Panini’s initial run of cards produced and released through blockchain technology included one big sale: the Kobe Bryant card offered by the company brought $61,714.29 last week.
Of the ten one-of-a-kind cards sold on Panini’s website, nine went for more than $1,000 including a dual autographed Ja Morant/Rui Hachimura card that sold for $3,591.85, a Kyler Murray rookie auto that netted $3,183.68 and a Honus Wagner cut autograph that found a home at $3,102.65. Cards of Christian McCaffrey, Coby White, Damian Lillard, Gleyber Torres and Peyton Manning all sold for $1,000-$2,000. The cards are designed as National Treasures-branded products.
The blockchain cards were offered in a descending auction platform with each starting at $100,000. There’s a digital version of the card through a private Panini blockchain as well as a physical version. Each is considered a separate asset. Subsequent sales of the digital versions are recorded through the Panini blockchain, cementing the card’s provenance.
More cards are scheduled to be offered this coming week including cards signed by Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Jerry Rice, Charles Woodson and several 2019-20 NBA rookies. Panini plans to create a total of 100 cards through the blockchain platform with ten made available each week.
Late last week, our Jayson Bussa wrote about a Lou Gehrig letter, written to his doctor after his 1939 ALS diagnosis that’s now up for auction. It was actually one of several letters that were exchanged between Gehrig and Dr. Paul O’Leary at the Mayo Clinic.
While they were originally sold at auction several years ago, author Jonathan Eig, who wrote the Gehrig biography Luckiest Man, is the one who made their contents available to the public at large. Over the weekend, Eig wrote about his efforts to bring them to light via this Twitter thread:
When I began working on Gehrig's biography in 2001, almost nothing was known of his battle with #ALS. I tried to get his medical records but the @MayoClinic laughed at me. I did find a few old doctors who had seen Lou's records and agreed to advise me but that wasn't enough.
— Jonathan Eig (@jonathaneig) January 11, 2020
As his career continues toward its inevitable Hall of Fame conclusion, Alex Ovechkin goal pucks are seeing plenty of interest. The puck he knocked into the net in a late November win over Tampa Bay for his 675th career goal sold for $830 through MeiGray Auctions last week. The shot was his 17th goal of the 2019-20 season.
MeiGray has now posted another goal puck auction that includes Ovechkin’s 680th from a December 20 win over New Jersey. Bidding for that one continues through Wednesday, January 29.
Ovechkin is rapidly climbing the NHL’s all-time career goals list. He stands just ten behind eighth place Mark Messier and should be in the top five by some time next season, barring an injury.
Ja Morant’s first Memphis Grizzlies ‘Classic Edition’ jersey, worn in a 109-108 loss to the Lakers in November, sold for $15,600 via NBA Auctions last week. The jersey uses the logo and color scheme from the era in which the team played in Vancouver. Morant scored 26 points, dished out six assists and had five steals in the game.
Two Opening Night jerseys also sold late last week. Steph Curry’s Warriors home shirt netted $10,042; James Harden’s Rockets jersey went for $5,520 and the jersey Russell Westbrook donned during his Opening Night triple-double scored $4,019.
Here’s a chat with Phil Hughes, former big league pitcher and avid collector who loves opening newer products and showing off the cards that he pulls.
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