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1951 Mickey Mantle rookie card leads strong vintage auction at Mile High
Though the sports card market has experienced an ebb and flow of ups and downs in 2023, one thing remained constant: the value and demand of coveted vintage cards.
Mile High Card Company showed that in its winter auction with record sales of several high-grade vintage cards, topped by a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card (PSA 8) that sold for $378,997.
“Overall, our auction results show that we’re still riding a bull market. We can’t wait to show you what 2024 has in store for the hobby” MHCC CEO and President Brian Drent said.
Other auction highlights included a 1916 M101-4 Sporting News Joe Jackson (Blank Back, PSA 7) for $104,302, more than four times the previous record of $25,000; a 1934 Goudey #61 Lou Gehrig (PSA 8) for $101,623; a 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle (PSA 8) for $89,635; and a 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente (PSA 8) that brought in $72,084.
The auction also featured several cards of Hall of Famer Willie Stargell that set records, including: a 1964 Topps #342 Willie Stargell (PSA 10) that sold for $30,674, smashing the previous high of $4,154; a 1966 Topps #255 Willie Stargell (PSA 10) for $36,406; a 1973 Topps #370 Willie Stargell (PSA 10) for $10,665; and a 1974 Topps #100 Willie Stargell (PSA 10) that went for $6,355.
Other records set in the auction included: a 1962 Topps #45 Brooks Robinson (PSA 9) for $30,391; a 1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays (PSA 3 VG) for $11,732; a 1969 Topps #100 Hank Aaron (PSA 9) for $10,665; a 1972 Topps #229 World Series Game 7 (PSA 10) for $12,388; a 1953 Bowman Color #61 George Kell (PSA 9) for $8,460; a 1956 Topps #20 Al Kaline Gray Back (PSA 9) for $7,198; a 1958 Topps #285 Frank Robinson (PSA 9) for $7,834.
Other classic vintage cards that attracted high prices included: a 1941 Playball #71 Joe DiMaggio (SGC 8.5) for $79,531; a 1910-11 Sporting Life M116 Hans Wagner (Pastel) (SGC 7.5) for $77,770; a 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson (SGC 2 GOOD) for $45,776; a 1957 Topps #17 Bob Cousy (PSA 8) for $34,693; 1952 Topps #407 Ed Mathews (SGC 7.5) for $29,967; a 1957 Topps #328 Brooks Robinson (PSA 9) for $24,068; a 1952 Bowman #101 Mickey Mantle (PSA 8) for $22,012; a 1909 S74 Silks (White) Ty Cobb Red Sun Cigarettes (SGC 7) for $15,250; a 1915 Cracker Jack #68 Honus Wagner (SGC 2 GOOD) for $13,831; a 1951 Bowman #1 Whitey Ford (PSA 8) for $18,384; 1957 Topps #76 Bob Clemente (PSA 9) for $13,060; 1959 Topps #478 Bob Clemente (PSA 9) for $12,438; 1960 Topps #316 Willie McCovey All-Star Rookie (PSA 9) for $13,850; 1960 Topps #326 Bob Clemente (PSA 9) for $13,190; 1963 Topps #553 Rookie Stars (Stargell RC) (PSA 9) for $18,384; and a 1959 Topps #1 Johnny Unitas (PSA 9) for $17,680.
Memorabilia sales were topped by a Babe Ruth-signed OAL (Harridge) baseball that sold for $40,486.
Other top memorabilia included: a 1972 California Angels Nolan Ryan signed game-used home jersey for $56,518; a circa 1934 Paul & Dizzy Dean “Beech-Nut Tobacco” oversized die-cut advertising sign for $11,403; a 1973 Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles signed game-used road jersey from his Cy Young season for $13,714; a 1975 Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles signed game-used road jersey for $13,714; a 1980 Rickey Henderson game-used Oakland A's alternate jersey for $24,639; a 1998 Ken Griffey Jr. game-used autographed bat used for his 33rd home run of the 1998 Season for $17,328; and a 1962 Post Alpha-Bits unopened box featuring Sandy Koufax for $11,028.
