T206 Wagner leads Memory Lane's Holy Grail auction

The most notable and important card in the hobby headlines Memory Lane's next auction. The Holy Grail Auction has a PSA 2 T206 Honus Wagner with a minimum bid of $50,000. The card has some light creasing and a light surface tear that are barely visible to the naked eye, but don't detract from the overall eye appeal of the card.

Arguably the second most important card in the hobby is also included: A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded PSA 9 originating from the John Branca collection. This Mint Mantle starts off with a minimum bid of $50,000.

Since it has the most important two baseball cards, it seems appropriate to also have the Holy Grail of football cards: a 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski PSA 8. This one starts off at $5,000. Plenty more about these three cards can be found in the Nov. 24 issue of SCD (page 16), but there's a lot more to offer in the auction.

Many other key items are included in this auction, led by a 1927 New York Yankees photograph signed by the entire team. The photograph comes from the estate of George Pipgras, who was a member of the 1927 team.The 8-by-10-inch photograph arrives in a frame measuring 17-by-20-inches and the signatures are all authenticated by PSA/DNA and graded PSA 8. The minimum bid is $50,000.

Key baseball cards in the auction include: 1887 N28 Allen & Ginter John W. Ward PSA 8; 1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson GAI 7.5; 1932 U.S. Caramel Ty Cobb PSA 7; 1932 U.S. Caramel Lou Gehrig PSA 7; 1933 Sport Kings Ruth PSA 8; 1933 Goudey Jimmie Foxx PSA 8; 1933 Goudey Ruth PSA 7; 1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie PSA 2; 1934 Goudey Foxx PSA 8; 1934 Goudey Gehrig No. 37 PSA 8; 1934 Goudey Gehrig No. 61 PSA 8; 1941 Play Ball Ted Williams PSA 8; 1941 Play Ball DiMaggio GAI 8.5; 1948 Bowman Stan Musial PSA 9; 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella PSA 9; 1951 Bowman Whitey Ford PSA 8; 1951 Bowman Mantle PSA 7; 1952 Topps Mantle PSA 4; 1953 Bowman Color Mantle PSA 9; 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax PSA 9; 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 9; 1910 E93 Standard Caramel Honus Wagner PSA 7; and a 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson GAI 8.

Many great lots of cards are featured in the Holy Grail auction, including a 1953 Topps starter set consisting of 59 cards all graded PSA 7 or GAI 7; a complete 1956 Topps PSA 7 set with 342 cards and both checklists; a complete 1956 Topps PSA 6 set; a 1960 Topps set with all 572 with graded and raw cards in Near Mint condition; the 1961 Topps complete set with 587 cards graded and raw in Near Mint condition; a 1963 Topps starter set with 134 cards and nearly all graded PSA 8; and complete raw and graded sets from 1966 and 1967 Topps.

Plenty of signed baseballs are also up for bidding, led by a single-signed Ruth ball authenticated by PSA and JSA. The ball has had signatures removed from two panels, but Ruth's signature is bold and on the sweet spot. Other signed balls include a Ruth, Walter Johnson, Billy Evans and Benny Bengough signed ball; a 1938 Ruth and Dodgers team member signed ball; a Ruth, Johnson and Gehrig signed ball; a 1929 Yankees multi-signed ball with Ruth, Gehrig, Hoyt and Lazzeri; a 1956 National League All-Star Team multi-signed ball with Aaron, Willie Mays, Warren Spahn, Ed Mathews, Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks and 14 more signatures; a 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates multi-signed ball with 32 signatures including Roberto Clemente; a 1947-48 Brooklyn Dodgers multi-signed ball with 27 signatures; and six different Mantle greetings and salutations balls.

There's also a strong lineup of signed canceled checks, including: Christy Mathewson; Babe Ruth; Ty Cobb; Honus Wagner; a Ruth double-signed check with a framed photo; and a lot consisting of a Joe DiMaggio signed check and a Marilyn Monroe signed check.

Memory Lane also has plenty of high-grade football, basketball, hockey and non-sport singles to offer, along with vintage photos, game-used bats and jerseys.

For more information on this auction, visit the web site at www.memory laneinc.com or find the auction catalog that was inserted into the Dec. 1 issue of SCD. Bidders and also call (877) 606-5263 for more information.