Five cards from the earliest days of the careers of some baseball greats sold for six-figure prices as Heritage Auctions wrapped up its Summer Sports Card Catalog Auction. Several hundred cards from a variety of sports were offered in the auction, many of which were among the finest graded examples. In all, the auction generated more than $5 million. The highest … [Read more...]
RR Auction Set to Launch First Sports-Only Sale
RR Auction has been selling historic, entertainment, space and other collectibles for 40 years. Next month, the Boston-based company will launch its first auction dedicated strictly to sports memorabilia, with more than 650 items scheduled to go on the block including some rare baseball cards, championship rings, autographed items and game-used memorabilia. The auction is set … [Read more...]
5 Cards to Capture Baseball As It Was 50 Years Ago
It was the last year in which finishing at the top of the standings in your league meant an automatic berth in the World Series. It was the year in which Nolan Ryan and Johnny Bench made their baseball card debuts and a year in which the American League batting champ barely hit .300. In 1968, baseball card packs were still a nickel, and while you won't find even … [Read more...]
Ryan Rookie Card: A Hobby Icon Turns 50
2018 will mark several anniversaries in the world of sports card collecting. For me, it starts with the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card. 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card As a young collector growing up, Ryan was the first true player that I actually collected. While a Mets fan, I still gravitated towards Ryan and his gaudy strikeout numbers. That was probably aided by the … [Read more...]
Conlon Photo Archive Sells for $1,792,500
A collection of more than 7,400 glass plate negatives of baseball players originally taken by pioneering photographer Charles Conlon in the first part of the 20th century sold for nearly $1.8 million Saturday night. The archive, once owned by The Sporting News, had been the property of financially troubled sports memorabilia dealer and photo archivist John Rogers. In … [Read more...]
FDR Baseball, Babe Ruth Items Featured In Mile High Auction
Mile High Card Company officials are feeling sky high about the items the Colorado-based business is offering in its August Catalog Auction. The biggest highlights: a baseball signed by Babe Ruth, and a ball inscribed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith in 1937. In addition, a graded 1952 Topps set rated No. 10 on the PSA registry … [Read more...]
Nolan Ryan Rookie Card Prices Continue Upward Trend
It’s not rare. Over 8,000 have been graded by PSA and SGC alone and ungraded examples are sold every day online, in stores and at shows. Make no mistake, though, the market for high-grade examples of the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card has been very, very good to collectors—and investors. Ryan's status as a Hall of Fame favorite among fans who recall the seven … [Read more...]
Notes: Ruth Exhibit Planned; Eaton Hands Gamer to Youngster
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. will open “One Life: Babe Ruth,” the first exhibition in the “One Life” series devoted to a baseball star. It will open June 24 and run through May 21, 2017. Featuring more than 30 objects, including prints and photographs of Ruth, personal memorabilia and selected artifacts of adverting that he endorsed, this … [Read more...]
Notes: Unique Ali Collection; Kaline’s Last Bat; Icons at Auction
Stephen Singer’s collection of Muhammad Ali memorabilia isn’t the world’s biggest but it’s definitely got a uniqueness to it. Singer, who launched an auto dealership in Hooksett, NH, has his collection on display there. He’s got some traditional pieces like signed boxing gloves, old fight posters and other memorabilia but customers and other visitors can also see a copy of … [Read more...]
Notes: Ryan, Rose 10s to Auction; 6-Figure Sales; Pele Selling; Archives Attention
The only PSA 10 examples of the rookie cards of Nolan Ryan and Pete Rose are scheduled for auction in late August. The Rose card sold four years ago for $157,366. The record price for a PSA 9 Ryan was set last month at $41,825. Even 8s are selling for big money now as this auction would seem to indicate. The PSA 10 Ryan hasn’t been sold at public auction until now. Heritage … [Read more...]