In an auction that can only be described as a grand slam, a collection of 1968 Topps baseball cards has vaulted into the million-dollar club, nabbing a cool $1.1 million. The Mile High Card Company, known for its high-profile memorabilia auctions, has once again knocked it out of the park, offering this unparalleled set featuring almost entirely pristine PSA 10 grade cards, a benchmark of near-perfect condition in the trading card world.
This set, originally priced at a modest five cents per pack back in 1968, embodies a treasure trove of baseball history. The auction’s crowning jewel was undoubtedly the Mickey Mantle card (#280), which alone fetched a staggering $235,234. This card’s enviable condition and the legendary status of Mantle himself combined to set a benchmark that was hard to match.
Yet, the auction was not a one-man show. Other baseball greats featured in the set also commanded impressive prices. A Hank Aaron card sailed to $157,381, while a Johnny Bench rookie card notched a cool $64,028. Cards of Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays were equally competitive, their bids driven by robust interest and deep-pocketed nostalgia, underscoring the vibrant market for vintage baseball cards.
Among the standouts, a Roberto Clemente All-Star card soared to $12,622, leapfrogging its previous price of $7,433. Carl Yastrzemski and Fergie Jenkins cards also smashed past records, with Jenkins’ card doubling its previous high to settle at $8,814. This fervent bidding wasn’t limited to just the superstars; many other cards in the auction significantly outstripped their previous auction records, propelled by their exceptional condition and rarity.
Brian Drent, President and CEO of Mile High Card Company, aptly noted that the results from this auction would reverberate through the PSA Set Registry rankings, marking a significant impact due to the high quality and scarcity of the cards traded.
However, the auction wasn’t solely a baseball affair. Collectors of other sports memorabilia had their day in the sun too. A 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card of basketball icon Michael Jordan, numbered 067 out of 100 and graded PSA 5, fetched a jaw-dropping $303,842. Such high figures weren’t isolated cases; a 1964 Philadelphia Gum card of football legend Jim Brown sold for $117,585 and a 1961 Wilt Chamberlain card rounded off to $77,829.
Included in this museum-worthy auction was a remarkable range of items beyond sports cards. A photograph of the 1910s American League “All-Star” team, along with various other Topps baseball sets from the ’60s and ’70s, fetched noteworthy sums, generating buzz and heavy wallets.
The auction featured over 2,000 lots, each telling its own story of sports glory and memorabilia magic, much to the delight of enthusiasts and collectors who thronged to browse the full results. This stupendous event not only highlighted the undying charm of these collectibles but also set new records, turning what were once childhood pastimes into high-stakes, high-reward investments.
This spectacular event once again demonstrated that the appetite for sports memorabilia, particularly vintage, is not only strong but growing. These relics of sports history, preserved so carefully over the decades, continue to command awe and respect, not to mention an ever-increasing monetary value, reminding us of the enduring legacy and love for the game.
