Heritage Auctions sets more than 40 records in historic $39 million auction

Heritage Auctions’ record-breaking sale of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card for $12.6 million made national and international headlines over the weekend, becoming the first sports card to break the eight-figure mark.

But the attention-grabbing transaction wasn’t the only record sale in Heritage’s Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, which netted more than $39 million in total sales. More than 40 industry records were set during the auction, which featured nearly 2,800 bidders and had 45 items sell for fix figures or more.

“The eyes of the collecting world were focused on this historic auction, and we’re pleased to report that the sports collectibles market continues on its bullish run,” said Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage. “Whether it was for cards, bats, photographs or championship rings, we saw strong participation from both hobby veterans and newcomers alike, all battling to give these treasures new homes in collections all over the world.”

Also See: The story behind record sale of 1952 Mantle card 

Though the Mantle card, part of the famous Al Rosen collection and sold by longtime collector Anthony Giordano, stole the headlines, other historic cards and memorabilia items also set records.

Chief among them was a signed, game-used Babe Ruth bat from 1918-1922 that sold for $1.68 million, the highest auction price ever paid for a game-used bat.

A Babe Ruth card also set a record with a 1948 Leaf Babe Ruth card, graded PSA 9, selling for $540,000, the most ever paid for that example of the card.

Also See: Ball from Brady's 'final' TD pass back on market — again 

Another 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card also set a record with a PSA NM+ 7.5 example selling for $705,000, a record for that grade.

Other game-used bats also set records, including a 1905-10 “Wee Willie” Keeler bat, graded PSA/DNA GU 9.5, that sold for $252,000, the most ever paid for a one of the Hall of Famer’s bats. Records were also set for bats used by Jim Thorpe ($90,000), Yogi Berra ($72,000) and Roy Campanella ($60,000).

Other auction highlights included:

• Wayne Gretzky’s 1979 Topps rookie card, graded Gem Mint 10, for $1.2 million, a record for the card and the first American Gretzky card to top seven figures.

• An original photo of Ty Cobb from 1910-12 that was used for his 1914-15 Cracker Jack card for $516,000, the most valuable sports photo ever sold at auction.

• A 1970 Baltimore Colts Super Bowl V ring presented to head coach Don McCafferty for $300,000, a record for a Super Bowl ring.

• Hall of Fame linebacker Dave Robinson’s championship rings from Super Bowls I and II for $174,000 each, a record for Green Bay Packers’ championship jewelry.

• A signed 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain rookie card for $144,000, the most ever for an autographed card by Chamberlain.

• A 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Soccer Kylian Mbappe card, graded PSA 10, for $216,000, a record for any card featuring the French star. 

• A 1949 Bowman Satchell Paige rookie card, graded PSA 9, for $228,000, a record for the card.

• A 1959 Marumatsu Scoreboard rookie card of Japanese home run record-holder Sadaharu Oh, graded PSA 9, for $72,000, a record for a Japanese card.

• A 1982 Cosmos Hulk Hogan rookie card, graded PSA 10, for $51,600, a record for a Hogan card.