It’ll come to a close about as close to Christmas as any auction can. The final Sports Showcase Auction of the year at Heritage closes on Sat., Dec. 23, with a focus mostly on items in the $100 to $10,000 range.
Despite the less pricey nature of the sale, there are plenty of icons and rare cards to be had. The catalog’s top item is a 1921 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth graded SGC 2.
There are three versions of the Ruth card and the one being offered by Heritage is the “George Ruth” variety. From a total confirmed population of just five, this is one of three graded Good with two higher. Collectors have pounced. The card has already more than doubled its $12,000 pre-sale estimate.
There’s also a 1921 W551 complete two-card panel with Ruth and Ty Cobb graded PSA 6 that quickly shot past its opening estimate. Eight of the ten players in the ten-card set are in the Hall of Fame.
Several 19th century Allen & Ginter and Old Judge cards lead off the catalog, which includes hundreds of lots of vintage and modern cards and memorabilia.
Other top single cads include a 1968 Topps 3-D Roberto Clemente (PSA 7), the only PSA graded copy of the 1967 Clemente from the Topps Stand-Ups set (unperforated), a 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Jim Thorpe (SGC 5), 1959 Home Run Derby Mickey Mantle (PSA 4) and multiple copies of the 1948-49 Leaf Jackie Robinson.
Collectors who have the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle can complete the set with a set that’s missing only that card. The 490-card lot is expected to sell for $20,000 or more.
Complete sets available include 1971 Topps Greatest Moments, 1991 Topps Desert Shield Baseball, 1957, ’58, ’59, ’60 and ’61 Topps Baseball and 1954-55 Topps Hockey.
Among the unopened listings is a 1979 Topps Baseball three-box rack pack case.
A ticket stub from Michael Jordan’s 1984 NBA Debut rated Authentic by PSA is among the memorabilia highlights along with the highest graded copy (CGC 9) of the first issue of the 1967 Sports Illustrated magazine to feature Bobby Orr and another high-grade copy of Mickey Mantle’s first appearance in 1956.
Several Upper Deck Authenticated Jordan signed jerseys, Kobe Bryant autographs and other autographed memorabilia round out the auction which is live on the Heritage website.
Related Stories:
Freshly Graded 1921 American Caramel Set Takes Over Top Ranking, Heads to SCP Auctions
Top-End T206 Plank, Other Vintage Cards Join Historic Photos at Auction
Yahtzee! 1914 Texas Tommy Find Includes Cobb, Jackson
Mile High March Auction to Include Past, Present Icons
Jordan Tickets at Auction Span College, NBA Careers
Lelands Launches Focus Auctions Centered on Graded Cards, Tickets
1903 World Series Program, Ruth Items, Vintage Cards to Highlight Memory Lane Auction
New Stash Of Super Scarce 1921 Herpolsheimer Cards Found In Band-Aid Box Headed To Love Of The Game Auctions
