Propelled by lofty numbers from a stunning "New York City Find" of high-grade T206 White Borders and an accumulation of rare T4 Obak Cabinets, the Nov. 30 Sotheby's/SCP Internet Auction produced a record $2.3 million in sales.
"Nothing fuels the fire of collectors more than high-quality material that is fresh and uncirculated," said Dan Imler, managing director of SCP Auctions. "A significant percentage of both the cards and memorabilia offered in this auction had never before been offered publicly. The enthusiasm generated by some of the significant 'finds' we featured had a strong effect on prices realized throughout the entire sale."
The card portion of the 780-lot sale, which included the well-publicized "New York City Find" of T206s and the T4 Obak Cabinets, included the following highlights:
? 1909-11 T206 Chief Bender (Portrait) PSA 8 - $7,161
? 1909-11 T206 Frank Chance (Portrait, Red) PSA 7 - $6,062
? 1909-11 T206 J.J. Clarke (Nig, Cleveland) PSA 7 - $5,066
? 1909-11 T206 Johnny Evers (Portrait) PSA 8 - $8,877
? 1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson (Portrait) PSA 8 - $20,191
? 1909-11 T206 Willie Keeler (With Bat) PSA 9 - $12,536
? 1909-11 T206 Willie Keeler (Portrait) PSA 8 - $30,792
? 1909-11 T206 Nap Lajoie (Portrait) PSA 8 - $11,814
? 1909-11 T206 Carl Lundgren (Chicago) PSA 7 - $19,750
? 1909-11 T206 Joe Tinker (Portrait) PSA 7 - $8,376
? 1911 T4 Obak Cabinet No. 86 Buck Weaver, San Francisco - $28,282
? 1911 T4 Obak Cabinet Mundorff, Portland (NWL) - $6,510
? 1911 T4 Obak Cabinet Roger Peckinpaugh, Portland (PCL) - $6,510
? 1911 T4 Obak Cabinet Steen, Portland (PCL) - $4,891
Several notable prices were achieved among the vast selection of other pre- and postwar cards that included representations of nearly every vintage baseball issue, including 19th-century cards, Goudeys, Play Balls, Topps, Bowmans and scarce regionals.
Topping the list of most expensive lots in the auction was a 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie PSA 9. The pristine example of one of the hobby's most mythic cards sold for $123,488. The runner-up was a 1948-49 Leaf Baseball complete set, entirely graded, that was listed as the Third Finest on PSA's Set Registry, which sold for $73,425.
Other highlights include:
? 1894 N142 Honest (Duke) Cabinets E. J. Delehanty - $16,868
? 1909 T212 Obak Pacific Coast League complete set - $26,936
? 1911 T212 Obak Pacific Coast League complete set of 175 - $20,012
? 1913 T200 Fatima Team Cards Brooklyn Nationals PSA 6 - $3,806
? 1911 T205 Gold Border Christy Mathewson PSA 6 - $8,068
? 1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb PSA 8 - $61,809
? 1916 M101-4 Gimbels Ruth rookie PSA 5 - $29,014
? 1921 Frederick Foto Ruth SGC 10 - $20,191
? 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams GAI 9 - $17,743
? 1948-49 Leaf Dave Philley PSA 8 - $7,614
? 1957 Topps Ted Williams PSA 9 - $10,028
The Memorabilia portion of the Sotheby's/SCP Internet auction offered a wide array of autographed items, game-used bats, jerseys, trophies and awards, programs, advertising pieces, pennants, tickets, and several Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and New York Yankees items. Ruth-related items accounted for some of the highest memorabilia prices; topping the list is a Ruth Model signed bat (not game used) that topped out at $52,741.
Othe memorabilia highlights include:
? 1906 Ty Cobb 1 1/4-inch pin - $8,070
? 1915 Boston Red Sox Real Photo Postcard with rookie Ruth (EX, from Copeland) - $13,347
? 1915 PM1 Walter Johnson ornate pin - $4,140
? Ruth-signed 1923 World Series Game 4 ticket stub (Ruth HR), PSA/DNA 9 - $12,998
? Baseball signed by Ruth and Gehrig four days after the 1927 World Series - $20,191
? 1924 Grover Alexander-endorsed Chicago Cubs payroll check - $9,763
? 1934 Tour of Japan presentation album with team-signed sheets - $31,988
? Harmon Killebrew 1969 game-ued first baseman's glove - $11,396
? 1975 World Series Game 6 lineup cards - $18,355
A complete listing of prices realized from the auction is available online at www.scpauctions.com. The Sotheby's/SCP Auctions Spring, 2007 Live Auction in New York will feature the Casey Stengel Estate Collection. For more information call (800) 350-2273; to order a catalog for the auction call (888) 752-0002.
