World records broken in Heritage Sports $12M Platinum Night Auction

Heritage Auctions got its 2017 auction schedule off on a high note, as many lots sold for record-setting prices in its most recent auction.

Author:

Bert Lehman

The most recent Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night auction recorded 28 $100,000-plus results and set numerous world records in the hobby’s first eight-figure event of 2017.

“Success breeds success and we continue to add significant players to our bidding clientele with each auction,” said Chris Ivy, director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. “You need a pretty deep bench to sell so many six-figure items in a single auction, and nobody works harder than we do to match elite collectibles with elite collectors.”

Mickey Mantle claimed the top two slots in the auction with world record results — a $660,000 price realized for a PSA NM-MT 8 example of his famous 1952 Topps rookie, and $486,000 for his 1968 jersey worn to hit his 535th home run. Babe Ruth kept the top three lots purely a Yankees affair, drawing $384,000 for his 1930-31 signed contract.

The red-hot trading card market grew even warmer in this event including:

• 1958 Topps Jim Brown #62 Rookie PSA Mint 9: $336,000
• 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119 Rookie PSA Mint 9: $288,000
• 1938 Goudey Joe DiMaggio #274 PSA Mint 9: $288,000
• 1909-11 T206 Piedmont Christy Mathewson Portrait PSA NM-MT+ 8.5: $168,000
• 1925 Exhibits Lou Gehrig Rookie PSA EX-MT 6 (MK): $102,000
• 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson #50 PSA Mint 9: $102,000
• 1896-97 Whitehead & Hoag "On Time Starch" Baseball Pinbacks (85 Different): $156,000
• 1893 Cy Young Cabinet Card Signed Twice, PSA/DNA Authentic: $120,000
• 1975 Topps Baseball Unopened Cello Case: $114,000

A pair of LeRoy Neiman original works of art brought in more than $300,000 in bids. Neiman’s Arnold Palmer original work of art sold for $144,000 and the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics sold for $156,000.

A pair of relics from history’s greatest daredevil Evel Knievel confirmed the 1970’s icon is still fondly remembered nearly a decade after his passing, commanding $108,000 and $78,000 for his patriotic motorcycle leathers and diamond-studded walking stick, respectively.

World records were obliterated across a wide array of sports collectibles subgenres, from Ted Williams game used bats ($180,000) to 19th century Championship awards ($132,000) to World Series press pins ($108,000) and Arnold Palmer’s 1958 Masters shoes more than quadrupled its pre-auction estimate at $66,000.

For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, visit Heritage’s Permanent Auction Archives at www.HA.com.