You may need a forklift to pick up Heritage Auctions’ next catalog. The Dallas-based company says it will have nearly 4,000 lots of cards and memorabilia up for grabs during its May Signature Auction. The event is so large, it’s been divided into three sessions, presented on consecutive evenings between May 14 and 16. Preliminary bidding is already underway at HA.com.
“By volume alone,” said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage, “the sale represents the single largest major sports collectibles event of the decade.”
The first session, which enters extended bidding at 10 pm on May 14, will feature over 30 sets on the 
PSA Registry including N28, N43, N162, E90-1, M110, T202, T207, 1914 Cracker Jack, and 1933 Sport Kings. Also on the docket are hundreds of rare and high-grade single cards and group lots spanning all eras, sports and issuing bodies.
Notable lots include the number three ranked 1914 Cracker Jack set, one of the era’s most challenging rarities, which is being broken up and sold card-by-card. Several rare and high-grade Babe Ruth cards from his rare1916 Weil Baking rookie (current bid at $77,675) to the1933 Goudey, and a complete 1986 Fleer Basketball wax box are among the other lots.
Session Two, focusing on memorabilia, will be highlighted by the robe the young Cassius Clay wore into the ring to claim his first Heavyweight Championship in a historic 1964 upset of Sonny Liston. The latest installment of the John Kindler Collection includes more game worn jerseys and helmets from college and pro football.
Numerous game-used bats will be up for bid including an early 1920s Babe Ruth model, with a letter from the grandson of American League umpire Joseph Paparella, who took advantage of his proximity to legends to build an early personal memorabilia collection. The sale also includes the only known example from Hall of Fame umpire Jocko Conlan, and a Triple Crown-season gamer from Frank Robinson.
Session Two also includes championship rings, autographs, game used material, programs and tickets and various other items.
Session 3 features more modestly-priced material from both the trading card and memorabilia realms. Other highlights of this auction include:
1958 Topps Bob Clemente, White Letters #52 PSA Gem Mint 10 – The Finest Example Known to the Hobby
1933 Goudey Sport Kings Ty Cobb #1 PSA NM-MT 8
1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123 SGC 96 Mint 9 – None Higher
1912 T202 Hassan Ty Cobb Steals Third Cobb/Moriarity PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 – Highest Graded Example
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM-MT 8
1952 Red Man Willie Mays #15 PSA Mint 9 – Finest PSA Example
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 PSA NM 7
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 PSA Gem Mint 10
1975-76 “Pistol Pete” Maravich Game Worn New Orleans Jazz Jersey with Photo Match
1952 Oslo Winter Olympics Torch
1961-62 New York Yankees Oversized Promotional Nodder, 14-inches, one of two known
1969 New York Mets World Series Championship Ring
2009 World Series Game Six Used Pitching Rubber Signed by Mariano Rivera, the Championship Clincher
1994 Fidel Castro Single Signed Baseball with Video of Signing
1934 Tour of Japan Team Signed Baseballs–Both the American and Japanese Teams
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