Mikan, DiMaggio, Banks Lead All-star Lineup in SCP Auctions' Fall Premier

SCP Auctions’ 2015 Fall Premier online auction is live, running through Dec. 5 at www.scpauctions.com. Top lots include a 1948 George Mikan Bowman rookie card, the only one of its kind that’s been graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA; Joe DiMaggio’s 1951 game-worn Yankees road uniform from his final season; a previously unknown and impeccably preserved Ernie Banks 1969 Chicago Cubs road jersey; and a one-of-a-kind 1957-58 Topps Basketball complete set in final production uncut sheet form.

Basketball Hall of Famer Jo Jo White’s personal memorabilia collection, as well as the Jeff Figler Collection, which holds complete Topps Baseball sets ranging from 1952 to the ‘70s, are also being featured.

See below for specifics of the featured items.

1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan Rookie Card – Gem Mint PSA 10 (1/1)
Despite his historical stature as “The Babe Ruth of Basketball” few career contemporary card issues exist for George Mikan. Of those, his 1948 Bowman rookie card stands not only as the key to that landmark issue, but is generally considered the King of Basketball cards, and moreover, one of the most revered cornerstones in the card collecting hobby. The offered card is the one and only Gem Mint 10 George Mikan 1948 Bowman rookie card graded by PSA, with four examples having been graded Mint 9. In PSA’s company history, they have reviewed more than 8,500 total 1948 Bowman basketball cards, which has produced only 12 Gem Mint cards, including this extraordinary Mikan rookie. It last sold in 2009 for $225,000 (a still-standing record price for a basketball card) and early estimates indicate the card could nearly double its previous sale price.

Joe DiMaggio’s 1951 Game-Worn New York Yankees Road Uniform
The 1951 MLB season will forever stand as a definitive year in the history of the New York Yankees franchise. The campaign would mark the final curtain call of the “Yankee Clipper,” Joe DiMaggio. In 13 seasons he amassed 361 homers, averaged 118 RBI annually and compiled a .325 lifetime batting mark. Here is the striking gray flannel New York Yankees road jersey and pants that were worn by “Joltin’ Joe” in that bittersweet final season. The uniform originates from DiMaggio’s personal collection of career mementos, and along with a 1951 home ensemble, is one of only two DiMaggio uniforms in the world with direct player provenance. Early estimates price the uniform at $400,000+.

1923-25 Lou Gehrig Rookie Era Sidewritten H&B Signature Model Bat (PSA/DNA GU7)
From the prestigious E. Lisk Wyckoff Jr. Collection comes this bat, one of the three earliest Gehrig specimens documented by PSA/DNA, dates from Gehrig's formative first seasons in the big leagues. The 36-inch, 36.8-ounce war club shows evidence of outstanding use with even a handle crack. It is the earliest signature model Gehrig bat authenticated by PSA/DNA to date. Estimate: $150,000+.

1980-81 Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers Game-Worn Road Jersey
At 17, Wayne Gretzky turned pro with the World Hockey Association’s Indianapolis Racers, who quickly traded him to the Edmonton Oilers, where he was allowed to keep uniform number 99. In 1979, Gretzky made his NHL debut. This incredible road blue knit gamer by Sandow SK dates from Gretzky’s second season with Edmonton and is generally regarded as the finest Gretzky game jersey in the hobby. Estimate: $100,000 - $150,000.

1969 Ernie Banks Cubs Game-Worn Road Jersey – Fresh to the Hobby
Offered here is Banks’ Chicago Cubs road jersey from 1969, a season in which the team found itself in first place for 155 days but finished second in the N.L. East division standings to the eventual World Series Champion New York Mets. Among the few surviving original, unaltered Banks jerseys known, the offered road example, previously unknown to the hobby though impeccably preserved, ranks near the top. Estimate: $100,000 - $150,000.

1957-58 Topps Basketball Complete Set in Uncut Sheet Form
This incredible, one-of-kind uncut sheet remains a singularly historic and important collectible in the field of basketball card collecting. This card set represented the only basketball card release for the Topps Co. until it came out with its 1968-69 Topps Test set. The key rookie cards for this set include: #1 Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton; #17 Bob Cousy; #19 Tom Heinsohn; #24 Bob Pettit; and #77 Bill Russell. Presented here is an extremely rare, and possibly unique, uncut sheet from the set that measures 28 inches wide by 43 inches high and originates from the Topps archives.Estimate: $75,000.

The Jeff Figler Collection
A professionally certified sports memorabilia appraiser and a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America, Jeff Figler owns one of the largest and most diverse collections of sports, pop culture and presidential memorabilia in the country. His top offerings in SCP Auctions’ 2015 Fall Premier include the 1952 Topps Baseball complete set with the vast majority of cards including the Mickey Mantle card (#311) grading in the VG to EX range, as well as several other complete Topps Baseball sets extending from the 1950s through to the ‘70s. His collection also boasts an exceptional assortment of game-worn and autographed memorabilia.

High-Grade 1911 T3 Turkey Red Set Break
The T3 Turkey Red tobacco premiums were the most dramatic major card set ever produced. Issued more than a century ago (1911), these mail-in tobacco premiums were and still are unprecedented in their enormity and artistry. Their size proportionately increased the likelihood of creases and other damage over time, making it very difficult for discerning collectors to find even mid-grade examples. With 100 baseball subjects in all, the pursuit of a complete collection in a presentable state of preservation is a worthy endeavor that requires patience and determination. The group presented offers a giant leg up. Culled from a long dormant complete set, this newly graded crop of T3s includes many low-pop examples graded at the seldom achieved EX 5 and higher threshold. Highlights include examples of Ty Cobb (PSA 4), Christy Mathewson (PSA 5) and Cy Young (PSA 5) to name a few.

The Jo Jo White Collection
Selected by Boston with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft out of Kansas University, White helped the team win two titles (1974 and ’76) and finished his 10-year career with the Celtics averaging 18.3 points per game and led the team in assists four different seasons. Top items include his three championship rings (1974, ’76 and ’08, the latter presented to him for serving as a community relations representative for the team), NBA All-Star Game plaques, two collegiate All-America selection awards and several key mementoes from his time competing at the Boston Garden.

Other notable lots in the auction include: a rare 1876 Chicago White Stockings large format print with team composite images of 11 players, 1936 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team member Carl Shy’s gold medal from Berlin, a super rare 1900 Paris Summer Olympic Games 1st Place winner’s gold medal (22K solid gold) awarded for automobile racing, a 1970 Topps #123 Pete Maravich rookie card graded Gem Mint PSA 10 (1-of-1), a 1948 Bowman Basketball uncut sheet of 28 high series cards and a circa 1929 Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig dual-signed baseball (PSA/DNA NM-MT 8), the second-highest graded example.

Bidding is open to registered bidders only and concludes on Saturday, Dec. 5. The auction will be conducted online at www.scpauctions.com. For more information, call (949) 831-3700.