Ty Cobb
Sparked by Babe and The Mick, Thomas Newman Collection attracting big dollars at Memory Lane
The Thomas Newman Collection, one of the most impressive and valuable sets of sports cards and memorabilia in the world, is already attracting big dollars and is well on its way to being one of the highest-selling collections of all-time.
Tampa, Fla. Neurologist Dr. Thomas Newman, who passed away at age 73 in January, was an avid sports collector and left behind an extensive collection of rare cards and memorabilia now being auctioned by Memory Lane Inc.
The Newman Collection features both vintage and modern sports cards and is estimated to be worth more than $20 million. It includes the highest-graded 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 card, which could break the all-time record for sports cards. The PSA Mint 9 card has already reached $1,960,000.
The Memory Lane auction, which includes more than 950 lots, opened earlier this month and runs through July 10.
The collection’s “Magnificent 7” of rare vintage cards each included a minimum bid of $100,000 or more and has already topped at least $200,000 in early bidding.
In addition to the 1933 Ruth card, the group includes:
• A 1933 Babe Ruth Goudey #181 graded PSA Mint 9. Current bid: $610,000.
• A 1916 Babe Ruth Sporting News Rookie Card #151 graded PSA EX/MT 6). Current bid: $885,000.
• A 1925 Exhibit Supply Co. Lou Gehrig “Gray Tint” Rookie Card graded PSA EX 5. Current bid: $585,000.
• A 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle graded PSA NM/MT 8. Current bid: $500,000.
• A 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card graded PSA NM/MT 8. Current bid: $255,000.
• A 1948 Bowman Basketball #69 George Mikan card graded PSA Mint 9. Current bid: $205,000.
Also topping six figures is a 1954 Bowman #65 Mickey Mantle (PSA 9) that is currently at $113,947.
Other Ruth cards are also attracting big dollars, including: a 1921 E121, which opened at $30,000 and is up to $101,588; a 1933 Goudey #149 (PSA 7) at $63,173; a 1933 Sport Kings #2 (PSA 8) at $59,863; and a 1933 Goudey #144 (PSA 7) at $45,659.
The collection also features an amazing collection of tobacco cards from the late 1800s, including an 1888 N162 Goodwin Champions cards of Cap Anson with a current bid of $44,895.
It also includes several T206 cards from the early 1900s featuring such stars as Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Shoeless Joe Jackson. Several Cobb cards have already topped $20,000, including a 1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb Piedmont 350 that is currently at $42,757 and a T206 Cleveland Portrait Piedmont (graded PSA 8) that is up to $64,354.
Other rare early-1900s cards drawing big money include a 1910 Tip Top Bread Honus Wagner (PSA 5) that has climbed to $30,904 and a 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson (PSA 4) that is up to $42,757.
Among the other amazing rare items pulling big money are:
• A 1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays card (PSA 8). Current bid: $78,093.
• A 1952 Topps #312 Jackie Robinson (PSA 8). Current bid: $71,835.
• A 1903 World Series Program Pittsburgh at Boston. Current bid: $69,649.
• A 1952 Topps Near-Complete Basic Set with 397 PSA-graded cards. Current bid: $67,572.
• A 1963 Topps #537 Pete Rose Rookie Card (PSA 9). Current bid: $42,757.
• A “Best of the Best” 1936 World Wide Gum Joe DiMaggio Rookie Card (SGC 8.5). Current bid: $47,140.
• A 1941 Play Ball #14 Ted Williams (PSA 9). Current bid: $42,212.
• A 1935 National Chicle #34 Bronko Nagurski Rookie Card (PSA 7). Current bid: $32,794.
• A 1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell Rookie Card (PSA 7). Current bid: $32,504.
To see the entire collection and bid, go to MemoryLaneInc.com.
Jeff Owens is the editor of SCD.
