Mile High Card Company’s April Auction lived up to the expectations, posting many impressive results including several world-record prices. “The hobby remains strong, especially for some of the most stellar examples that were featured in this auction,” said MHCC CEO and President Brian Drent. The auction closed on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
A large selection of high-grade 1952 high-numbered cards was featured in the auction, including #311 Mickey Mantle PSA 5.5 EX+ that sold for a hefty $161,599, 261 Willie Mays PSA 8 NM-MT that sold for $160,759, 312 Jackie Robinson PSA 8 NM-MT that fetched $145,812, 1 Andy Pafko PSA 7 NM that sold for $24,258, and 407 Ed Mathews SGC 7 that brought in $39,230. Other key cards in the April auction were an 1887 Allen & Ginter N28 Adrian C. Anson SGC 7 NM that fetched $13,729, 1909-11 T206 Old Mill Ty Cobb Portrait Red PSA 6 EX-MT that took in $31,753, 1911 M110 Sporting Life Cabinets Honus Wagner PSA 2 (MK) GOOD that received heavy interested and hammered at $16,414, 1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth GAI 8.5 NM-MT+ selling for $61,338, 1933 Sport Kings Baseball #1 Ty Cobb PSA 8 NM-MT that took in a world-record price of $44,685, 1933 Sport Kings Gum #2 Babe Ruth SGC 5.5 EX+ that brought in $14,779, 1948-49 Leaf Gum Co. #79 Jackie Robinson SGC 4.5 VG-EX+ fetching $15,267, 1949 Bowman #224 Satchell Paige PSA 9 MINT that received strong interest and closed at $216,563, 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle PSA 6 EX-MT that earned $34,714, 1954 Red Heart Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINT hauling in $19,489, 1954 Topps #128 Henry Aaron PSA 8 NM-MT that fetched $35,859, 1961 Topps #150 Willie Mays PSA 9 MINT selling for $12,290, 1961 Topps #300 Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINT bringing down $32,523, 1967 Topps #581 Mets Rookies Tom Seaver PSA 9 MINT that took in $15,632, 1978 Topps #36 Eddie Murray PSA 10 GEM MINT finishing at $41,166, 1978 Topps #707 Rookie Shortstops (Molitor/Trammell) PSA 10 GEM MINT, another tough card that sold for $28,800, and a 1950 Bowman #45 Otto Graham PSA 9 MINT changing hands for $126,471.
The 1968 Topps Complete Set Completely PSA Graded With An Amazing 9.94 GPA and 10.90 Weighted GPA 572/598 PSA 10’s Set Registry Hall of Fame remained intact and brought in a grand total of $1.414M but it wasn’t the only elite assemblage on the auction block as MHCC also featured a 1952 Topps High Grade Partial Set With Stars, HOFers, And High Numbers (333/407) selling for $29,272, 1955 Topps Complete Set PSA Graded taking down $21,488, 1960 Topps Exceptionally High Grade Complete Set PSA 8 Or Higher 8.10 GPA selling for $91,876, 1964 Topps Exceptionally High Grade Complete Set Made Entirely From Vending With 240 PSA Graded Cards Including Hank Aaron PSA 9 MINT receiving $25,864 after heavy bidding, 1967 Topps Exceedingly High Grade Complete Set With Each And Every Card Graded NM/MT 8 by PSA selling for $58,417, 1955 Topps All American Exceptionally High Grade Complete Set With 99/100 Cards Graded NM/MT 8 brought in $29,497, 1969-70 Topps Basketball High Grade Complete Set, Each and Every Card Graded PSA 8 NM-MT hauling in $52,505, and 1972 Topps Exceptionally High Grade Near Complete Set All PSA Graded (330/351) that took in $20,720.
Incredible unopened material that was sold includes a 1974 Topps Unopened Wax Box BBCE that went for $12,858, 1976 Topps Baseball Unopened Wax Box BBCE selling for $9,352, 1977 Topps Baseball Vending Box Case With 24/500 Count Boxes closing at $27,198, 1980 Topps Baseball Vending Box Case With 24/500 Count Boxes bringing in $21,308, 1989 Upper Deck Low Number Series Unopened Case With 20 Boxes that found a new owner for $8,490, 1987-88 Fleer Basketball Unopened Wax Box BBCE selling for $10,158, 1959 Topps Football 1st Series Unopened Vending Box Group of (2) Banded, extremely rare as indicated by the sale for $42,302, 1985 Topps Garbage Pail Kids 1st Series Group of (48) Unopened Wax Packs All PSA Graded With Box hauling in $16,833, and a 1957 Topps Basketball 5 Cent Wax Pack PSA 7 NM fetching an impressive $130,744, obliterating a previous sale price of $36,000 for a GAI 6.5 example.
Other notable items include an Exceptionally Rare Ruth, Cobb, Johnson Multi Signed Album Page PSA/DNA AUTHENTIC that sold for $8,705, Exceptional Babe Ruth / Lou Gehrig Signed ONL Heydler Baseball PSA/DNA 8 NM/MT JSA selling for $59,877, 1966 Al Kaline Game Used and Signed Detroit Tigers Away Jersey MEARS A10 bringing down $20,464, and 1979 Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 19th Ticket Stub Wayne Gretzky NHL Debut PSA 3 VG hammering for $20,800.
As always, MHCC is already hard at work on the next auction, the goal always being to bring to the hobby an even bigger and better event, and there’s still time to join in with consignments. If you desire the maximum possible return for your prized sports cards and/or memorabilia, please call our office at (303) 840-2784 to speak with one of our team of experts, or contact us at www.milehighcardco.com.
