Over the weekend, Heritage Auctions’ Winter Sports Card Auction made history with its impressive sales. The standout item was a premiere SGC graded 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card, which fetched an incredible $630,000. With a rating of 5.5 by SGC, this card is exceptionally rare, with only seven other examples known within SGC’s records. The auction as a whole broke records, accumulating an astounding total of over $11.1 million in sales, including the buyer’s premium. Seven items each sold for over $100,000, making it a truly monumental event. Notably, a gem mint PSA 10 graded 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card achieved the highest sale price for a Gem Mint PSA graded copy since September 2021.
One of the highlights of the auction was a collection of vintage, still-sealed boxes. Among them was a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box containing cards from the second, third, and fourth series. Originating from the collection of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., a descendant of famed Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, this box sold for an impressive $336,000 following authentication by BBCE. Rupp Jr.’s collection also featured a 1953 Topps Willie Mays card, graded PSA 8, which fetched a price of $186,000.
In addition to the vintage boxes from the Rupp Jr. collection, several unopened boxes recently discovered also made their way to the auction. A 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box set a new record with a sale price of $105,000, while a 1968 Topps Football 1st series 36-pack cello box sold for $99,000, and a 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box went for $18,600. These initial offerings from the collection, connected to a former Topps employee, amassed a total of $284,455, with the expectation of reaching seven figures as more items are sold in the upcoming months.
Furthermore, the auction featured nearly two dozen vintage autographed cards, which were collected by Mike Greenbaum during their time of origin and attracted significant interest. The top seller among these was a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card, graded 1.5 with an autograph grade of 8, which fetched an impressive $117,000. The auction also saw a similarly graded signed Roy Campanella card from the same set sell for $69,000.
Individual card sales also made an impact, with a T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait, graded PSA 6 and featuring a Piedmont advertising back, selling for $105,000. A 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded PSA 9, reached a price of $80,533, while a 1962 Topps Manager’s Dream card, showcasing both Mantle and Mays, sold for $75,000.
Complete sets were in high demand, with the highest-rated set of 1909-1912 Colgan’s chips discs selling for $54,000. The 16th ranked 1969-70 Topps Basketball set garnered $93,000, while an all-PSA 8 graded 1952 Bowman baseball set was acquired for $84,000. These sales highlighted the diverse and valuable selections available at the auction.
In conclusion, Heritage Auctions’ Winter Sports Card Auction broke records with its remarkable sales. The standout items were the premiere SGC graded 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card, which sold for an astonishing $630,000, and the gem mint PSA 10 graded 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card, which achieved a record-breaking price. With a total of over $11.1 million in sales, the auction showcased a wide range of impressive items, from vintage boxes to autographed cards and complete sets.
