Like religious symbols they sat, displayed inside Harlem Parish, a deconsecrated church on West 118th Street in New York. Sports cards, paid reverence through a new live auction collaboration between Fanatics and Sotheby’s.
The ‘Holy Grail’ auction offered more than 40 cards—a mix of modern, vintage and gaming cards with a five or six-figure value. The two companies promised “an energized atmosphere evocative of stadium entertainment at the height of refinement and luxury.”
The auction floor was redesigned as a baseball diamond, with bidders in pews positioned along the first and third baselines. The Yankees organist provided baseball music.
As we reported in June, Tuesday night’s event was the first in an ongoing series of such events to complement the Fanatics Collect marketplace.
Tuesday night’s event came with appearances by stars and celebs like Tom Brady, Malik Nabers, Meek Mill, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Kahn, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin and other guests, who posed for “arrival” photos as they’d done at Fanatics Fest in the city last month.
The top price went to a 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie card at $840,000 including the buyer’s premium, within the general range of recent sales.
Modern cards in the auction included the 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Michael Jordan/Julius Erving. Graded BGS 8.5 with a 10 autograph grade, it realized $780,000.
The 1/1 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite LeBron James Autograph Patch graded BGS 8.5 with a 10 auto grade soared to $576,000.
The 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire Shohei Ohtani 1/1 autographed SuperFractor went for $336,000, not surprising considering the exploding market for cards of baseball’s first ever 50-50 club member, but a record price for an Ohtani sold at public auction.
The 2015 Panini Immaculate Collection Premium Patches Game Used NFL Shield Patch Autographed 1/1 of Tom Brady sold for $480,000 but it was another Brady card that generated more attention. Kraft bought the 2000 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph (BGS 9.5/10) while sitting next to Brady.
In all, four Brady cards in the auction sold for $813,600.
The Elly De La Cruz 2022 Bowman Chrome First Bowman Prospect Autograph Superfractor PSA 10 established a new auction record of $360,000, exceeding its previous record price of $116,534. The card received a total of 79 bids since the sale opened on September 10.
In all, the auction generated $7 million with most lots finding buyers. A slight majority of the auction lots were purchased by online bidders. Sotheby’s says clients from 20 different countries participated.
The next auction is scheduled for December.
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