Mantle, Jordan, Ditka Ready to Rock Chicago

A carefully curated selection of rare and valuable trading cards and memorabilia – from one of the highest graded Mickey Mantle rookie cards to the backboard that Michael Jordan hit arguably his greatest shot on and much more – will hit the auction block on July 30 in Heritage Auctions’ Summer Platinum Night event held in conjunction with the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, Ill.

“This is the sixth straight year we’ve offered our Summer Platinum Night auction at the National,” said Chris Ivy, director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. “It’s a natural fit that has worked beautifully: you have the premier sports collectibles show and you have the premier sports collectibles auction house. The offerings this summer are nothing short of spectacular.”

Rare and important trading cards sit at the heart of the auction, beginning with the only known baseball team card to predate the start of the American Civil War, passed down through the family of a member of the 1859 Brooklyn Atlantics, baseball’s first Champions (estimate $50,000+).

Topping off the cardboard offerings is a spectacular PSA NM-MT 8 condition copy of the most important baseball card of the post-war era, the fabled Mickey Mantle rookie of the 1952 Topps issue (bidding already past $240,000).

“Particularly noteworthy to Chicago sports fans is a pair of artifacts recalling the farewells of two of the city’s most beloved athletic superstars,” said Ivy. “Michael Jordan and Walter Payton.”

Michael Jordan’s final shot in a Chicago Bulls uniform, a shot that clinched his sixth NBA Championship in 1998, and is widely considered one of his greatest shots – if not the greatest – is commemorated in the auction by the full basket, backboard and stanchion from Utah’s Delta Center that received Jordan’s historic, season-ending jumper (estimate: $100,000+).

After scoring what would prove to be the final touchdown of his Hall of Fame career in 1987, his 110th trip to paydirt, Walter Payton hurled the football he carried deep into the end zone stands, where it was caught by Art Hrvatin. Payton later signed the ball for Hrvatin, who has kept it safe all these years before deciding to now find a new steward for this historic ball.

Another of Chicago’s most beloved sports figures, legendary Bears coach Mike Ditka, makes a special appearance in two important places in the auction. Ditka’s 1964 game-worn Chicago Bears Jersey (estimate: $20,000+) represents an incredibly rare gamer from “Da Coach,” dating back to a preseason exhibition game, while Ditka’s 1985 personal Super Bowl XX Playbook (estimate: $10,000+) hearkens to the greatest days of the Bears franchise and a team considered one of the greatest NFL teams to ever take the field.

Dozens of game-worn jerseys will provide a tangible link to a long list Hall of Fame athletes: Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roy Campanella, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Mike Ditka, Dan Marino and many more.

Rare and important autographs always constitute an important section in Heritage Platinum Night Sports Auctions, and offerings this summer include a bank voucher bearing the exceedingly scarce signature of “Shoeless Joe” Jackson (estimate: $100,000+), a signed cabinet card from Cy Young believed to be the earliest autographed trading card (estimate: $10,000+) and the finest Roy Campanella single-signed baseball known (estimate: $10,000).

A spectacular array of treasures from the pinnacle of athletic achievement will lend sparkle to Platinum Night, most notably the one and only personal Baseball Hall of Fame plaque presented to legendary slugger Ted Williams (estimate: $100,000). Also on offer will be a pair of New York Yankees World Series Championship rings from the trophy case of Hall of Fame pitcher Charles “Red” Ruffing (estimate: $20,000+), the largest Super Bowl ring ever constructed from the finger of Chicago Bears behemoth William “Refrigerator” Perry (estimate: $40,000+), and a lineman’s Super Bowl ring from the first of four Championships for the Tom Brady-era New England Patriots (estimate: $50,000+).

Other highlights of this auction include, but are not limited to:
– 1923-24 V145-1 Patterson Hockey Graded Complete Set (40) - With Extremely Rare Bert Corbeau: Estimate $180,000+

– 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente #164 PSA Mint 9: Estimate $100,000

– 1909-11 T206 Piedmont Walter Johnson Portrait PSA Mint 9: Estimate $80,000+

– 1960 Jerry Lucas Game Worn USA Olympic Basketball Team Jersey: Estimate $60,000+

– 1975 Muhammad Ali Fight Worn Shoes from Frazier III Bout, "The Thrilla in Manila": Estimate $50,000+

– 1950s Ty Cobb Single Signed Career Retrospective Baseball: Estimate: $40,000

– 1955 Roberto "Momen" Clemente Game Used Rookie Bat, PSA/DNA GU 9: Estimate $40,000+

– 1951 Mickey Mantle Original News Photograph Used for 1951 Bowman Rookie Card, PSA/DNA Type 1: Estimate $20,000+

– 1956-58 Jimmie Foxx Single Signed Baseball, PSA/DNA NM-MT+ 8.5: Estimate $20,000+

– 1963 Pete Rose First Career Hit Baseball: Estimate $20,000+

– 1974-75 Moses Malone Game Worn Utah Stars (ABA) Rookie Jersey, MEARS A10: Estimate $10,000+

Everything in the Platinum Night Auction is available for viewing at www.ha.com.