Mike Trout’s 2011 first game-worn jersey, the penultimate Tom Brady rookie card, and a complete 1986-87 Fleer basketball PSA 10 set are among the headliers in the Lelands 2021 Spring Classic Auction, which opened a bit ahead of schedule on Thursday.
The jersey is photo-matched to July 8, 2011, when a-then 19-year-old Trout made his debut in a home game against the Seattle Mariners. The jersey is the same one he’s wearing in his 2011 Topps Update rookie card. Bidding opened at $110,000.
The Brady card—an autographed 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie graded 8.5 by Beckett—also quickly pushed into six figures in the opening hours of bidding.
The Fleer set break is keyed by the Michael Jordan rookie card but also includes the remaining 131 cards, all graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA.
The auction marks Lelands’ biggest modern card offering ever, led by a hobby fresh LeBron James 2019 Logoman 1/1 and Rookie RPA’s of Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson, among others. Also up for bid is a 2003 LeBron James Ultimate Collection Autographed Rookie, a PSA 9 Wayne Gretzky 1979 O-Pee-Chee Rookie, a 2003-04 Bowman Gold Chrome Refractors #123 LeBron James Rookie, a 2008 Emblems of Endorsement LeBron James, a 1998-99 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems #53 Kobe Bryant, a 2013 Prizm Silver Giannis Antetokounmpo PSA 10/10, a 2000 SP Authentic Tom Brady Signed Rookie, and a pair of 1/1 Patrick Mahomes cards.
Vintage autographs and memorabilia are spread throughout the 900+ lots. A high-grade Babe Ruth autographed baseball and another inked by Christy Mathewson join a Ted Williams glove, 1938-43 Mel Ott Giants bat, a circa 1955 Ted Williams Red Sox game-used glove, a Derek Jeter 1993 World Series bat and game-worn jerseys from Walt Frazier and Franco Harris.
Also on the auction block are items from the personal collection of Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer Jack Lambert including game-worn gear and awards. The trove even features the holder where he put his false teeth before each game.
Another auction centerpiece is a collection of Buffalo Sabres memorabilia, headlined by the puck from the first goal in franchise history, and game-used sticks from the team’s 1975 Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Additional highlights include game-worn jerseys and other gear from Sabres greats Dominik Hasek, Tim Horton and Roger Crozier.
Additional auction highlights include original photos and one-of-kind negatives from the famed Brown Brothers archive, a Bear Bryant personally owned and worn houndstooth hat, a Babe Ruth signed 700th home run game ticket, an Ernie Davis 1961 Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh game-worn jersey and game ball and a a 1952 Topps near-complete set.
Pop culture and historical memorabilia are also part of the sale, which runs through April 2 at Lelands.com.
Related Stories:
Record Price for Jordan Sticker in Goldin’s 1st Monthly Auction
100 Hottest Michael Jordan Basketball Cards on eBay
Unopened 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Case Sells for Nearly $1.8 Million
Notes: Nebraska Shop Featured; MJ Rookie Nets $200K; Forbes on Sports Immortals Collection; UD Hockey Sets
Notes: Basketball Pop Report Numbers; Record for Dean’s; MLI Coming Soon; Wagner, MJ Update
Notes: Found Money and a Generous Gesture; Employee Theft; Trout Jersey, More
Farm Fresh: 1986-87 Fleer Box with Price Stickers Uncovered by Iowa Collector
30 Years Later, the 1993 National Remains One Of Chicago’s Best
