Jerry West card nets record sale, complete sets highlight REA June auction

Two weeks after his death, NBA legend Jerry West is still making headlines in the sports collectibles hobby.

A 1970-1971 Topps Basketball #160 Jerry West (PSA 10), one of only two examples graded a 10, sold for a record $54,000 in the June Encore Auction at Robert Edward Auctions. The sale is a record for the card in any grade.

1970-71 Topps Basketball Jerry West card. Robert Edward Auctions

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West, a Basketball Hall of Famer, 14-time All-Star and eight-time NBA champion as a front-office executive, died on June 12 at age 86. West, who led the Lakers to the 1972 championship as a player, is the inspiration for the league’s popular logo.

REA’s June auction featured 3,278 lots and generated more than $1.7 million in sales across more than 67,300 bids.

The other big auction highlights were complete sets, with six complete graded sets finishing among the top 10 items. The top three sellers were Topps Baseball complete sets from 1963 ($75,000), 1960 ($66,000), and 1961 ($54,000), all ranked among the top sets on the PSA Set Registry. Complete sets from 1950 Bowman, 1964 Topps and 1965 Topps Baseball each sold for $37,200.

1963 Topps Baseball complete set. Robert Edward Auctions

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“This auction reinforced the strong results for top-quality graded sets lately as well as the consistent appetite for vintage staples and hard-to-find rarities,” REA President Brian Dwyer said. “Our Summer Catalog Auction kicks off next month loaded with items that we expect will excite collectors and continue these trends.”

Other highlights included:

• 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb SGC (Fair 1.5) $38,400, a record for grade.

1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb card. Robert Edward Auctions

• 1957 Topps #95 Mickey Mantle (PSA 8.5) $38,400.

• 1980-1981 Topps Basketball unopened Wax Box (36 packs, Larry Bird/Magic Johnson rookie set) $18,600.

• 1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth (PSA 3.5) $16,200.

• 1933 R319 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig (PSA 5) $13,200.

• 1933 R319 Goudey #149 Babe Ruth (SGC 3) $13,200.

• 1907 Wolverine News Postcard Ty Cobb Batting Rookie (PSA Autentic) $11,700.

• 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Autographs #BCA-AJ Aaron Judge Blue Wave Refractor #18/50 (PSA 10) $10,200.

• 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Seymour Portrait (PSA 4, 1/1, Cycle 460 back) $9,900.

• 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie (PSA 4) $9,000.