ 2017 Sports Tally: Over $100 Million

Heritage Auctions says it sold more than $100 million worth of sports cards and memorabilia in 2017, setting an industry record.  The figure includes more than $63 million in auction revenues with the rest coming from private sales. 

Heritage recorded six of the top 15 selling sports collectibles sold at public auction in 2017.

“We are very proud to be the first sports collectibles auctioneer to post a nine-figure annual sales total,” Sports Auction Director Chris Ivy said. “It’s a tribute to the enduring strength of the hobby and our unrivaled ability to connect with a global audience of sophisticated collectors. We are enjoying a hot seller’s market right now.”

In 2016, Heritage sold $57.4 million worth of items through its auctions and in 2015, the figure was $42 million.

The company’s top selling individual item last year was the most expensive sports piece it has ever sold– the only known Jackie Robinson rookie year jersey, which realized for $2.05 million.   

The year’s total revenue includes more than $5 million in sales through Heritage’s Make Offer to Owner Program, through which collectors may acquire lots previously sold at auction.

High-grade vintage baseball cards and game-worn jerseys dominated the top 10 lots sold by Heritage in 2017:

1. $2,050,000: 1947 Jackie Robinson Game-Worn Brooklyn Dodgers Rookie “Color Barrier” Jersey, MEARS A9
2. $1,680,000: 1948 Original Study for “Tough Call” by Norman Rockwell – Gifted to Legendary Umpire “Beans” Reardon
3. $870,000: 1937 Lou Gehrig Game-Worn New York Yankees Jersey – Photo Matched
4. $660,000: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM-MT 8
5. $552,000: 1916 M101-5 Blank Back (Sporting News) Babe Ruth Rookie #151 PSA NM 7
6. $486,000: 1968 Mickey Mantle Game-Worn New York Yankees Jersey Attributed to 535th Home Run
7. $480,000: 1924 Lou Gehrig-Signed New York Yankees Rookie Contract
8. $432,000: 1954 Mickey Mantle Game-Worn New York Yankees Jersey, MEARS A9
9. $432,000:1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb #30 PSA Mint 9
10. $408,000: 1920 Babe Ruth Game-Used Bat from the Louisville Slugger Traveling Exhibition, PSA/DNA GU 10

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 40 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected].