Ty Cobb
Rare Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb cards, vintage gems top REA Fall Auction
The Fall Catalog Auction at Robert Edward Auctions featured several six-figure, record sales of iconic vintage cards as well as some modern gems.
The auction, which attracted 86,000 bids and generated more than $13.5 million in sales, was highlighted by a rare, newly discovered 1916 M101-4/5 Morehouse Baking #151 Babe Ruth Rookie PSA VG+ 3.5 that sold for $812,724. It marked the first that an example of the Ruth card with the Morehouse Baking advertisement had been presented for sale.
Other notable sales included:
• a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Portrait Red Background (SGC GOOD 2.5) featuring a rare Ty Cobb back for $337,704; a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Eddie Plank (SGC VG 3) for $222,000, a record for the grade; and a 1910 D322 Tip Top Bread Honus Wagner (PSA 5), one of only three examples graded PSA 5 with just one higher, that sold for $186,000, a record for the card in any grade.
A ticket stub from Jackie Robinson's Major League debut on April 15, 1947, when he broke baseball’s color barrier, also sold for $186,000, while a collection of 12 newly discovered 1910-era Piedmont Cigarettes packs, including six that were still sealed, along with their original display carton combined to realize $218,400 across eight lots.
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There also were several basketball items that generated strong results, led by a 1997-1998 Skybox Metal Universe Championship Precious Metal Gems Basketball #23 Michael Jordan #15/50 (PSA 4) that sold for $156,000.
“There was a ton of anticipation heading into this blockbuster event because of some exciting new finds we’d showcased, including the Morehouse Baking Babe Ruth rookie. We’re extremely excited about the results and, more importantly, the incredibly strong interest we received across the board from such an expansive bidder base,” REA President Brian Dwyer said. “This was a very strong and record-setting event not just for REA but for the hobby, and we want to extend a huge thank you to all of our bidders and consignors for their trust and dedication to this auction”
Other notable results included:
• 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie (PSA 8): $180,000.
• 1933 R319 Goudey #149 Babe Ruth (PSA 7): $144,000.
• 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (PSA 5): $138,000.
• 1916 M101-5 Morehouse Baking #86 Joe Jackson (PSA GOOD 2.5), the only graded example: $87,000.
• 1911 T205 Gold Border Richard Hoblitzell (PSA 6), highest graded: $75,000.
• 1920 Pathe Freres Phonograph Co. Babe Ruth Premium Card (PSA GOOD 2): $72,000.
• Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig dual-signed Baseball (PSA/DNA 8): $69,000.
• 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson (PSA POOR 1): $66,000, record for the grade.
• 1971 Topps #630 Roberto Clemente (PSA 9): $63,000.
• 1984-1985 Star Basketball Chicago Bulls team set factory-sealed bag with #101 Michael Jordan Rookie: $51,600.
Amontg complete sets that finished among the top sales were:
• 1959 Topps Complete Set (#24 PSA Set Registry; 8.01 GPA): $69,000.
• 1971 Topps PSA-graded Complete Master Set (7.05 GPA): $26,400.
• 1948 Leaf Football Complete Set (98) Plus 17 Variations (#11 PSA Set Registry; 5.69 GPA): $25,200.
• 1951 Bowman Football Complete Set (144) (#9 PSA Set Registry; 7.52 GPA): $18,000.
REA’s first event of 2025 will be its January Auction that will run from Jan. 9-19.
