Ty Cobb
1954 World Series ticket, iconic vintage cards highlight REA auction
Despite a 4-0 sweep by the New York Giants, the 1954 World Series is considered one of the most dramatic and historic Fall Classics in the history of the game.
Led by Hall of Famer Willie Mays, who had four hits and three RBI in the four games, the Giants swept the 111-win Cleveland Indians to win their first World Series since 1933—and the last before the Giants moved from New York to San Francisco.
Mays, the Giants ultra-talented centerfielder, made one of the greatest plays in World Series history when he tracked down a long, 8th-inning blast by Vic Wertz to preserve a 2-2 tie and lead the Giants to a 5-2 win on a dramatic 10th-inning, walk-off home run by series MVP Dusty Rhodes.
Ticket stubs from the classic game have become coveted items on the sports collectibles market, with one autographed by Mays recently selling for $20,100 on eBay.
Robert Edward Auctions has another ticket from the historic World Series up for bid in its February Encore Auction.
The auction, which runs through Feb. 18, features nearly 2,800 items, including vintage cards of such baseball legends as Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Christy Mathewson.
“We received a variety of unique items for this auction, which speaks to the incredible diversity of our clientele and the hobby in general,” REA President Brian Dwyer said. “We’re always excited to open up one of our monthly auctions because of the wide selection they’ve come to be known for, and on the heels of one of our most successful monthly events last month, this auction should provide a lot of options for bidders.”
Other auction highlights include:
• 1910-1911 M116 Sporting Life Honus Wagner Blue Background (PSA EX 5). The auction also includes four other cards from the series, including a Ty Cobb, Chief Bender and Frank Chance, all with blue backgrounds.
• 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Portrait Red Background (PSA VG-EX 4, Tolstoi Back). One of only four examples of this front/back combination, with only one graded higher.
• 1909-1911 T206 White Border Christy Mathewson Dark Cap (PSA EX 5).
• 1986-1987 Fleer Basketball Complete Set (PSA NM-MT 8) featuring rookie cards of Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwan, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Chris Mullen and Isiah Thomas.
• 1985-1986 O-Pee-Chee Hockey unopened wax box (48 packs) graded by BBCE.
• 1887 N172 Old Judge Sam Thompson (SGC VG/EX 4).
• 1909 E95 Philadelphia Caramel Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb.
• 1933 Goudey #181 and Sport Kings #2 Babe Ruth.
• 1941 R336 Play Ball Paper complete set (24) on two uncut sheets, including the first 24 cards of the regular 1941 Play Ball set with Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Carl Hubbell, Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx, among others.
• Assortment of T206 advertising backs, including more than 900 different examples, including 89 Sovereigns, 41 Cycle, 13 American Beauty, eight Carolina Brights, and seven Brown Hindu.
