Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction kicked off the year with a bang, raking in over $7.1 million in total sales. The event featured a dazzling array of vintage sports cards and memorabilia that caught the eye of collectors worldwide.
Babe Ruth stole the show at the auction, with three 1933 Goudey cards graded PSA NM/MT 8 commanding a staggering total of nearly $700,000. Among them, the #149 card with a striking red background stood out, fetching an impressive $316,736. An exceedingly rare advertising card from around 1920, showcasing Ruth and Carl Mays and graded SGC 3, sparked intense bidding and eventually sold for $95,860. Additional Ruth gems included a 1921 E253 Oxford Confectionery card graded PSA 5, netting $52,102, and a 1932 U.S. Caramel card graded PSA 6.5, bringing in $48,508.
The top non-Ruth item was a 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson card, graded PSA 7, setting a new record by selling for $173,794. This was part of a set break that amassed over $850,000 in sales, showcasing the enduring appeal of vintage cards.
Three 1952 Topps cards, all graded PSA 8, surpassed six figures each. An Eddie Mathews high-number card took the lead with a final price of $123,484, while Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays cards also drew hefty bids.
Mickey Mantle cards continued to captivate collectors, with a rare 1959 Bazooka card graded PSA 6 fetching $33,586. A complete 1959 Bazooka box featuring Mantle on the back, graded PSA 1, secured $18,575. Notable Mantle highlights included a 1953 Topps PSA 7 NM at $29,012, a 1956 Topps Gray Back PSA 8.5 at $38,879, and a 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantle SGC 9 at $16,886. The auction also saw four PSA 10 Bazooka Mantle cards from 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1966 collectively fetching close to $50,000.
In addition to baseball legends, the auction featured highlights from other sports, including a 1957 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9 at $58,961 and a 1957 Topps Whitey Ford PSA 10 at $56,153. Hockey enthusiasts were thrilled with the sale of a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito rookie card, graded PSA 10, which went for $72,455. Football cards also sparked interest, with standout sales such as a 1964 Topps Bobby Bell rookie PSA 10 at $31,558, a 1964 Philadelphia Merlin Olsen rookie PSA 10 at $19,018, and a 1973 Topps Art Shell rookie PSA 10 at $20,432.
The auction showcased more than just cards, with rare memorabilia making waves among bidders. Notable items included a Ty Cobb Tobacco tin from the 1910s at $30,463, a Mickey Mantle single-signed baseball with a rare “#6” inscription at $20,934, a handwritten letter from Mantle’s 1951 rookie season also at $20,934, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat from circa 1910-15 at $16,121.
Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction set a high standard for the year with its record-breaking sales and exceptional offerings. Collectors are eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to dive into the world of iconic sports memorabilia and cards.
