Over the weekend, the Winter Sports Card Auction hosted by Heritage Auctions saw a remarkable sale take place. The star of the auction was a highly sought-after Babe Ruth rookie card from 1916. Graded 5.5 by SGC, this rare card fetched a stunning price of $630,000, making it one of the most valuable items sold. Only seven other examples of this card are known within SGC’s records.
The Winter Sports Card Auction proved to be a monumental event, amassing over $11.1 million in total sales. Seven items, including the buyer’s premium, fetched prices exceeding $100,000. One notable sale was a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card graded PSA 10, which achieved the highest sale price for a Gem Mint PSA graded copy since September 2021.
Among the treasures sold at the auction were several vintage, still-sealed boxes. One standout was a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box containing cards from the second, third, and fourth series. This particular box, originating from the collection of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., sold for an impressive $336,000 after being authenticated by BBCE. Rupp Jr. was the descendant of the famed Kentucky basketball coach, Adolph Rupp. Another highlight from his collection was a 1953 Topps Willie Mays card graded PSA 8, which commanded a price of $186,000.
The auction also featured unopened boxes from a recently discovered collection. Notably, a 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box broke records with a sale price of $105,000. A 1968 Topps Football 1st series 36-pack cello box set a new benchmark at $99,000, and a 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box was sold for $18,600. The initial offerings from this collection fetched $284,455, with expectations of reaching into the seven figures as more items are sold in the future.
Vintage autographed cards were also in high demand at the auction. Among them, a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card graded 1.5 with an impressive autograph grade of 8 led the pack at a sale price of $117,000. A similarly graded signed Roy Campanella card from the same set fetched $69,000.
Individual card sales also saw impressive prices. A T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait graded PSA 6, featuring a Piedmont advertising back, sold for $105,000. A 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle card graded PSA 9 reached $80,533, while a 1962 Topps Manager’s Dream card showcasing both Mantle and Mays sold for $75,000.
Complete sets were not left out, 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, and an all-PSA 8 1952 Bowman baseball set was acquired for $84,000, further showcasing the diverse and valuable selections available at the auction.
The Winter Sports Card Auction held by Heritage Auctions proved to be a historic event, with the sale of a rare Babe Ruth rookie card and a high-priced Michael Jordan rookie card leading the way. Collectors and enthusiasts eagerly participated in the auction, resulting in record-breaking sales and an impressive total of over $11.1 million in sales.