Cal Raleigh rookie card soars after home run record; Michael Jordan cards set new marks at Goldin
Cal Raleigh’s historic season for the Seattle Mariners has paid off with a record sale of Raleigh’s 2019 rookie card.
Raleigh, one of the top two contenders for AL MVP, hit a franchise-record 60 home runs, a single-season MLB record for a catcher. A first-time all-star, Raleigh broke Mickey Mantle’s record for home runs by a switch-hitter and led the Mariners to the playoffs with a league-leading 125 RBI.
Raleigh’s 2019 Bowman Chrome Superfractor rookie card set a record in the September Elite Auction at Goldin, selling for $80,520, a record for any Raleigh card.
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The Elite Auction also featured several other records, including multiple Michael Jordan cards and collectibles.
The top sales were both record-setting Jordan cards: a 1998-1999 Upper Deck Ovation Jordan game jersey signed relic card for $346,192; and a 1998-99 SkyBox Precious Metal Gems for $225,700.
Jordan also graced the cover of a record-breaking issue of Sports Illustrated—the June 1992 issue once owned by 13-year-old Kobe Bryant sold for $59,887.
Other record-breaking sales include:
• 2001 Upper Deck SP Authentic Ichiro Chirography Gold signed rookie card $172,020.
• 1994-95 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice Blow-Ups Michael Jordan signed card $162,260.
• 2018 Bowman Chrome Shohei Ohtani Atomic Refractor signed rookie card $148,983.
• 1997-98 SkyBox E-X2001 Essential Credentials Future Kobe Bryant card $140,300.
• 2003-04 Upper Deck Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Gold Premier League Debut rookie card $128,100.
• 2015-16 Panini Flawless Kobe Bryant Star Swatch $126,380.
• 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James Noble Nameplates signed game-used patch card $118,340.
• 2014 Panini Prizm Cristiano Ronaldo/Lionel Messi World Cup matchups silver $45,140.
Other notable sales included:
• 2018 Bowman Chrome Shohei Ohtani Orange Refractor signed rookie card $347,700.
• 2021-2022 Panini Flawless Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Star Swatch Platinum signed patch card $91,502.
• 1962 Jell-O Baseball Collection with 10 cards, including Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Duke Snider, Harmon Killebrew and Frank Robinson $32,025.