Cards
CGC to display three of the hobby’s most iconic cards at Fanatics Fest NYC
Card grading company CGC is bringing three of the most iconic sports cards in the hobby to Fanatics Fest NYC.
CGC’s Graded Grail Showcase will feature a signed 1979–80 Topps #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card; a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle card; and an example of the iconic 1909–11 T206 Honus Wagner card.
The Showcase will be on display at CGC’s booth #137 from July 16–19 at Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in Manhattan.
The Gretzky rookie card is the only authenticated Gretzky-signed 1979–80 Topps rookie card known to combine a CGC Gem Mint 10 card grade with an Auto 10 grade.
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The autograph includes Gretzky’s iconic “99” jersey number displayed prominently on the card. Only two Topps examples have earned Gem Mint 10 grades across all third-party grading services.
The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, the most valuable post-war baseball card in the hobby, is a Type 1 with a CGC 8 grade and was recently re-holdered in CGC’s latest holder and label system. The Type 1 classification is based on subtle printing differences between the two versions of the 1952 Topps Mantle. CGC identifies the type directly on its label to provide added clarity for collectors.
In December 2022, the card became the first card graded by CGC to surpass the $1 million mark when it sold for $1.25 million in an SCP Auctions sale. Fewer than two dozen examples of the famed card have received grades higher than the CGC 8 example.
The 1909–11 T206 Honus Wagner card, long regarded as the holy grail of sports cards, has a CGC Authentic– Restored designation. Additional details about the card’s remarkable history and restoration will be shared later.
CGC’s Graded Grail Showcase will be a museum-style exhibit designed to give fans and collectors a closer look at three of the hobby’s most significant sports cards. Each card will be presented on its own illuminated pedestal. Attendees can take photos inside a larger-than-life CGC holder.
“Cards of this caliber demand a grading process that is precise, disciplined and grounded in a deep understanding of the details collectors care about most,” said Andy Broome, vice president of CGC cards. “The Gretzky rookie’s CGC Gem Mint 10 card grade and Auto 10 grade, alongside the Mantle’s CGC 8 grade, Type 1 designation and remarkable preservation, reflect just how exceptional these cards are within their respective eras. It is a privilege to help authenticate, grade and protect pieces of sports history that have such lasting meaning for collectors.”
The CGC booth will be accepting submissions for grading and authentication throughout the event.
“At CGC, we understand that collectors entrust us with items that carry financial value, personal meaning and cultural significance,” CGC President Max Spiegel said. “Bringing these three cards to Fanatics Fest gives fans a rare opportunity to experience that history up close while highlighting the important role that authentication, grading, and preservation play in protecting collectibles for future generations.”
