Mile High Card Company, an acknowledged authority in the realm of sports memorabilia, recently fortified its prominence with a spectacular auction event. Notably, their mastery in handling the coveted T206 Honus Wagner card has been their signature, and their latest auction further magnified this acclaim.
The auction’s crown jewel was the 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal 150/25 card. This masterpiece fetched an awe-inspiring $1.968 million, rewriting the benchmarks for Wagner cards identified as PSA Authentic (Restored). The fervent atmosphere of the bidding session emphasized the card’s historic value, nearly touching the esteemed $2 million milestone. However, standing tall in this category, the Wagner card’s SGC 2 variant was previously traded for a whopping $7.25 million in a discreet 2022 transaction facilitated by Goldin Co. Another headline-grabber was the SGC 3 variant, which found a proud owner in 2021 for $6.6 million, thanks to Robert Edward Auctions. Yet, even these impressive numbers pale before the monumental 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card (SGC 9.5) which raked in a breathtaking $12.6 million.
Sharing insights post-auction, Brian Drent, the strategic mind behind Mile High, voiced his appreciation and elation. He highlighted the discerning choices of their buyers and the unmatched allure of the items on offer.
Though the Wagner card was the pinnacle, the auction glittered with other gems. For instance, the 1948 Leaf Baseball unopened wax pack, holding a PSA 7 NM grade, bagged an impressive $206,017. Coming in its wake, the 1952 Topps Baseball unopened wax pack 1st Series (PSA 7 NM) won a respectable bid of $104,045. Vintage aficionados also had a field day with the 1971 Bobby Orr Boston Bruins jersey and the 1967 Willie McCovey game-used jersey garnering $167,491 and $17,235 respectively.
From August 23 to September 7, the event unfurled with an air of anticipation, echoing the profound passions of collectors across the globe.
Key takeaways from this grand showcase comprised:
The revered 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle card, capturing a bid of $131,231.
The unique 1914 Cracker Jack “Holy Bible” Shoeless Joe Jackson, securing $89,876.
The vintage 1963 Topps Rookie Stars #537 Pete Rose, which found a buyer at $79,775.
Icons of yesteryears, including Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, with their cards fetching between $11,589 and $22,373.
Mid-century mementos highlighting legends like Roberto Clemente attracted bids between $14,057 and $42,195.
A nod to football’s golden eras, with John Unitas cards, saw bids between $11,589 and $19,981.
Basketball greats, represented by Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, garnered valuations from $17,945 to $34,314.
Complete anthologies, such as the 1933 Goudey set, elicited bids like $112,255.
Summing up, this phenomenal showcase orchestrated by the Mile High Card Company not only celebrated vintage sports memorabilia but also underlined the fervor and dedication of collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.