Over the weekend, Heritage Auctions held its Winter Sports Card Auction, which proved to be a historic event in the world of card collecting. One of the standout sales was the premiere Babe Ruth rookie card, a 1916 M101-5 blank back card graded 5.5 by SGC, which fetched an astonishing $630,000. This card is extremely rare, with only seven other examples known in SGC’s records.
The auction as a whole was a monumental success, amassing over $11.1 million in total sales. Among the notable items sold were seven that reached prices exceeding $100,000, including the buyer’s premium. One of the most remarkable sales was a 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.
One of the highlights of the auction was a collection of vintage, still-sealed boxes. One such box was a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box containing cards from the second, third, and fourth series. This box, originating from the collection of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., descendant of the famed Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, was auctioned for an impressive $336,000 after being authenticated by BBCE. Rupp Jr.’s collection also included a 1953 Topps Willie Mays card graded PSA 8, which sold for $186,000.
The auction also featured several unopened boxes from a collection that came to light recently. These boxes garnered significant attention, with a 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box setting a record at $105,000, a 1968 Topps Football 1st series 36-pack cello box reaching $99,000, and a 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box selling for $18,600. The initial offerings from this collection, tied to a former Topps employee, fetched a total of $284,455, with expectations of further high-value sales in the coming months.
Mike Greenbaum’s collection of nearly two dozen vintage autographed cards also attracted considerable interest. The star of the collection was a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card graded 1.5 with an autograph grade of 8, which sold for $117,000. Another notable sale was a similarly graded signed Roy Campanella card from the same set, which fetched $69,000.
Individual card sales included a T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait, graded PSA 6 with a Piedmont advertising back, selling for $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.
Complete sets were also on offer, with the highest-rated set of 1909-1912 Colgan’s chips discs selling for $54,000. The 16th ranked 1969-70 Topps Basketball set garnered $93,000, and an all-PSA 8 1952 Bowman baseball set was acquired for $84,000, demonstrating the auction’s diverse and valuable selections.
The Winter Sports Card Auction at Heritage Auctions was a resounding success, with record-breaking sales and highly sought-after cards and sets. Collectors and enthusiasts eagerly participated in the event, showcasing the enduring popularity and value of these rare and iconic sports cards.