From 19th century baseball cards to a Mike Trout game-used bat, there was plenty of variety in Mile High Card Company’s latest catalog auction. When the dust settled, hundreds of pieces of sports history had found new homes.
Bidding stretched well into the early morning hours of Friday. Among the most popular items sold when the hammer finally fell: an 1888 N173 Old Judge King Kelly “Street Clothes” variation cabinet card (one of only four known to exist) at $63,056, a collection of game-used bats that included each member of the 500 home run club that brought in a combined $299,644, a 1933 V353 World Wide Gum (Canadian Goudey) uncut sheet with three Babe Ruth cards and Lou Gehrig that closed at $49,403 and a nearly complete graded set of T206 cards that fetched $127,920. A near complete master set of 1966 Topps (587/612), rated eighth on PSA’s Registry, was broken up and sold with the cards bringing in a cumulative total of $92,903.
“It was a long night of heavy bidding but with such amazing material being presented, we were ready for the challenge.” said MHCC President and CEO Brian Drent, “We were pleased to see how many record prices were set.”
Game-used bat collectors were treated to a mother lode of material with every member of the 500 home run club represented as well as and other notable superstars. Among the top sellers: a 1926-27 Jimmie Foxx Spalding rookie era bat rated PSA/DNA GU 9 that brought in $27,507, a 1939-40 Ted Williams rookie-era Louisville Slugger PSA/DNA GU 9 that received heavy action before landing at $59,285, a 1959-60 Eddie Mathews Adirondack PSA/DNA GU 10 that sold for $18,329, a 1980 Mike Schmidt Adirondack Pro Ring gamer PSA/DNA GU 10 ($8,997), a 1965-68 Mickey Mantle Louisville Slugger PSA/DNA GU ($10,506), a 2001 Barry Bonds game-used and autographed Sam Bat from his 73 home run season rated PSA/DNA GU 10 ($20,442), a 1982 Cal Ripken Jr. rookie-era Louisville Slugger GU 10 ($10,024), a 2002 Derek Jeter signed Louisville Slugger ($7,227) and a 2013 Mike Trout Old Hickory bat PSA/DNA GU 10 ($10,233).
The sports card selection included numerous key rookie cards and rare issues, topped by a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle SGC 7 NM that hit the ground running before finishing up at $120,095, a 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle rookie PSA 6.5 EX/MT+ settling at $31,624, a 1952 Bowman Mantle PSA 8 NM/MT ( $11,272), a 1919 T213 Coupon Cigarettes Type 3 Christy Mathewson PSA 8 NM/MT ($8,986), a rare 1930 Baguer Chocolate Babe Ruth PSA 7 NM ($9,219), a 1933 Goudey #149 Babe Ruth SGC 7 ( $19,728), a 1933 Goudey #61 Lou Gehrig SGC 8 ( $12,806), a 1960 Topps #200 Willie Mays PSA 9 MINT ($9,314), a 1967 Topps #581 Tom Seaver PSA 9 MINT ($7,686), a 1973 O-Pee-Chee #615 Mike Schmidt PSA 10 GEM MINT ($9,866), a 1933 Sport Kings #35 Knute Rockne SGC 9 ($9,537) and a 1958 Topps #62 Jim Brown SGC 8.5 ($18,485).
New price records were set all across the board with a 1990 Topps #414 Frank Thomas NNOF PSA 9 that more than doubled the previous record by selling for $20,479, a 1922 W575-2/1924 Knight Motors Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb Uncut Panel at $13,350, a 1923 Maple Crispette #8 Ruth PSA 4.5 VG/EX+ with sale of $6,144 and a 1966 Topps #1 Willie Mays PSA 9 at $8,179.
Also of note were five cards from the scarce 1961 Topps Dice Game test series, newly discovered and the only example known of each that combined for a total of $28,338. The top-selling card from the collection was the Bill Mazeroski (SGC 2 GOOD) at $6,996.
Top-notch sets and near sets were prominently featured in the March auction with the T206 near set and 1966 Topps master set break joined by a lot of 138 different graded 1911 T205 Gold Borders that brought in $17,893, a 1915 Cracker Jack lot of 110 different graded cards that sold for $45.583, the top-rated 1962 Kahn’s Wieners set on PSA’s Registry ( $7,696) and a 1951 Parkhurst near set ($17,604).
Other memorabilia items sold included a rare single-signed “Two-Star” 1943 OAL (Harridge) Ruth signed ball that sold for $34,867 and a large selection of original Type 1 photographs. That group included a 1916 Chicago American Giants PSA/DNA panorama with Rube Foster, “Pop” Lloyd and Pete Hill ($10,114), a 1921 Ruth photo by Paul Thompson ($16,599); a 1918 Fort Porter panorama with Shoeless Joe Jackson and Lefty Williams ($5,644) and a 1946 Jackie Robinson news photo ($2,971).
Mile High’s next auction will be in June. For more info on bidding or to consign items, visit the company’s website.
Related Stories:
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Rare King Kelly Cabinet Card; Newly Discovered 1961 Topps Game Cards Part of MHCC Auction
Notes: Mantle Rookie Sales; Baseball Artist at Work; Topps ‘Cards’ in Braves’ New Park; Heritage Museum
T206 Cards Caused Uproar Upon 1909 Release
The 10 Most Important Baseball Cards of the Modern Era
