Dust off your virtual paddles and brace yourself for an online bidding showdown that promises to be every vintage sports card collector’s fantasy. Miller & Miller Auctions is rolling out the digital red carpet for 235 lots of pre-1980 sports cards and memorabilia this June 22nd. No physical elbowing required—it’s all happening on the wild frontier of the internet.
At the top of the bill is the iconic 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle rookie card, a veritable unicorn in the world of baseball collectibles. Even in “well-loved” condition, the card is forecasted to fetch a king’s ransom, with estimated bids ranging from $40,000 to $50,000 CAD. It’s graded PSA 2 Good—a generous nod to some corner wear—but retains a pristine visage in other respects that keep it tantalizing to serious collectors.
But Mantle is far from the lonely crown prince of this collection. A veritable treasure trove of 40 cards rounds out Topps’ 1952 Sixth Series, affectionately dubbed the “High Numbers.” These gems, spanning from #311 Mantle to #407, are the royal suite of their set, though some are weathered from the passage of time. They carry an estimated allure of $3,000 to $5,000 CAD, offering collectors a chance to hold onto a slice of yesteryear.
The hockey realm slaps back with equally glittering offerings. At center ice, the 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie card readies itself for an estimated $8,000 to $10,000 CAD faceoff. Graded PSA 3 Very Good, this card’s less-than-museum quality belies its captivating presence, akin to a well-worn but treasured jersey.
Slap-shotting onto the bidding scene is the legendary Bobby Orr, with his 1966 Topps #35 rookie card, graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint. Hockey aficionado or shrewd investor, this card beckons with estimates between $8,000 and $9,000 CAD, fanning the embers of competitive bidding.
Adding a delightful touch to the hockey memorabilia on offer is a game-used, team-signed Bill Barilko hockey stick from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1951 Stanley Cup-winning season. Sporting the storied number 5 and the autographs of his comrades, this is more than wood and ink—it’s a time capsule of hockey soul set to the tune of $3,000 to $5,000 CAD.
For those with a penchant for display pieces, a shadow box showcasing Parkhurst rookie cards for Maurice and Henri Richard beckons. Graded KSA 4 and 3, these cards glisten within a 24-inch by 72-inch box alongside a Louisville Pro Flex stick signed by both brothers, a Canadiens puck, and a bronze plaque—exploding with Canadiens pride and valued at $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.
Slightly different in stature but not in impact is a complete set of 110 1964-65 Topps “Tall Boys” hockey cards. These lanky legends feature icons such as Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Tim Horton. Graded from good to very good condition, they’re a towering achievement with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.
Completing the haul is a largely untouched 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee uncut sheet of 226 hockey cards boasting a near-mint #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card. With only the faintest edge disturbances, this sheet is a pristine survivor of its era with an anticipated bid of $3,500 to $4,500 CAD.
Ben Pernfuss, the Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, exudes excitement as he describes the event as a veritable roll call of sports history. Collectors with an eye for seminal moments will find pivotal cards from the revolutionary 1951 Parkhurst hockey set and the storied 1952 Topps baseball collection featuring the immortal titans of sport.
For those ready to trek down this yellowed road of memory, Miller & Miller’s auction catalog is a click away on their website, or eager participants can join the pandemonium via LiveAuctioneers. Miller & Miller Auctions stands as Canada’s sentinel for high-value collectibles, expertly ushering sports cards, watches, jewelry, and other tokens of yesteryear seamlessly into revered collections, much like a fresh-faced rookie tenderly grips their very first glove.