Collecting 101
Ruth home run ball, Gem Mantle lead Memory Lane Au
The highly-touted Babe Ruth ball that was not only his last home run hit at Yankee Stadium, but also signed by Ruth, Walter Johnson and HOF umpire Billy Evans, was the headliner in Memory Lane's March 30 auction. The home run was hit against Johnson in an exhibition game on Aug. 23, 1942 and drew 34 bids before selling for $86,250.
The Ruth ball may have been the headliner, but there were plenty of other heavy hitters in this auction. Two Gem-Mint singles led the graded card lineup, with a 1957 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 10 selling for $36,225 and a 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella PSA 10 selling for $37,950.
Not far behind, a 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams PSA 9 sold for $27,025, while a 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Joe Jackson PSA 8 hit $25,300. Also topping the $20,000 mark was a 1933 Goudey Ruth PSA 8, which sold for $20,949, and a 1952 Bowman Mantle GAI 10, which ended at $20,125.
Other high-dollar singles include: 1934 Goudey Jimmie Foxx PSA 8 ($14,624); 1910 E93 Standard Caramel Frank Chance PSA 7 ($15,897); 1910 E93 Standard Caramel Eddie Plank PSA 7 ($11,316); 1911 T205 Gold Border Christy Mathewson PSA 7 ($8,205); 1915 Cracker Jack Johnson PSA 8 ($13,781); 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig PSA 8 ($9,489); 1933 Sport Kings Bobby Jones PSA 8 (7,408); 1954 Topps Ernie Banks PSA 9 ($12,505); 1956 Topps Mantle PSA 9 ($8,205); 1957 Topps Basketball Charlie Tyra PSA 9 ($8,305); 1962 Topps Manager's Dream with Mantle and Willie Mays ($9,025); and a 1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folder Devlin/Mathewson PSA 6 ($10,650).
Several sets also hit very high marks with a 1972 Topps Baseball complete graded set selling for $26,450. The set consisted of 787 cards, all graded PSA 8, 9 or 10. Also, a 1968 Topps Baseball complete graded set with all 598 cards in PSA 8 or 9 sold for $13,781, while a 1974 Topps complete graded set ended at $11,628.
Memory Lane also had its share of signed balls, cuts and cancelled checks in this auction. Another Ruth-signed ball - this one single signed with a bold signature - sold for $20,700. There was also a 1939 All-Star team-signed baseball with 18 signatures, including Gehrig in his last All-Star Game. It sold for $11,930.
Other notables included: a Ruth-signed store model bat ($8,418); Ruth cancelled check graded PSA 10 ($6,164); Ruth signed Thorne vintage photo graded PSA 10 ($6,563); double-signed Ruth cancelled check ($8,205); Cal Ripken Jr. rookie game-used jersey ($8,418); Roberto Clemente 1970s game-used bat ($6,111); Clemente signed cancelled check graded PSA 9 ($4,068), Johnson cut signature graded PSA 9 ($1,235); Grover Cleveland cut signature graded PSA 10 ($1,122); Thurman Munson signed 1970 postcard graded PSA 10 ($1,192); and a Jimmie Foxx signed baseball (also signed by boxer Dan Kelley) ($5.957).
Memory Lane's next auction will end on Aug. 10, with a consignment deadline of June. 3. For complete results or more information, call 877-606-5263 or visit www.memorylaneinc.com.
