The highest SGC graded copy of the 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card sold for $630,000 over the weekend, the top price in Heritage Auctions’ Winter Sports Card Auction. The 5.5 example is one of eight in SGC’s population report.
In all, the auction brought in over $11.1 million. Seven lots sold for more than $100,000 including the buyer’s premium. A 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card graded PSA 10, the highest price for a Gem Mint PSA graded copy since September 2021.
The auction included numerous high level vintage unopened boxes, led by a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box with cards from the second, third and fourth series.
The 24-pack box, consigned by the family of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., the late son of legendary Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, sold for $336,000 after authentication from BBCE. Items from Rupp’s lifelong collection also included a 1953 Topps Willie Mays graded PSA 8 which sold for $186,000.
Several unopened boxes from a previously unknown collection purchased late last year were sold in the auction, including a 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box that netted a record $105,000, a 1st series 1968 Topps Football 36-pack cello box that also established a new mark ($99,000) and a 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box ($18,600).
The first batch of items from the collection sold for a total of $284,455 with more set to sell in February, March and beyond. In all, the collection from a former Topps employee is expected to bring in seven figures.
Nearly two dozen vintage autographed cards obtained by a young Mike Greenbaum during the era in which they were produced were among some of the most popular items in the auction. A 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson graded 1.5 with an 8 autograph grade topped the group at $117,000.
A signed Roy Campanella from the same set, with the same grades, was purchased for $69,000.
Individual cards sold included a T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait graded PSA 6. Carrying a Piedmont advertising back, the card sold for $105,000. A 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle graded PSA 9 went for $80,533 while a 1962 Topps Manager’s Dream card featuring both Mantle and Mays went for $75,000.
Complete sets offered included the top rated set of 1909-1912 Colgan’s chips discs. the 289-card group went for $54,000.
The 16th best 1969-70 Topps Basketball set netted $93,000 while an all-PSA 8 1952 Bowman baseball set settled at $84,000.
Complete results can be found here.
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