Centennial, CO – Allaying many fears concerning the health of sports collectibles in a troubled economy, Mile High Card Company`s recently concluded Oct. 1 sale climbed to $2,734,887.00, topping the firm`s previous record by nearly half a million dollars and proving to the skeptical masses what most long-time hobbyists have always known. Scarce collectibles are generally impervious to financial market trends, and cards, in particular, can often be better than gold.  Â
True to speculation among inquisitive hobby commentators on various online forums, rare pre-war items in high-grade not only held their own but in many cases outperformed even the loftiest of expectations. The world`s finest T205 Gold Border Cy Young (graded PSA 8.5 NM/MT+) became the highest selling T205 on record with a final hammer price of $105,242. Other notable half-point surprises included a PSA 8.5 T206 Rube Marquard that finished at $9,816, a PSA 8.5 1915 Cracker Jack Honus Wagner that catapulted to $24,554, and a PSA 8.5 1962 Kahn`s Clemente that brought $8,139. Clearly, a half-point does matter.
Mile High was also pleased to realize exceptional prices on a handful of select pieces of memorabilia, including a spectacular single-signed Babe Ruth ball that fetched $32,683 and an exquisite 1910-11 Pittsburg Pirates Sweater that brought nearly $20,000. Most impressive, however, was the $30,434 realized for a 1955 Ted Williams Game-Used Bat graded GU-10 by PSA/DNA, the strongest price ever paid for a 1950s regular issue Williams bat. Also of particular note was a Type 1 Louis Van Oeyen Joe Jackson photo that brought $10,443 and a complete 1962 Topps Baseball Cello Box that sold for $38,236.Â
MHCC President, Brian Drent, summarized the auction by stating, `We are more than pleased with the results of our latest sale. It was a critical auction, not just for our firm, but for the entire hobby. Naturally, we were concerned about the economy, what with the Dow suffering its largest single day loss the day before we ended. But we were eager to be under the spotlight and to prove to the entire hobby that we can be relied upon in times like these and continue to realize exceptionally strong, record-breaking prices.`
Not only did Mile High`s Oct. 1 auction exceed its previous record by nearly half a million dollars, but it also experienced the heaviest bidding in the 12-year history of the firm. According to David Thorn, Mile High`s Head Writer, `We experienced more record-setting prices than we could count on VCP, and some of the records completely obliterated the previous numbers.` All things considered, the market for premium sports collectibles appears to be healthy. Â
Prominent single card sales, many of which surpassed previous sales records (confirmed by vintagecardprices.com and noted with asterisks) included:
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1910 E90-2 American Caramel Honus Wagner  SGC 60 $16,350*
1911 T205 Gold Border Cy Young   PSA 8.5 $105,242*
1911 T206 Rube Marquard    PSA 8.5 $9,816*
1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson   SGC 80 $50,954*
1915 Cracker Jack Nap Lajoie   PSA 9 $21,763*
1915 Cracker Jack Honus Wagner   PSA 8.5 $24,554*
1916 M101-5 Sporting News Babe Ruth   PSA 7 $89,104*
1933 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig    PSA 8 $19,618*
1951 Bowman Whitey Ford    PSA 8 $9,227
1951 Bowman Willie Mays    PSA 8 $11,071
1952 Topps Eddie Mathews   SGC 86 $17,834*
1954 Parkhurst Tim Horton   PSA 9 $2,178*
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente   PSA 8 $7,373
1955 Topps All American Jim Thorpe  PSA 9 $8,722
1958 Topps Mickey Mantle   PSA 9 $11,071
1959 Topps Mickey Mantle   PSA 9 $9,227
1962 Kahn`s Weiners Robert Clemente  PSA 8.5 $8,139*
1963 IDL Drugstore Roberto Clemente  PSA 9 $9,771*
1963 Pittsburg Exhibit Sandy Koufax  PSA 9 $5,656*
1963 Topps Pride of the NLÂ Â Â PSA 10Â $5,949
