Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction recently took the sports memorabilia world by storm, notching over $7.1 million in sales. Vintage sports cards and rare memorabilia captivated collectors globally, with intense bidding wars lighting up the auction floor.
The legendary Babe Ruth stole the spotlight, with three 1933 Goudey cards graded PSA NM/MT 8 fetching a whopping total of nearly $700,000. A standout was the #149 card with a striking red background, snatching an impressive $316,736 at the hammer. An advertising card dating back to around 1920, showcasing Ruth alongside Carl Mays and graded SGC 3, caused a frenzy of bids before landing at a remarkable $95,860. Other Ruth gems included a 1921 E253 Oxford Confectionery card graded PSA 5, selling for $52,102, and a 1932 U.S. Caramel card graded PSA 6.5, bringing in $48,508.
Breaking records, a 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson card graded PSA 7 set a new benchmark for its grade, towering at $173,794. This card was part of a set break that collectively raked in over $850,000 in sales.
1952 Topps classics shone brightly, with three PSA 8 graded cards breaching the six-figure mark. The headliner was an Eddie Mathews high-number card, commanding $123,484, while Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays cards also drew significant bids.
Mickey Mantle cards continued their reign as favorites, with a rare 1959 Bazooka card graded PSA 6 fetching $33,586. A complete 1959 Bazooka box featuring Mantle at the back, graded PSA 1, sealed the deal at $18,575. Four PSA 10 Bazooka Mantle cards from 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1966 collectively brought in close to $50,000. Other Mantle highlights included a 1953 Topps PSA 7 NM at $29,012, a 1956 Topps Gray Back PSA 8.5 valued at $38,879, and a 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantle SGC 9 going for $16,886.
In the realm of baseball and multi-sport rarities, auctions saw exciting bids, including a 1957 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9 at $58,961, and a 1957 Topps Whitey Ford PSA 10 at $56,153. Hockey enthusiasts marveled at the sale of a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito rookie card graded PSA 10, commanding $72,455. Football cards also garnered attention, with notable sales such as a 1964 Topps Bobby Bell rookie PSA 10 for $31,558, a 1964 Philadelphia Merlin Olsen rookie PSA 10 at $19,018, and a 1973 Topps Art Shell rookie PSA 10 selling for $20,432.
The auction didn’t stop at cards; unique memorabilia found new homes amidst fervent bidding, including a Ty Cobb Tobacco tin from the 1910s at $30,463, a Mickey Mantle single-signed baseball with a rare “#6” inscription at $20,934, a handwritten letter from Mantle’s 1951 rookie season at the same price, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat from the early 1900s reaching $16,121.
With groundbreaking sales and exceptional offerings, Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction has set a formidable standard for 2025. The anticipation for the next auction is palpable among collectors eager to add iconic pieces of sports history to their collections.
