Lou Gehrig Collection, elite trading cards set world records in Heritage Auctions’ sale

The Platinum Night auction hosted by Heritage Auctions lived up to its hype with each item averaging more than $10,000. A dozen items reached six-figure results.

“Death, taxes and world-record Platinum Night prices,” said Chris Ivy, director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. “You can be certain about all three.”

The Lou Gehrig Collection contributed nearly half a million dollars to the Platinum Night total, with a $312,000 result for his game-worn New York Yankees cap becoming the second-highest result for a game-worn hat after the famous Babe Ruth model once owned by former Yankees ace David Wells. A trio of high-grade signed checks from the Hall of Famer each soared past $20,000.

“Shoeless Joe” was peerless in the high-dollar event, with Jackson’s 1910 Old Mill and 1914 Boston Garter cards drawing the two top results of the auction at $600,000 and $480,000 respectively, while the best 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card in PSA 8, clocked in third at $456,000.

Other world record highlights include:

• 1903 Breisch-Williams E107 Christy Mathewson rookie, SGC 50 VG/EX 4, the finest of five known examples: $192,000

• 1944-47 Babe Ruth-signed bat, PSA/DNA Mint 9: $72,000

• 1952 Ty Cobb single signed baseball, PSA/DNA NM-MT+ 8.5, one of the highest-graded Cobb singles to ever appear at auction: $50,400

• 1959 Fleer “The 3 Stooges” unopened wax packs lot of 13 with empty box: $52,800

• 1959 Topps Baseball (4th Series) Cello Box with 36 unopened packs: $52,800

• The finest of two known 1967 Super Bowl I full tickets, PSA NM-MT 8: $66,000

• The first Seahawks Super Bowl player ring to appear at auction, presented to wide receiver Arceto Clark in 2013 following the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl XLVIII Championship: $50,400

• 1958 Topps Football cello pack, PSA NM 7, with Jim Brown rookie on top: $26,400

• 1961-62 Fleer Basketball wax box with 24 unopened packs, validated and sealed: $84,000

• 1969 Topps Lew Alcindor #25, PSA Mint 9: $36,000