1963 Topps Juan Marichal   PSA 10 $4,249*
1966 Philadelphia Bob Hayes   PSA 9 $2,675*
1967 Topps Joe Namath    PSA 10 $4,813
1971 Topps Joe Greene    PSA 9 $4,593*
1973 Topps Hank Aaron    PSA 10 $7,049*
1976 Topps Walter Payton   BVG 10 $10,798*
1978 Topps Molitor/Trammell   PSA 10 $4,593*
1979 Topps Ozzie Smith    PSA 10 $6,484*
1984 Topps USFL Reggie White   PSA 10 $2,869*
Living up to its reputation as one of the hobby`s premier outlets for high-grade sets and uncommon commons, while confirming the strength of one of the hobby`s core activities, set building, Mile High was also pleased to realize the following significant sales:
SETS
1910 E96 Philadelphia Caramel (3.867 GPA)Â Â Â $24,554
1912 T207 Brown Background Near Set (3.699 GPA)Â Â Â $37,941
1951 Topps Connie Mack`s All Stars #2 Finest PSA Set  $13,512
1952 Bowman Baseball (7.17 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $14,757
1955 Bowman Baseball (7.93 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $26,784
1956 Topps Baseball (8.00 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $35,708
1960 Topps Baseball (7.89 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $14,757
1965 Topps Baseball (8.10 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $13,415
1966 Topps Baseball (7.99 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $12,195
1967 Topps Baseball (8.09 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $19,642
1969 Topps Baseball (8.05 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $11,452
1971 Topps Baseball (8.00 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $32,683
1950 Bowman Football (8.0095 GPA)Â Â Â Â $27,010
1952 Bowman Large Football #2 Finest PSA Set   $79,068
1961 Topps Football (8.30 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $10,798
1963 Topps Football (7.91 GPA)Â Â Â Â Â $15,114
1964 Topps Football #1 Finest PSA Set    $38,236
1967 Topps Football #2 Finest PSA Set     $11,895
BASEBALL SINGLES
1911 Turkey Red Chief Myers    PSA 4 $15,979*
1940 Play Ball Frankie Frisch    PSA 9 $2,675*
1949 Bowman Dany Litwhiler   PSA 9 $3,109*
1949 Bowman Sam Chapman    PSA 10 $3,976*
1949 Bowman Larry Jansen    PSA 9 $4,141*
1953 Bowman Color Al Lopez    PSA 9 $7,049*
1953 Topps Willard Marshall    PSA 9 $3,795*
1953 Topps Pete Runnels    PSA 9 $3,157*
1953 Topps Charlie Silvera    PSA 9 $7,531*
1953 Topps Sid Hudson    PSA 9 $5,052*
1953 Topps Bob Oldis     PSA 9 $5,142*
1954 Topps Tom Wright     PSA 10 $6,223*
1956 Topps Connie Johnson    PSA 9 $6,065*
1961 Topps NL ERA Leaders    PSA 10 $2,140*
OTHER SPORTS
1948 Bowman BB Bruce Hale   PSA 10 $3,285*
1950 Bowman FB Bill Johnson    PSA 9 $1,752*
1951 Bowman FB Weldon Humble   PSA 9 $4,433*
1951 Bowman FB Verl Lillywhite   PSA 9 $1,752*
1951 Bowman FB Tom Wham    PSA 9 $1,592*
1951 Bowman FB Tobin Rote   PSA 9 $1,446*
1954 Topps Alex Delvecchio    SGC 96  $2,397*
1958 Topps FB Jim Brown    PSA 8 $2,714
1958 Topps FB Raymond Berry   PSA 9 $2,591*
1961 Parkhurst Alex Delvecchio    PSA 10 $1,945*
1963 Fleer FB Len Dawson   PSA 9 $1,980
1963 Fleer FB Lance Alworth   PSA 9 $1,634*
1965 Philadelphia Checklist 2Â Â Â PSA 9Â $1,959*
1967 Philadelphia Tommy McDonald  PSA 10 $1,206*
1979 Topps FB Earl Campbell    PSA 10 $2,901*
Mile High Card Company has distinguished itself among elite auction houses as a specialist in the sportscard market, consistently realizing record-setting prices for sets and singles that in many cases far outdistance the competition. As a follow-up to this highly successful event, MHCC is currently planning an `Extra Innings` live telephone and internet auction for fall 2008 as well as a premier catalogue event for winter 2009. To consign your treasured material to MHCC or to receive a free catalogue in the future, please visit www.milehighcardco.com or call Mile High Card Company directly at (303) 840-2784 (8:00-5:00 MST M-F).Â
