Over the weekend, Heritage Auctions held its highly anticipated Winter Sports Card Auction, and it did not disappoint. The spotlight was on a rare sports card: the premiere SGC graded 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card. This prized card achieved a jaw-dropping sale price of $630,000. With a rating of 5.5 by SGC and only seven other known examples in existence, it’s no wonder this card fetched such a remarkable sum. However, this sale was just one part of a much larger event that saw the total sales surpass $11.1 million.

Among the remarkable treasures sold at the auction, seven items each garnered over $100,000, including the buyer’s premium. The standout among them was a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card. Graded immaculately at PSA 10, this card set a new record for the highest sale price of a Gem Mint PSA graded copy since September 2021.

Vintage, still-sealed boxes were also in high demand at the auction. One of the highlights was a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box containing cards from the second, third, and fourth series. This particular box, originating from the collection of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., fetched an impressive $336,000 after being authenticated by BBCE. Rupp Jr., the descendant of famed Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, showcased another gem from his collection – a 1953 Topps Willie Mays card graded PSA 8, which commanded a price of $186,000.

In addition to these notable sales, the auction unveiled a collection of recently discovered unopened boxes. Acquired towards the end of the previous year, these boxes proved to be valuable finds. A 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box broke records with a sale price of $105,000. A 1968 Topps Football 1st series 36-pack cello box set a new benchmark at $99,000. Furthermore, a 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box achieved a sale price of $18,600. With the initial offerings from this collection already reaching $284,455, the expectation is that more items will cross the seven-figure mark in the coming months.

Vintage autographed cards were another highlight of the auction. Mike Greenbaum’s collection of nearly two dozen autographed cards drew significant interest. Leading the pack was a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card. Graded 1.5 with an autograph grade of 8, it sold for an impressive $117,000. Additionally, a similarly graded signed Roy Campanella card from the same set fetched $69,000.

Individual card sales also made waves at the auction. A T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait, graded PSA 6 with a Piedmont advertising back, commanded a price of $105,000. A 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded PSA 9, reached $80,533, while a 1962 Topps Manager’s Dream card, featuring both Mantle and Mays, sold for $75,000.

Complete sets were not to be overlooked, with some fetching substantial prices. The highest-rated set of 1909-1912 Colgan’s chips discs sold for an impressive $54,000. The 16th ranked 1969-70 Topps Basketball set garnered $93,000. An all-PSA 8 1952 Bowman baseball set was acquired for $84,000, further highlighting the diverse and valuable selections offered at the auction.

In conclusion, the Heritage Auctions Winter Sports Card Auction proved to be a remarkable event, showcasing the incredible value and demand for rare sports cards and vintage treasures. The record-breaking sales of the Babe Ruth rookie card and the Michael Jordan rookie card set the tone for an auction that exceeded expectations, amassing over $11.1 million in total sales.

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