1952 Topps Uncut Sheet With Mantle, Al Simmons Collection and Jordan Jersey Lead Goldin Auctions Sale

As baseball fans prepare for another memorable October on the field, the 2015 Goldin Auctions October Legends & Americana Auction is offering nearly 1,000 lots of historic baseball memorabilia for sale from Oct. 19-Nov. 14, at GoldinAuctions.com. The auction includes the only known game-used ball from the 1918 World Series, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Rookie Card (PSA 6), a one-of-a-kind 1952 Topps high number 25-card uncut sheet, items from the estate of Hall of Famer Al Simmons and the largest number of trading card lots ever offered.

"Since the market for vintage baseball cards has recently heated up, it's the perfect time for us to offer the largest collection of vintage baseball cards we have ever included in one auction," said Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions. "In addition, it's exciting to bring many one-of-a-kind items like the 1918 World Series ball and 1952 Topps uncut sheet to auction for the first time."

Lot #3 - 1918 Red Sox Game 6 World Series Baseball – Despite breaking the "Curse of the Bambino" in 2004, 1918 will always be synonymous with the Red Sox as it was the year Babe Ruth lead them to their last championship for 86 years. This ball, used in the decisive Game 6 versus the Cubs, was signed immediately after the game by three top Red Sox executives – E.G. Barrow, Harry Frazee and U.J. Hermann and inscribed by Ruth. The ball is dated Sept. 11, 1918, and includes the game's final score 4-2 and includes LOA's from MEARS and JSA.

Lot #4 - 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Rookie Card Graded PSA Ex-MT 6 – It is rare when a Mantle rookie of this quality is offered for sale.

Lot #5 - 1952 Topps High Number Uncut Partial Sheet of 25 Cards Including Mantle - Although most of the uncirculated 1952 Topps cards were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean, this partial uncut sheet survived. As far as we know it is a true one-of-a-kind and one has never been offered at auction. The 25-card sheet, which was cut from the original 100-card sheet includes Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Bill Dickey, Bobby Thomson, Hoyt Wilhelm, Dick Groat and others.

Lot #912 - 1933 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie PSA NM-MT 8 - One of just seven copies assessed at this quality. It is truly a rarity when one of these "short prints" become available for sale. Goudey initially forgot to print the card, and after realizing their mistake, they printed it with their 1934 card run and mailed them individually with a letter of apology to customers.

Lot #899 - 1916 D329 Weil Baking Co. #151 Babe Ruth Rookie Card - The highest graded example of this rare and desirable card graded 60 EX 5 by SGC.

Lot #15-22 - Al Simmons Collection - the lots come directly from the estate of the former Philadelphia A's Hall of Famer: Final out baseball from Walter Johnson's 1926 Opening Day 15-inning shutout; Simmons 1934 All-Star Game Pendant; 1928 Al Simmons game-used Hillerich & Bradsby Bat (PSA/DNA GU 9.5); Lot of 15 Al Simmons signed checks; Al Simmons All-America Board of Baseball Certificate signed by Babe Ruth; 1932 Al Simmons game-used and inscribed HR ball (4/16/32); 1931 Silver Bat presented by the City of Milwaukee (his hometown).

Jordan jersey and more
A game-worn and signed Michael Jordan jersey from the final regular-season game as a member of the Chicago Bulls, plus a pair of his signed game-worn sneakers from the 1996 NBA Finals, are also in the sale.

"Michael Jordan's growing influence in the world of sports collecting is catching up to his legendary status on the basketball court as collectors who grew up wanting to be like Mike build their collections," Goldin said. "These two lots mark significant achievements in Michael's career and are must-have items in telling the story of Michael Jordan."

Even though Jordan ended his career as a member of the Washington Wizards, he will forever be a Chicago Bull. As a result, Lot No. 1, his final Bulls regular season jersey, is extremely significant. The jersey was worn on April 18, 1998, when he scored 44 points against the arch-rival NY Knicks to edge Shaquille O'Neal for his 10th and final scoring title. The Bulls home white jersey is signed by Jordan on the back, photo-matched by MeiGray and Upper Deck, and accompanied by an LOA from the Bulls. The only other photo-matched Jordan jersey from his final Bulls season sold for over $100,000 this summer in the Goldin Auctions Summer Live Auction at The National.

Jordan was best known for his competitiveness and high-flying dunks, but he also changed the world of basketball shoes. That's why Lot No. 2 a pair of Nike Air Jordan XI sneakers he wore during game three of the 1996 NBA Finals is so significant. After leading the Bulls to a record 72-10 record, a championship was required to cement the Bulls as the NBA's greatest team. Jordan scored 36 points on June 9, 1996 in game three and then presented the sneakers he wore to Seattle Super Sonics guard Eric Snow after the game. A few years later Jordan signed the shoes for Snow at his youth basketball camp under the supervision of Upper Deck. The shoes come with a Letter of Provenance from Snow, an LOA from MEARS confirming the shoes were photo-matched to game three of the NBA Finals, and an LOA from Upper Deck verifying the signature.

In addition to these two historic game-worn artifacts, the 2015 Goldin Auctions October Legends Auction also features a dozen other Jordan lots including: Lot #78 - 1993 Michael Jordan Bulls Championship Ring (salesman sample); Lot #520 - 1994 Jordan Birmingham Barons game-used batting gloves; Lot #1034 - 1986-87 Fleer #57 Jordan Rookie Card BGS Gem Mint 9.5; Lots 1210-1211-1212 - Jordan game-used warm-up pants, game-used road black shorts and game-used home red shorts.

To register for the auction and receive a free catalog, visit www.GoldinAuctions.com.