As the year winds down, we’re taking a look at the top-selling sports cards and memorabilia sold through major auction companies in 2018.
Sometimes the most valuable pieces of sports memorabilia never make it to the auction block. SCP Auctions’ two biggest sales were in 2018 were of the private variety.
In June, the company announced it had sold a previously unknown 1937 Lou Gehrig game-worn jersey for a seven-figure price. Presented as a gift by former general manager George Weiss decades ago, the jersey had been a family heirloom until the sale. It was photo matched to two games in August of that year, Gehrig’s last great season before the ALS diagnosis that ended his career and eventually, his life. The exact selling price wasn’t disclosed but it was the first Gehrig jersey to reach the million dollar plateau.
Other private sales included a PSA 4.5 example of the T206 Ty Cobb with Cobb Tobacco advertising that originated in the famed “Lucky 7 Find“. It changed hands through SCP Auctions at $1.1 million.
The company also facilitated the sale of the “Miracle on Ice” stick used by Mike Eruzione to score the game-winning goal in the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team’s upset victory over the USSR. It netted $296,000.
Below is a list of 2018’s top ten auction items for the southern California-based company.
$623,369 (Aug 11 Summer Auction) – Inaugural Hall of Fame Inductees signed ball
$399,608 (Jan 20, Spotlight Auction) – Rashaan Salaam Heisman trophy
$200,105 (Mar 24, Spring Auction) – Super Bowl Ticket Complete Run 1967-2017
$146,779 (Mar 24, Spring Auction) – Lou Gehrig 1934 AL All-Star pendant
$133,435 (Dec 8, Fall Auction) – 1951 Bowman Mantle Rookie PSA 8
$130,027 (Mar 24, Spring Auction) – Cy Young 1891-92 Cleveland Spiders cabinet
$128,617 (Mar 24, Spring Auction) – Jesse Owens 1976 Presidential Medal of Freedom
$126,680 (Dec 8, Fall Auction) – Magic Johnson 1984-85 jersey
$125,317 (Dec 8, Fall Auction) – Ted Williams 1947 Triple Crown
$121,304 (Aug 11 Summer Auction) – Hank Aaron 1967 jersey
You can see the top 10 sellers for other auction companies here.
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