PSA 10 Topps Wayne Gretzky Hits $200K in $3M Memory Lane Sale

Topps Wayne Gretzky sets record in $3 Million Memory Lane auction that continues to show the recent surge in prices for high-grade, vintage material.

Author:
Tom Bartsch
Publish date:
Aug 23, 2016

One of only two PSA 10 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie cards and the first ever to come to public auction sold for $200,976 Aug. 21, as Memory Lane brought the curtain down on its summer auction.

The chance to own the most popular hockey card ever made – in the highest grade possible – generated 175 bids, many coming in during the final hours of the auction.

The price for the Gretzky card was one of numerous records set in the 19-day catalog event. In all, the auction totaled more than $3 million, including the buyer’s premiums.

Prices for many iconic vintage cards continue to rise. In 2013, a 1909 Ramly Walter Johnson rookie card graded PSA 6 sold elsewhere for $29,717. Memory Lane shattered that record this year with a sale of $70,800. Just two years ago, the company sold a 1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson PSA 8 for $44,215. Another Jackson in the same grade sold Sunday for $78,200.

Other high-grade prewar cards changing hands included a T206 Christy Mathewson (portrait) which realized $85,200, a T206 Ty Cobb ‘bat on shoulder’ ($50,976), a 1933 Goudey #1 Benny Bengough PSA 8 ($45,860), 1933 Uncle Jacks Candy Babe Ruth rated PSA 2 ($32,980) and a complete set of 1922 E120 American Caramel cards ($20,980).

The iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card was represented in the auction by a PSA 7 example that soared to $157,200. A PSA 8 example of the rookie card of fellow New York sports icon Joe Namath climbed to $60,576, while a PSA 9 1954 Topps Ernie Banks rookie went for $78,000 and a 1969-70 Topps Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) rookie also graded PSA 9, landed at $64,026.

Memory Lane also offered a unique “double play” combination with a 1960 Topps Mantle card graded PSA 9 and a 1960 Topps unopened cello pack that featured Mantle cards on the top and bottom. The PSA 9 card sold for $26,660 – five times the going rate of five years ago – while the unique pack tallied $19,312.

Football card collectors zeroed in on a 1959 Topps Bart Starr graded PSA 10. The sole Gem Mint example of the Hall of Fame quarterback’s third-year card sold for a whopping $18,112.

Other notable post-War cards and their selling prices included:

1955 Topps #2 Ted Williams PSA 9: $16,135
1960 Topps #316 Willie McCovey PSA 9: $15,112
1955 Bowman #242 Ernie Banks PSA 9: $12,998
1959 Topps #430 Whitey Ford PSA 10: $11,816

As expected, Babe Ruth memorabilia drew a crowd with a Ruth-Lou Gehrig dual-signed baseball selling for $18,260 and a Type 1 rookie era Ruth photo garnering $15,426.

For complete results, more information on upcoming events or to consign high quality sports cards and memorabilia to one of the company’s next auctions, visit Memory Lane’s website or call (877) 606-5263.