Sports Card Dealers
Babe, Jordan cards and professional wrestlers steal spotlight at successful Las Vegas card show
A two-day, retro-style hotel ballroom collectibles show, held Feb. 25-26 at Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall in Las Vegas, drew about 3,000 attendees — with a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card and a cut signature card of Babe Ruth among the top collectibles for sale.
The Jordan card, graded PSA 9, carried a $20,000 price. The Ruth card was selling for $12,000.
“I think it was a huge success. Everyone had fun,” said show promotor Scott Hosey, the owner of Power Play Sports Cards in Las Vegas.
The Sportscards, Toys & Collectibles Show featured 70 dealers, mostly from the West Coast and spanning 100 dealer tables. There were cards, photos and countless signed relics from the sports side of the scene, along with comic books, coins, action figures, Funko Pops and pro wrestling souvenirs.
The mascot from the Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s, posed for photos with attendees, as did members of the NHL Vegas Golden Knights cheerleading crew.
“I’ve been [promoting] shows for 35 years and am a former board member of the National Sports Collectors Convention,” Hosey said. “I average around three or four shows annually … I’d rank this show among the best we’ve had [over the past five years].”
Former NFL players Willie Gault and Anthony Miller signed autographs, along with about 20 pro wrestlers, past and present, including IMPACT Wrestling stars Josh Alexander, Santino Marella and Deonna Purrazzo, among others. Several of the IMPACT stars were seen shopping — and buying — collectibles at the show.
“I did a lot of buying [at the show], which was great,” dealer Dan Bliss said.
Among the top vintage cards for sale were:
• Mickey Mantle-signed All-Star Sports card, with LOA: $525.
• 1966 Topps Mantle, graded 5: $750.
• 1958 Topps Mantle, graded 5: $1,350.
• 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle, graded 6: $750. “Mantle sells like magic, everywhere in the world,” the dealer said.
• 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente card, graded 4: $3,300.
• 1975 Topps mini-card of George Brett: $250.
• 1972 Topps cards: Willie Mays ($28), Roberto Clemente ($52) and Hank Aaron ($56).
• Eddie Murray 1978 Topps rookie card: $32.
• 1959 Topps Al Kaline card: $60.
• 1970 Topps Roberto Clemente: $150.
• 1963 Topps Willie Mays: $500.
• 1964 Topps Giants card of Mickey Mantle: ($250).
• 1969 Topps Pete Rose card: $60
• 1971 Topps Nolan Ryan card: $300.
• 1972 Topps Clemente, graded 9: $1,825.
• 1965 Topps Hank Aaron, graded 8: $1,075.
• 1976 Topps Nolan Ryan, graded 8: $185
Here’s a look at some of the other interesting collectibles at the show:
• A Walter Payton-autographed 1992 Upper Deck Heroes card, numbered 1061/2800: $595.
• A 1986 Topps card of Walter Payton. “[The card] books at $8,000 … I’d do $2,000.”
• A Mike Ditka-signed 2021 Leaf card, numbered 2/6: $125.
• Hot Box of Hobby Cards: 2022 Absolute Football ($579). “This was super-hot,” the dealer said. “All 2022 football [releases] are on fire.”
• Also Hot Hobby Releases: 2022 Zenith Football ($279) and 2022-23 NBA Hoops ($139).
• Roger Maris-signed 8-by-10 photo, $800.
• Roberto Clemente vintage Rawlings 8-by-10 photo ad: $750.
Auction items included: a Barry Bonds-signed San Francisco jersey; a Warren Moon-signed Houston Oilers jersey; a Gary Players-signed 2014 Master’s flag; O.J. Simpson-signed cleats with Heisman Trophy inscription ($400 minimum bid); and a Jim Plunkett-signed jersey ($250 minimum bid).
Other interesting items included:
• Funko Pop of the Jolly Green Giant and Sprout: $15.
• Funko Pops: Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street: $30 and $27, respectively. Elmo, meanwhile, was $60.
• 1986 Topps Traded set: $85.
• 1987 Topps Traded set: $30.
• 1986 Fleer Traded set $55.
• Prized relics were available in an on-site website, Giveback Fundraising.
• Rhino-autographed TNA Wrestling 8-by-10 photo: $19.
• Michael Strahan-signed 8-by-10 photo: $99.99.
• Odell Beckham, Jr.-signed 8-by-10 photo: $129.99.
• Larry Bird-autographed Sports Illustrated (11/9/81): $225.
• The 1984 Donruss large card of Nolan Ryan: $5.
• William Perry-signed Chicago Bears helmet, with TRISTAR Productions authentication hologram: $80.
• O.J. Simpson-signed 1969 cut signature card from 2019: $45, with the seller’s 45 percent discount.
• Dennis Eckersley 1976 rookie card: $24.
• Nolan Ryan 1976 card: $20, $16 and $12.
• Robin Roberts-autographed baseball: $50.
• 2021 Panini Prizm Football hobby box ($200) and 2021 Leaf Ultimate Draft Football ($70).
• The Rock and Michael Myers Funko Pops: $10 each. “Am doing a blowout on my Pops,” the dealer said.
• A 1982 pack of MASH cards from Topps: $10.
• All About Jack: Funko Pops of Pajama Jack ($40), Jack Skellington ($29) and Snowman Jack ($18).
• Autographed Jerseys: Tim Brown ($385) and Kellen Winslow ($275).
