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Heritage Auctions has another record-setting event with $33.5M spring auction
As the red-hot sports collectible industry continues to set records almost daily, nearly every auction turns into a record-setting event.
That was the case again at Heritage Auctions, which totaled more than $33.5 million in sales for its three-day Spring Sports Catalog Auction, a new record for the company.
The new mark, set May 6-8, followed its $32.7 million Platinum Night Sports Auction in March and only five months after its first $22 million auction in December.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work the team of experts at Heritage Sports put in to this record-breaking auction,” said Chris Ivy, Director of Heritage Sports. “And I am extremely thankful for the thousands of consignors and bidders who continue to entrust us to handle the sale of these precious sports collectibles. The future looks very bright for this hobby as it continues to attract new collectors from around the globe.”
Heritage’s spring auction included more than 3,300 bidders worldwide for 2,900 lots, including 40 that topped six figures.
The most significant sell was the 1982-83 game-worn jersey that Michael Jordan wore during the University of North Carolina’s national championship game, which sold for more than $1.38 million. The sale smashed the previous record for a Jordan game-worn jersey — a 1986-87 Chicago Bulls uniform that sold for $480,000.
“Over the last several years Heritage has set dozens of world records in the red-hot Michael Jordan collectibles market, and now we’re extremely proud to have shattered the records for a Jordan game-worn jersey,” Ivy said. “As the final price tag proves, this jersey has everything any serious collector could possibly want.”
Two cards topped $1 million, including a 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal Honus Wagner card, graded PSA 1.5 Fair, which sold for $2.28 million. It was a new high for a version of the “Holy Grail” card graded below PSA 3. A Wagner-signed baseball from 1940 also sold for $120,000 after heavy bidding.
The other top seller was a 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Championship Ticket card, numbered 34 of 100 and graded BGS 8.5 (autograph 10), which sold for $1.59 million.
Another iconic, vintage card also came close to selling for $1 million, with a 1952 Jackie Robinson Topps card, graded PSA Mint 9, selling for $960,000.
Other iconic cards featuring Hall of Famers also sold well. Two 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookies sold for $690,000 (SGC 9) and $528,000 (PSA 8), while a 1954 Bowman Mantle (SGC Mint 9) sold for $126,000. A signed 1952 Topps Mantle (PSA Authentic) sold for $216,000.
A 1910-11 M116 Sporting Life Ty Cobb, graded PSA Mint 9, went for $264,000, while a T206 Polar Bear Ty Cobb, graded PSA/DNA Authentic, brought $96,000. The only 1948 Leaf Warren Spahn, graded PSA 10, also set a record, selling for $252,000.
Sports memorabilia also sold well, with a 1958 Willie Mays game-worn San Francisco Giants jersey selling for $81,000 and a 1962 Wilt Chamberlain 100-point game ticket stub going for $44,400.
