Memory Lane recently kicked off the year in style with its Winter Rarities Auction, where vintage sports cards and memorabilia took center stage. The event raked in an impressive $7.1 million in sales, setting the tone for a thrilling year ahead in the collecting world.
Babe Ruth stole the show at the auction, with his iconic cards commanding top dollar. Three 1933 Goudey cards, all graded PSA NM/MT 8, collectively fetched nearly $700,000. The highlight was the #149 card with a red background, which sold for a striking $316,736. A rare advertising card from the 1920s featuring Ruth and Carl Mays, graded SGC 3, sparked intense bidding before eventually selling for $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, fetching $48,508.
Not to be outdone, a 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson card, graded PSA 7, set a new grade record by selling for an impressive $173,794, leading a set break that totaled over $850,000 in sales.
The allure of the 1952 Topps cards was evident, with three PSA 8 graded cards crossing the six-figure mark. An Eddie Mathews high-number card took the spotlight, selling for $123,484, while Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays cards also drew significant interest.
Mickey Mantle's presence was felt strongly at the auction, with his cards continuing to captivate collectors. A rare 1959 Bazooka card graded PSA 6 fetched $33,586, while a complete 1959 Bazooka box featuring Mantle on the back, graded PSA 1, sold for $18,575. Several PSA 10 Bazooka Mantle cards from 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1966 collectively garnered close to $50,000.
Other standout Mantle items included a 1953 Topps PSA 7 NM at $29,012, a 1956 Topps Gray Back PSA 8.5 at $38,879, and a 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantle SGC 9 at $16,886.
Beyond baseball, the auction featured multi-sport highlights, such as a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito hockey rookie card, graded PSA 10, which sold for $72,455. Football enthusiasts also had their share of excitement with notable sales like the 1964 Topps Bobby Bell rookie PSA 10 at $31,558, the 1964 Philadelphia Merlin Olsen rookie PSA 10 at $19,018, and the 1973 Topps Art Shell rookie PSA 10 at $20,432.
The auction also offered unique memorabilia finds that piqued bidders' interest, 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 $20,934, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat from the early 1900s at $16,121.
Memory Lane's Winter Rarities Auction delivered exceptional results, leaving collectors eagerly anticipating the next opportunity to acquire pieces of sports history. This successful start to the year sets a high standard for the auctions to come, promising more excitement and record-breaking sales in the world of sports memorabilia.
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