If diversity is the key to success, then Clean Sweep Auction's upcoming sale has all the makings of a winner.
With more than 1,800 lots of material covering baseball, football, basketball, hockey, boxing, auto racing and entertainment, and items ranging from autographed photos and baseballs to team publications, tickets, publications and even rare bobbing head dolls, the phrase "something for everyone" is certainly accurate for this auction.
"This sale is really a hybrid of two of our most popular auction themes," said Clean Sweep president Steve Verkman. "We have the memorabilia and autographed items that traditionally appear in our $500-and-under sales, as well as a large selection of high-grade trading card singles and sets (from 1960-present) that typically appear in our card sales."
Among the highlights of this sale is a large collection of 1960's baseball and football bobbing head dolls. There are about 80 dolls, ranging from the generic team dolls with generic young boy poses to baseball mascot figures to a Yankees doll depicting Mickey Mantle. Conditions vary on these condition-sensitive pieces, so bidders should check out the photos of each doll on the Clean Sweep website (www.csauctions.com).
Another interesting feature of this auction are several dozen vintage baseball and football pennants. Most are from the 1940s and 1950s, but some date back earlier.
"We have a lot of people bidding on pennants whenever we get some for our auctions," Verkman said. "Pennants are very popular because they're still affordable and they're a really nice piece of memorabilia that can be displayed."
Fans of autographed photos will find a selection of nearly 150 signed 8-by-10s, that features a wide array of stars, including several deceased legends such as Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Dizzy Dean and others.
Autograph collectors will also find plenty to choose from when it comes to single-signed baseball and team-signed balls. "We have some great team balls like the 1951 Yankees, 1952 Giants, 1954 Dodgers and 1967 Red Sox," Verkman said.
Single-signed balls feature some very rare pieces, including a Hugh Casey single-signed ball that Verkman said is the first he's ever seen. Casey, who pitched in nine seasons from 1935-49, died in 1951. Among the many single-signed balls from deceased stars in this auction are Burleigh Grimes, Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle, Don Drysdale, Mayo Smith and Lefty Gomez.
World Series collectors will want to take note of a run of World Series programs from the 1930s through the 1960s, as well as a full World Series ticket from 1951 and a 1960 World Series ticket stub.
Verkman noted this sale also features one of his largest hockey selections to date, and includes autographs from the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Mario Lemieux.
Card collectors will have plenty to choose from in this sale, including a variety of full sets dating back to the 1970s, as well as some oddball items like 1960-61 Bazooka panels, 1964 Topps Standups, full boxes of Transogram cards and more.
Basketball fans will have some very unique card offerings as well, including some rare Kahn's basketball sets, 1977 Sportscaster cards that feature the first cards in that series of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and a variety of unopened packs and boxes from the 1970s. Also available are a variety of ABA programs and yearbooks and a unique Julius Erving "Super Pro" doll in its original packaging.
Clean Sweep is also accepting consignments for its next major auction, which closes May 30. The consignment deadline is April 1.
