Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction has kicked off the year in grand style, breaking records and delighting sports memorabilia enthusiasts with over $7.1 million in total sales. The event, which featured a dazzling array of vintage sports cards and memorabilia, witnessed intense bidding wars that drove prices to unprecedented levels.
Babe Ruth took center stage at the auction, with three 1933 Goudey cards graded PSA NM/MT 8 stealing the show. Collectively, these cards fetched nearly $700,000, with the standout #149 card sporting a red background selling for an impressive $316,736. A rare advertising card from around 1920, showcasing Ruth and Carl Mays and graded SGC 3, fetched a remarkable $95,860 after sparking a heated bidding frenzy. Other notable Ruth items included a 1921 E253 Oxford Confectionery card graded PSA 5, which sold for $52,102, and a 1932 U.S. Caramel card graded PSA 6.5, which brought in $48,508.
The top non-Ruth item was a 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson card, graded PSA 7, which set a new record for its grade by selling for an impressive $173,794. As part of a set break, this card contributed to a collective sales total of over $850,000.
The iconic 1952 Topps cards also shined brightly at the auction, with three cards graded PSA 8 crossing the six-figure mark. An Eddie Mathews high-number card led the pack, commanding $123,484, while Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays cards also garnered significant attention from collectors.
Mickey Mantle’s legendary status continued to draw strong interest, with a rare 1959 Bazooka card graded PSA 6 fetching $33,586. Additionally, a complete 1959 Bazooka box featuring Mantle on the back, graded PSA 1, achieved $18,575. Noteworthy Mantle highlights from the auction included a 1953 Topps PSA 7 NM card selling for $29,012, a 1956 Topps Gray Back PSA 8.5 card commanding $38,879, and a 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantle card graded SGC 9 fetching $16,886.
Baseball and multi-sport enthusiasts also found plenty to celebrate, with highlights such as the sale of a 1957 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9 card for $58,961 and a 1957 Topps Whitey Ford card graded PSA 10 fetching $56,153. Hockey collectors were thrilled with the sale of a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito rookie card graded PSA 10, which sold for an impressive $72,455. Notable football card sales included a 1964 Topps Bobby Bell rookie PSA 10 for $31,558, a 1964 Philadelphia Merlin Olsen rookie PSA 10 for $19,018, and a 1973 Topps Art Shell rookie PSA 10 for $20,432.
In addition to cards, the auction featured unique and rare memorabilia that caught the eye of bidders, including a Ty Cobb Tobacco tin from the 1910s selling for $30,463, a Mickey Mantle single-signed baseball with a rare “#6” inscription fetching $20,934, a handwritten letter from Mantle’s 1951 rookie season also selling for $20,934, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat from circa 1910-1915 commanding $16,121.
Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction has set a high standard for 2025, leaving collectors eager for the next opportunity to add iconic pieces of sports history to their collections.
