Two valuable pieces from the career of Kobe Bryant headline the new SCP Auctions catalog, but fans of vintage baseball cards and memorabilia will see some top notch lots as well now that the company’s Spring Premier Auction is underway.
The only game-worn Bryant jersey from NBA playoff games during his rookie season and the only known autographed copy of one of his most sought after cards have already generated some headlines. The jersey, photomatched by Meigray, Resolution, and Sports Investors dates Games 3 and 4 of the Lakers’ 1997 Western Conference Semifinals matchup with the Utah Jazz.
All three authenticators conclusively photomatched the purple and gold threads to these two games. Resolution and Sports Investors also matched the jersey to two regular-season games April 13 and 17 of that year. SCP says it’s believed that the jersey was worn during the end of Bryant’s rookie season, as well as in all home playoff games that year. The minimum bid is $250,000 and tit’s expected to sell for a seven-figure price.
The PMG Bryant card is graded PSA Authentic Altered with an autograph grade of Mint 9. It’s numbered 60/100 and is the first and only known example ever offered publicly and is likely the only signed copy that exists.
An unsigned green PMG graded BGS NM-MT+ sold for $2 million in February. The red PMG Bryant carries a $50,000 opening bid.
In all, over 900 lots are on the block, including a stack of other premium modern cards. Among the big ticket items: the only PSA 10 example of a 2002 SP Game Used Kobe/Jordan dual-auto card, a PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady rookie refractor, a 1986 Fleer Jordan rookie graded BGS Gem Mint 9.5, and a 2020 Panini Select Prime Selections Material Signatures Green Prizm Joe Burrow rookie numbered 2/4 and graded BGS Gem Mint 9.5.
A variety of high-end vintage cards are featured in the sale as well. A 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie graded PSA NM-MT 8 carries a $100,000 opener. It’s joined by an SGC EX-NM 6 1952 Topps Mantle, a 1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig PSA NM-MT 8, an autographed 1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth, and a 1970 Topps Pete Rose PSA 10 are among the cards expected to draw the biggest bids.
On the memorabilia side of the sale, the first Scotty Cameron Newport victory putter ever created for Tiger Woods following his 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship win is offered. The putter comes to auction at the right time, as the market for rare Woods memorabilia has been heating up.
The ball Barry Bonds hit for his 715th career home run, passing Babe Ruth on the all-time list, is also available in the sale.
For game used bat collectors, SCP’s Spring Premier has something for you, too. A 1920-22 Babe Ruth game-used H&B bat from the beginning of his Yankee tenure comes to the auction. The massive 44-ounce stick was given a PSA/DNA 8.5 for game use, as well as a MEARS 9.5. Another huge bat being offered is a Mark McGwire game-used club from his record 70 home run season in 1998. The PSA/DNA GU 10 bat was also Resolution photomatched to two games from that year.
Another baseball highlight features the Capital Vintage Baseball Advertising Collection, which is considered one of the finest of its kind. In the early years of the 20th century all the way through the 1950s, baseball’s most famous players graced everything from trolley cars to window displays as they served as spokesmen for products. Extremely rare pieces such as a one-of-a-kind C. 1910 Christy Mathewson Tuxedo Tobacco box proof and a C. 1910 Walter Johnson Tuxedo Tobacco trolley car sign are among the top pieces.
Other significant game-used items offered include a pair of dual-signed Adidas sneakers worn by Kobe during his rookie season, a 2021-22 LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers gamer photomatched to two games combining for 72 points, Kobe’s 2004 autographed NBA All Star kicks, and a pair of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s shoes photomatched to a massive victory during the Bucks’ 2020-21 championship season.
SCP is presenting an early career Diego Maradona match worn, signed and inscribed Boca Juniors jersey given a MEARS A10 for game use. The shirt from the legendary footballer also comes with a full LOA from Beckett for the autograph.
A handful of historic tickets have also been consigned to SCP for the auction. None are bigger than a stub from Jackie Robinson’s MLB debut to break baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947.
Also on the block: a 1979 NCAA basketball semifinal stub signed by Magic and Bird, a full unused and autographed ticket from Kobe’s final farewell game in 2016, and a variety of others.
Two different original 1920 photographs taken of Babe Ruth by legendary photographer Paul Thompson during his first season with the Yankees and a 1947 Jackie Robinson photo taken the day of his rookie debut are among more than 100 original photo lots.
Championship jewelry rounds out the auction, topped by a 2018 New England Patriots Super Bowl LIII championship ring, Cortez Kennedy’s 2010 New Orleans Saints Super Bowl XLIV ring, and DeShawn Stevenson’s 2011 Dallas Mavericks NBA championship ring.
Bidding on the 916 lots is open now and will conclude Saturday, June 4 at SCPauctions.com.
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