Imagine a baseball card collection so pristine and rare that it makes collectors and enthusiasts feel like they’ve unlocked a treasure chest. That’s exactly what happened at a recent Mile High Card Company auction where a vintage 1968 Topps baseball card set crossed the auction block and left the room in amazement as it fetched a mind-boggling $1.1 million. Interestingly, these pieces of cardboard small enough to fit in your palm once sold for merely five cents a pack back in 1968—the era of bell-bottoms and peace signs.
At the heart of this spectacular auction was a set almost entirely graded PSA 10, signaling cards in near-perfect condition—a collector’s dream. The crowning jewel of the collection was a Mickey Mantle card, numbered 280. This particular piece of memorabilia not only captured the spirit of the legendary slugger but also commanded a staggering $235,234 alone. But the feverish bidding didn’t stop there. Every card, whether depicting legends or lesser-known players, seemed to carry its weight in gold, or at least in thick wads of cash.
A Hank Aaron card swung for the fences fetching $157,381, while a Johnny Bench rookie card, showcasing the young catcher in his Cincinnati Reds gear, took home $64,028. These cards, alongside other stalwarts like Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays, not only scored home runs but also set new price benchmarks within their categories.
Diving deeper into the bidding war, the Roberto Clemente All-Star card saw a jump from a previous high of $7,433 to a new peak at $12,622. Carl Yastrzemski’s card also ticked up the auctioneer’s gauge, commanding $10,683, up from $9,420. Furthermore, a Fergie Jenkins card, which previously doubled up from $4,560, fetched an impressive $8,814, illustrating the gravity-defying leaps these cardboard classics are capable of making in the auction universe.
Brian Drent, the President and CEO of Mile High Card Company, couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about the auction’s results, noting that these sales would not just raise eyebrows but significantly impact the PSA Set Registry rankings due to the unmatched quality and rarity of the cards on auction.
But it wasn’t just the baseball aficionados who had all the fun. The auction also catered to basketball and football collectors with notable sales including a 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card of Michael Jordan that soared to $303,842. Additionally, a Jim Brown 1964 Philadelphia Gum card tackled its way to $117,585, and a Wilt Chamberlain card from 1961 dazzled its way to $77,829.
Not to leave out memorabilia outside the cards, a historical 1910s photograph featuring an “All-Star” team from the American League was among the items that found new homes, underscoring the vibrant and robust interest in sports history and collectibles.
With over 2,000 lots up for grabs, the auction was not just a day at the ballpark; it was an extravagant festival celebrating the rich history, craftsmanship, and nostalgia embedded in these collectible items. The energetic exchanges and eyebrow-raising figures at this Mile High event left attendees, from seasoned collectors to enthusiastic novices, in awe and perhaps a bit lighter in the wallet. For those who missed the live action, the full results and potentially some jaw-dropping figures are available for deeper exploration and admiration online, ensuring the game is never really over for those passionate about the art of collecting.
