Century old uniforms. Trading cards issued less than a year ago.
Baseball autographs. Horse racing trophies.
There was a lot of variety in SCP Auctions’ latest catalog–and a market for just about everything. The company offered over 1,200 lots in the auction, which came to a close early Sunday morning.
The top selling item was a T206 Honus Wagner that netted over $1.1 million. The card, which had undergone restoration ordered by its previous owner, generated 12 bids.
In all, seven items sold for $100,000 or more.
The ball hit by Barry Bonds for his 500th career home run, fished out of McCovey Cove by Giants fan Joseph Figone 20 years ago, soared to $303,277. Figone’s original fishing net and life jacket from his boat were included with the lot.
Figone also consigned the first home run ever hit into the water at Pac Bell Park–also hit by Bonds. That ball sold for $7,260.
A 1980-81 Topps Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rookie card graded 10 by SGC–sold for $227,856, the most ever paid for an SGC graded example of the iconic hoops card. Of the 1,520 examples examined by SGC, only eight have been awarded a 10 grade.
One of the nine PSA 10 1968 Topps Mickey Mantle cards sold for $214,579–nearly five times the amount of the previous record set in the summer of 2019.
Other six-figure bids were made for a 1978 Triple Crown trophy originally given to Affirmed trainer Laz Barrera ($150,391) and a baseball signed by Christy Mathewson at the first game of the 1910 World Series ($100,100).
“The sports memorabilia market is on fire, as evidenced by the world records we set last night,” company President David Kohler remarked. “From high-end graded cards to the best of sports memorabilia, the results of our Fall Premier Auction are astonishing.”
Over two dozen price records were set in the auction, most tied to vintage cards. A 1961 Topps Billy Williams rookie graded PSA Gem Mint 10 broke new ground at $92,086, a 1961 Topps Frank Robinson All Star graded PSA Gem Mint 10 went for $89,934 and a 1961 Topps Stan Musial graded PSA Gem Mint 10 netted $79,709, a 1961 Topps Juan Marichal rookie that garnered $75,205, a 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella rookie in a PSA Mint 9 that sold for $66,734, a PSA 10 1972 Topps #595 Nolan Ryan that went for $42,955 and a 1997 E-X2001 Essential Credentials Now Tim Duncan graded BGS Gem Mint 9.5 that went for $30,343.
Game-worn memorabilia from ABA legends John Beasley and Mel Daniels brought big results as well, with bidders coming in hot near the end of the proceedings. Daniels’ ABA All-Star 1974 jersey and 1972 shorts excelled in the sale, garnering $135,966. Beasley’s gamers cleaned up as well. His 1971-74 Utah Stars uniform brought $40,954, 1968 ABA All Star uniform took home $38,084, and 1969 ABA All Star uniform sold for $21,494.
Buyers of original photographs zeroed in on a 1920 Babe Ruth photo from his first New York Yankees appearance encapsulated PSA/DNA Type 1. It sold for $48,871.
Complete results can be found here.
Related Stories:
Rare ABA Gamers from Legends Mel Daniels, John Beasley in SCP Sale
T206 Wagner, High-Grade Vintage and Modern Cards, Bonds’ 500th HR Ball Headline SCP Auctions Sale
Reggie’s 1971 All-Star Jersey, Key Basketball Rookie Cards Headline SCP Sale
T206 Wagner, Jordan’s Gold Medal Shoes Set Records
SCP Opens Auction With Wagner, Willie; Historic Document Sale on Hold
Carl Horner Composites of 1903 World Series Combatants
T206 Wagner Brings $403,664, 1952 Mantle Sets New Mark
Over 3,500 T206 Cards Including Wagner Coming to Auction
