In the exciting and highly anticipated Clean Sweep Auctions’ first major event of the year 2024, the spotlight shines on an extraordinary collection of pre-War baseball memorabilia. Among the highlights are two incredibly rare T206 cards, which are much sought-after by vintage baseball collectors.
One of the standout cards is the T206 Ray Demmitt card, graded SGC 2. Another noteworthy item is the Bill O’Hara card, carrying an SGC 1.5 grade. These cards, along with several other Hall of Famers, are part of the renowned “monster” set that takes center stage in the online catalog for this auction.
But that’s not all. The auction also features a Ty Cobb ‘bat on shoulder’ variant card with a Sovereign 350 back, graded PSA 3. Also catching attention is an SGC graded Cy Young portrait card, garnering a remarkable grade of SGC 4.
A particularly rare gem in this auction is a set of four M110 Sporting Life Cabinet cards from 1911. This set showcases legendary baseball figures like Honus Wagner, Frank Chance, Nap Lajoie, and Christy Mathewson. These cards are of immense value due to their scarcity, representing an extremely limited number of surviving examples from Sporting Life’s venture into card production over a century ago.
Other noteworthy cards up for bidding include an 1887 Allen & Ginter Mike “King” Kelly card graded SGC 5, a 1907 Dietsche Ty Cobb postcard sporting the name on the front variation, graded SGC 1, and a rare 1908 Rose Postcard featuring Hall of Famer Addie Joss. Additionally, collectors will find a collection of 1911 Turkey Red Cabinets, showcasing Walter Johnson, Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Rube Waddell, and Addie Joss.
The auction doesn’t stop at cards. It also presents a range of key lots, such as a 1921 Exhibit Babe Ruth card graded PSA 2, a 1928 Harrington’s Ice Cream Ruth card graded SGC 1.5, a 1933 George C. Miller Dizzy Dean card graded SGC 3, and a pair of 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig cards graded PSA 2 and SGC 3.5, respectively. Not to be missed is the 1933 Goudey 149 Ruth card with an impressive SGC 5 rating, the 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams rookie card graded SGC 3, and the 1948-49 Leaf Jackie Robinson RC graded Beckett 2. The auction also showcases a PSA 9 graded 1950 Callahan set and rookie cards of the iconic duo, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, from the 1951 Bowman collection. Furthermore, collectors can bid on a 1952 Berk Ross Mantle card graded PSA 3, a 1952 Bowman Mantle card with a PSA 5 grade, a 1954 Johnson Cookies Aaron RC graded PSA 7, and a 1958 Hires Root Beer with tab Willie Mays card, also graded PSA 7.
The auction also offers complete sets, including the 1957 and 1967 Topps sets, the latter featuring 90 graded cards.
Notably, collectors will find an autographed 1953 Bowman Color Mickey Mantle card, a PSA 8 graded Jackie Robinson signed Hall of Fame postcard, and a 1931 Yankees team signed baseball.
For fans of unopened material, the auction presents a 1988 Fleer basketball wax box and a 1986 Topps football rack box.
The auction kicks off with a sensational item fresh to the hobby: a 1939 Joe Cronin Boston Red Sox road flannel jersey, rated a 9 by MEARS.
Other items of interest include various Chicago Cubs signed team sets dating back to the 1950s, thirteen different Derek Jeter autographed cards (most signed before his MLB debut), and a Lou Gehrig autograph.
Basketball enthusiasts will be thrilled to find two Bird/Magic rookies and two Michael Jordan rookies. The football section offers vintage sets, Tom Brady rookie cards, and a ticket from the famous 1958 “greatest game” between the Colts and the Giants.
To wrap up the auction, there is an array of baseball memorabilia, featuring 19th-century Chicago Cubs home scorecards, a 1906 Red Sox scorecard, a 1920 Who’s Who magazine with Babe Ruth on the cover, numerous World Series items, a 1912 tabletop baseball game, an original telephone from Ebbets Field, tickets, pennants, and a high-grade set of Hartland statues.
Bidding for this extensive and impressive collection of baseball and sports memorabilia is scheduled to run through January 31st. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of baseball history and to add to your collection of cherished sports treasures.
