Ty-Cobb
Ty Cobb’s used dentures, rare cards lead record-setting SCP auction
Despite a downturn in the sports collectibles market, vintage sports cards and memorabilia are still in demand as SCP Auction demonstrated this weekend.
SCP Auctions’ 2022 Summer Premier Auction broke more than a dozen records as it closed with a flurry on Friday night, with Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig and other sports legends leading the way.
A rare 1959 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded SGC 9, sold for $60,667, a record for any SGC-graded example of the card.
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A 1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb card, graded PSA 3, also set a record for its grade with a final price of $50,062, while a T206 Piedmont Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder card, graded PSA 6, set a record for that variation when it sold for $37,668.
Even Ty Cobb’s dentures brought an impressive price. The most rare item in the auction, Cobb's well-preserved and personally-used dentures previously displayed at the Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown sold for $18,840.
Another one of the most rare items was a 1928 Yuengling's Ice Cream #26 Lou Gehrig card, graded PSA 8, which went for a record $28,255.
Among game-worn memorabilia, the jersey worn by two-way star Shohei Ohtani when he hit his milestone 45th home run of his 2021 MVP season stole the show. The Ohtani-signed and inscribed threads brought $77,172, while a pair of 1996 Michael Jordan Air Jordan XI game-worn and signed sneakers also attracted a strong result, selling for $50,137.
Also offered were more than 50 vintage boxing cards and memorabilia items relating to legendary fighter Jack Johnson, including a historic 1910 letter challenging James Jeffries to the 1910 World Heavyweight Championship, which sold for $40,388.
Other auction highlights include:
• Oscar Robertson's 1979-80 Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame Ring for $41,435.
• A 1910 E98 set of (red) 30 Ty Cobb cards for $37,610
• A 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Blue Refractor Mike Trout signed rookie card (BGS 9.5) for $34,243.
• 1980s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-autographed Los Angeles Lakers game-used goggles for $29,586.
• A 2012 Derek Jeter-signed Louisville Slugger game-used bat photo-matched to nine games and nine hits for $26,669.
• A 1970 Pelé Brazil National Team match-worn and autographed jersey for $26,669.
• A 2014 Aaron Judge Tampa Yankees (Single-A) game-worn home jersey, photo-matched to three games, for $22,039.
• A 2007 Boston Red Sox World Series Championship players-style ring with original presentation box for $20,724.
• A 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor #138 Kobe Bryant Rookie card (PSA 9) for $20,724.
• A 1915 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb (PSA 2) for $20,724.
• A 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie (BVG 6) for $20,060.
• A 2009 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Numbers Pieces Autographs card of Julius Erving and Bill Russell (BGS 8, 10 AUTO) for a record $19,540.
• July 3, 1967 Sports Illustrated featuring Roberto Clemente’s first cover for $19,078.
• A 1910 T206 Piedmont Cy Young Cleveland Portrait for $17,126.
• A 2009 National Treasures Timeline Materials Last Name Signatures #5 Stephen Curry Rookie card (BGS 9.5, 10 AUTO) for $15,569.
• A 1917 Chicago White Sox World Series Champions original Type 1 photo by George Grantham Bain with all “eight men out” from the infamous Black Sox scandal $14,032.
• A 1911 original Type I photograph of Ty Cobb sliding into home wearing a Cleveland Naps uniform at the first unofficial all-star game for $10,780.
