Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction kicked off the year in style, dazzling collectors with a showcase of vintage sports cards and memorabilia that resulted in over $7.1 million in total sales. From Babe Ruth to Mickey Mantle, the auction presented a treasure trove of sought-after items that drew intense bidding activity from enthusiasts worldwide.
Babe Ruth took center stage at the auction, with three 1933 Goudey cards graded PSA NM/MT 8 stealing the show. The trio of cards fetched a staggering nearly $700,000, with the standout red-background #149 card commanding an impressive $316,736. A rare advertising card from the 1920s featuring Ruth and Carl Mays, graded SGC 3, ignited a bidding frenzy and ultimately sold for $95,860. Additional Ruth highlights included a 1921 E253 Oxford Confectionery card graded PSA 5, selling for $52,102, and a 1932 U.S. Caramel card graded PSA 6.5, fetching $48,508.
Not to be outdone, a 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson card, graded PSA 7, set a new grade record by selling for a whopping $173,794, making it the top non-Ruth item of the auction. The card was part of a set break that collectively brought in over $850,000 in sales.
1952 Topps cards were another hot commodity, with three PSA 8 graded cards crossing the six-figure mark. An Eddie Mathews high-number card led the pack at $123,484, while Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays cards also commanded significant 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, achieved $18,575. Four PSA 10 Bazooka Mantle cards from 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1966 collectively brought in close to $50,000. Mantle’s 1953 Topps card graded PSA 7 NM sold for $29,012, while a 1956 Topps Gray Back PSA 8.5 went for $38,879, and a 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantle SGC 9 reached $16,886.
In addition to baseball, collectors found excitement in multi-sport offerings such as a 1957 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9 selling for $58,961 and a 1957 Topps Whitey Ford PSA 10 fetching $56,153. Hockey enthusiasts celebrated the sale of a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito rookie card, graded PSA 10, for $72,455, while football cards didn’t disappoint with notable sales including 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.
The auction also featured unique memorabilia that piqued bidders’ interest, such as a Ty Cobb Tobacco tin from the 1910s selling for $30,463, a Mickey Mantle single-signed baseball with a rare “#6” inscription going for $20,934, a handwritten letter from Mantle’s 1951 rookie season also reaching $20,934, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat dating back to 1910-1915 selling for $16,121.
Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction has set a high standard for the year 2025, breaking records and offering exceptional items that have collectors eagerly anticipating the next opportunity to acquire iconic pieces of sports history.
