Two recently uncovered rarities generated a nice payday for the consignor of one of the year’s top baseball card finds.
Stored for years in an old Yahtzee game box, the 1914 Texas Tommy Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb cards sold for $270,097 combined as SCP Auctions wrapped up its 2020 Summer Premier Auction.
Despite their underwhelming grades, the Cobb led the way at $141,480 followed by Shoeless Joe at $128,617 in another multi-million dollar sale for the Southern California auctioneer.
The box and cards had been stored in a closet for decades until it was brought to SCP by the great-grandson of an early 20th century baseball card collector. Among the 400+ cards were eight 1914 Texas Tommy cards from the nearly extinct E224 issue.
The Jackson (PSA GD+ 2.5) is one of two ever graded and the Cobb (PSA PR 1) is the only known authenticated example, making them two of the rarest known cardboard issues of each baseball legend. A Walter Johnson (PSA PR 1) reached five figures to top the rest of the ‘Elite Eight’ from the consigned group.
Several never-before-seen rarities from the 1911-29 Zee-Nut PCL series as well as 1922 American Caramel Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb cards were also part of the unique candy card find that raked in a total of $317,096.
In addition, four complete PSA-graded Topps baseball sets combined to reach almost a quarter million dollars. A 1955 complete set (7.93 GPA) led the group at $80,750 followed by a ’59 master set (8.06 GPA) at $66,632, a ’57 near-complete set (8.0 GPA) at $50,062, and a ’69 master set (8.15 GPA) at $40,388.
Individual card standouts were an SGC EX-NM 6 graded ’52 Topps Mantle for $73,409 and a Beckett MINT 9 dual-graded Michael Jordan signed 1986-87 Fleer rookie that sold for $68,482.
On the memorabilia side, the highest price was $121,324 for Packers legend Ray Nitschke’s 1967 Super Bowl II ring. Few players in NFL history were as gritty and beloved as the Hall of Fame linebacker who was there for every one of coach Vince Lombardi’s five titles in Green Bay.
Three L.A. Lakers championship rings from 2000, 2002 and 2009 awarded to Hall of Famer Bill Sharman – who served the organization as head coach, general manager and president over two decades – combined to sell for $70,615.
A diverse sneaker collection from a former N.Y. Knicks ball boy, highlighted by photo-matched gamers from Luka Doncic ($26,896), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($20,206), and Steph Curry ($13,363); the 26 pairs brought $114,378 cumulatively.
Other notable results included:
- Walter Alston’s 1965 L.A. Dodgers World Series Ring – $45,510
- 1952 Topps Complete Set w/ All 97 High #’s PSA Graded – $30,343
- 1994 San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XXIX Champions Player Ring – $27,584
- 1925 Babe Ruth Signed New York Yankees Payroll Check – $26,701
- 1931 Babe Ruth Single Signed & Inscribed “Mistress Ball” – $25,076
- Babe Ruth’s “Most Memorable Personality” Trophy Awarded by MLB – $25,076
- 1994 FIFA World Cup Champions Gold Medal Awarded to Brazil – $22,796
- Jim Katcavage’s 1956 New York Giants NFL Champions Ring – $20,060
- Carl Hubbell’s 1947 National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ring – $20,060
- 1968 Topps 3-D Roberto Clemente (Rare XOGRAPH Proof) – $18,236
- 2009 Derek Jeter Signed All-Star Game Photo-Matched Jersey – $18,236
- Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame Legends Multi-Signed Basketball – $18,214
Complete results and more information can be found at www.scpauctions.com.
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Yahtzee! 1914 Texas Tommy Find Includes Cobb, Jackson
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Notes: Big $ for Young Guns; Game-Worn Guide; Rookie Premiere
