Heritage Auctions' Winter Sports Card Auction made history over the recent weekend, with a remarkable sale of a premiere SGC graded 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card. This highly sought-after card, rated 5.5 by SGC, reached an astounding sale price of $630,000. Its rarity is further accentuated by the fact that only seven other examples are known within SGC's records. The auction itself was a momentous occasion, generating a staggering total of $11.1 million in sales. Among the treasures sold, seven items each fetched upwards of $100,000, including the buyer's premium. One highlight was a pristine 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card, graded PSA 10, which achieved the highest sale price for a Gem Mint PSA graded copy since September 2021.
The auction featured an impressive collection of vintage, still-sealed boxes, with a particular standout being a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box containing cards from the second, third, and fourth series. Originating from the collection of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., descendant of the famed Kentucky basketball coach, Adolph Rupp, this box was auctioned for an impressive $336,000. Another notable item from Rupp Jr.'s collection was a 1953 Topps Willie Mays card, graded PSA 8, which commanded a price of $186,000.
In addition, the auction included several unopened boxes from a recently discovered collection that was acquired towards the end of the previous year. These boxes attracted significant attention, with a 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box setting a record-breaking sale of $105,000, a 1968 Topps Football 1st series 36-pack cello box achieving a new benchmark at $99,000, and a 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box fetching $18,600. The initial offerings from this collection, associated with a former Topps employee, totaled $284,455, with expectations of reaching seven figures as more items are sold in the coming months.
The auction also featured around two dozen vintage autographed cards, accumulated by Mike Greenbaum during their time of origin, which garnered significant interest. A standout piece was a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card, graded 1.5 with an autograph grade of 8, leading the pack with a price of $117,000. Another notable sale from the same set was a similarly graded signed Roy Campanella card, which fetched $69,000.
Among individual card sales, a T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait, graded PSA 6 with a Piedmont advertising back, sold for an impressive $105,000. A 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded PSA 9, reached $80,533, while a 1962 Topps Manager’s Dream card, featuring both Mantle and Mays, sold for $75,000.
The auction also showcased complete sets, with the highest-rated set of 1909-1912 Colgan’s chips discs selling for $54,000. The 16th ranked 1969-70 Topps Basketball set, consisting of impressive PSA graded cards, garnered $93,000, and an all-PSA 8 1952 Bowman baseball set was acquired for $84,000. These diverse and valuable selections demonstrate the breadth and depth of the auction.
Heritage Auctions' Winter Sports Card Auction proved to be an extraordinary event, with a Babe Ruth rookie card and a Michael Jordan rookie card leading the way. The remarkable sales and record-breaking prices have solidified this auction as one for the history books.
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