Willie Mays
Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron cards highlight Mile High auction as 1968 Topps set break tops $1 million
The 1967 and 1968 MLB seasons were two of the most fascinating in baseball history, with all-time greats like Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays winding down Hall of Fame careers, while new young stars like Johnny Bench, Pete Rose and Nolan Ryan emerged.
Baseball’s historic collection of talent was highlighted by the popular 1968 Topps Baseball set, which featured a plethora of Hall of Fame stars along with rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Bench and Ryan.
Mile High Card Company’s first catalog auction of 2024 featured a breakup of the top-ranked 1968 set on the PSA Set Registry, and it produced several records and total sales of more than $1.1 million.
Also See: Our favorite Hank Aaron cards
Top sales from the set, which had a set rating of 10.94, includes:
• A #280 Mickey Mantle (PSA 10) for $235,234.
• #110 Hank Aaron (PSA 10) for $157,381.
• #177 Mets Rookie Stars Nolan Ryan (PSA 9) $64,028.
• #247 Reds Rookie Stars Johnny Bench (PSA 10) $64,028.
Also See: Top MLB rookie cards to chase in 2024
• #150 Roberto Clemente (PSA 10) $50,043.
• #50 Willie Mays (PSA 10) $44,281.
Cards from the collection that set records include: #230 Pete Rose (PSA 10) for $33,061; #5 NL HR Leaders $19,105; #374 Roberto Clemente AS $12,622; #250 Carl Yastrzemski $10,683; #410 Fergie Jenkins $8,814; #185 Tom Haller $7,690; #143 Pete Cimino $5,676; #580 Bob Bailey $5,293; #205 Juan Marichal $4,773; #200 Orlando Cepeda $4,690; #384 Hal McRae $4,339; #441 Alex Johnson $3,944; and #135 Paul Blair $3,224.
“The results of this auction will shake up the PSA Set Registry, not just the 1968 Topps cards but many other world-class examples that have changed hands tonight,” MHCC President and CEO Brian Drent said after the auction.
Cincinnati Reds teammates Johnny Bench and Pete Rose figured heavily in the auction, with other highly-graded cards topping five figures, including:
• A 1969 Topps #95 Johnny Bench (PSA 10) for $26,760.
• 1970 Topps #660 Johnny Bench (PSA 10) for a record $29,950.
• 1971 Topps #250 Johnny Bench (PSA 9) $26,760.
• 1971 Topps #100 Pete Rose (PSA 9) $25,902.
• 1973 Topps #130 Pete Rose (PSA 10) $25,902.
• 1972 Topps #559 Pete Rose (PSA 10) $19,312.
• 1970 Topps #580 Pete Rose (PSA 10) $18,108.
A Michael Jordan card also made headlines during the auction with a 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems #23 Michael Jordan (067/100, PSA 5) selling for $303,842.
A football card also sold for six figures—a 1964 Philadelphia #30 Jim Brown (PSA 10, POP 1) for $117,585.
Other auction highlights included:
• 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (SGC 4) for $77,428.
• 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain (PSA 8.5) $77,829.
• 1966 Topps USA Test #35 Bobby Orr (PSA 8.5) $72,084.
• 1948 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson (PSA 6.5) $33,867.
Also See: Top Jackie Robinson cards to collect
• 1907 Dietsche Detroit Tigers Postcards Ty Cobb Fielding (PSA 2 GOOD) $20,469.
• 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth (PSA 4.5) $20,964.
• 1933 DeLong #7 Lou Gehrig (PSA 5) for a record $20,469.
• 1956 Topps #173 Johnny Podres Gray Back (PSA 10) $18,565.
• 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal 150/649 Christy Mathewson White Cap (SGC 8) $16,423.
• 1907 Wolverine News Co. Ty Cobb Batting (SGC 1.5 FR) $14,770.
• 1949 Bowman #50 Jackie Robinson (SGC 7) $13,850.
• 1907 Wolverine News Co. Ty Cobb Portrait (SGC 1 PR) $12,865.
• 1952 Topps #33 Warren Spahn (PSA 8) for a record $9,481.
Other complete sets that pulled big prices include:
• A 1951 Parkhurst Complete Set (#12 on PSA Set Registry, 7.488 GPA) was broken up and sold for $89,294, led by #66 Gordie Howe (PSA 6) for $19,014.
• 1967 Topps Baseball Set completely graded $39,304.
• 1972 Topps Baseball Complete Set (All PSA 8 or better) $37,340.
• 1974 Topps Baseball Unopened 15-Cent, 24-Pack Wax Box (BBCE) $12,438.
• 1980-81 Topps Basketball Unopened Wax Box (BBCE) $14,544.
