Mile High Card Co. closes ‘20 with a bang as December auction sales top $3.7M

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- The new year is almost upon us and Mile High Card Company’s December Auction, which concluded on Dec. 10, bids farewell to a tumultuous 2020.

“I think everyone’s pretty happy to turn the page on this roller-coaster year and looking forward to getting back to normal,” said MHCC President and CEO Brian Drent. “But one bright spot has been the increase in popularity in the sports collectibles market. There’s never been a better time to be a seller and there’s never been more opportunity if you’re a buyer.”

The auction was highlighted by the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 NM-MT and an 1880s Adrian "Cap" Anson game-used and signed bat MEARS A10, PSA/DNA, one of the finest game-used bats in the hobby. The Mantle card sold for $394,228, the bat went for $203,578.

Also, a 1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth autographed PSA/DNA Auto 9 MINT sold for $183,214 and a 1933 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig autographed PSA 2 GOOD PSA/DNA 7 Auto fetched $132,764.

Other key items in the auction were a 1914 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson SGC 20 FAIR 1.5 that sold for $53,043, a 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 NM-MT that pulled in $41,513, a 1954 Bowman #65 Mickey Mantle PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ that nearly tripled the previous record sale at $55,207, a 1961 Topps #300 Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINT that set a four-year high at $14,177, a 1963 Topps #200 Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINT that destroyed the last record by bringing in $35,582, a 1964 Topps #50 Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINT that sold for $15,500, a 1968 Topps 3-D Bob Clemente PSA 7 NM grabbing $30,736 (over $9,000 more than the last sale), a 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan PSA 9 MINT taking in $21,276, a 1957 Topps #151 Paul Hornung PSA 9 MINT that sold for $19,809, a 2000 SP Authentic #118 Tom Brady PSA 10 GEM MINT (#0516/1250) that changed hands for $50,042, and a 1960 Hemmets Journal #23 Cassius Clay Hand Cut PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ that reached a final sale of $22,563.

All eyes, and a lot of bidding action, were on the newly discovered Exceptionally Rare 1954 Mascot Dog Food Mickey Mantle with Rookie Season Image PSA 5 EX, that closed at $84,274.

In addition to the incredible Cap Anson game-used bat and the Ruth and Gehrig signed Goudey cards, MHCC had many other significant items of memorabilia that included a Christy Mathewson single-signed ONL Baseball-JSA selling for $19,947, a Babe Ruth single-signed OAL (Harridge) Ball-JSA and PSA/DNA that garnered $17,236, a 1973 Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles game-used and signed road jersey from Cy Young Season Sports Investors Authentication-JSA that took in $12,858, a Circa 1950 Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch Los Angeles Rams game-used helmet that sold for $3,518 and a 1957 Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch Los Angeles Rams game-used and signed road jersey Sports Investors Authentication-JSA that fetched $12,858.

Michael Jordan collectors were treated to an unprecedented assortment of MJ cards, many of which are the most coveted subset and insert cards in the hobby and had never been seen at auction. Bidders responded to the over 140 Michael Jordan lots with overwhelming enthusiasm as record prices were shattered all across the board.

It was led by a 1997 Skybox Metal Universe #23 Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems Red PSA 6 EX-MT that ended at $228,313, a 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Champ #23 Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems PSA 8 NM-MT selling for $136,817, a 1997 Skybox E-X2001 #9 Michael Jordan Essential Credentials Future /72 PSA 6 EX-MT closing at $83,557, a 1997 Skybox E-X2001 #6 Michael Jordan Jambalaya PSA 9 MINT pulling in $57,035, a 1997 SPx #5 Michael Jordan Grand Finale PSA 8 NM-MT selling for $59,495, a 1998 Fleer #9 Michael Jordan Playmakers Theatre PSA 7 NM going for $78,444,a 1998 Skybox Metal Universe #1 Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems PSA 6 EX-MT selling for $107,561, a 1998 Skybox Molten Metal #41F Michael Jordan Fusion-Titanium PSA 7 NM selling for $92,123, a 2004 UD Exquisite Collection #LL-MJ Michael Jordan Limited Logos Auto Patch 20/50 PSA 8 PSA/DNA Auto 10 closing at $61,443, and a 1998 Skybox Premium #8 Michael Jordan Intimidation Nation PSA 10 GEM MT netting $48,152. A 2018 Topps Chrome UCL #1 Lionel Messi Superfractor Autograph 1/1 PSA 10 GEM MT sold for $13,371 as well.

Collectors of unopened material were treated to an intriguing selection of items in this auction as a 1958 Topps Football Unopened Cello Pack with Jim Brown on Top PSA 7 NM topped the list at $42,558, a 1972 Topps Baseball Full Unopened Series 1 Wax Box BBCE brought in $14,395, a 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks and Prospects Unopened Hobby Box with a possible Mike Trout rookie sold for $8,490, a 2003-04 Topps Chrome NBA Unopened Retail Box fetched $7,982, a 1973 Topps Football Full Unopened Wax Box BBCE took in $14,196, a 1974 Topps Basketball Full Unopened Wax Box BBCE sold for $14,395, and a 1985 Topps Garbage Pail Kids Unopened Series 1 Wax Box 48 Packs (BBCE) closed at $24,080.

As spectacular as the past year has been for the hobby in general and MHCC auctions in particular, the staff is working diligently for an even bigger and better 2021 year, and there’s still time to get your consignments in for the Spring Auction. If you desire the maximum possible return for your prized sports cards and/or memorabilia, please call our

For 2021 consignment details, call (303) 840-2784 or visit www.milehighcardco.com.