Mile High’s Winter 2008 Auction Climbs To Record $2.27 Million

Centennial, CO – Mile High Card Company maintained its established position among the nation’s foremost vintage card auction specialists with its recently concluded February 13th sale. As most American businesses trembled with anxiety over the state of the US economy, MHCC’s record $2,272,406 auction total proved once again that sportscards and collectibles are largely impervious to financial market trends, reassuring collectors and dealers alike that cardboard is often literally as good as gold.

MHCC President, Brian Drent, summarized the auction by stating, “As a firm, we are extremely pleased with the bottom line results as well as with the positive feedback we’ve received from various customers and consignors. It’s always reaffirming to hear those compliments from other dealers and collectors. They are the core of our business, and we are incredibly grateful for their patronage. The real bottom line is that Mile High continues to realize prices that meet and often exceed our expectations, and we fully expect our next auction to follow suit. Impressive consignments for our summer auction generated from the success of this sale are already stacking up, and we are actively seeking new deals every day.” Â

More than any other auction house in the country, Mile High Card Company consistently sets sales records for high-grade sets and scarce singles, emerging in the last several years as one of nation’s premier sportscard specialists. The success of its most recent auction marked its fifth consecutive premier event with sales in excess of $2 million, a bewildering number for an auction consisting primarily of sportscards, which are widely believed to be the backbone of the multi-billion dollar sports collectibles industry. MHCC credits its success to its consistent track record, its reputation, its expertise in research, writing, and photography, and its personable yet professional approach to its unique business. According to David Thorn, one of Mile High’s head writers, “the results are as exciting as ever, pointing in positive directions for both Mile High and the hobby in general.” The highlights of those results are listed below, and a complete summary of all 1,394 lots can be found on MHCC’s website at www.milehighcardco.com.       Â

“SHOELESS” JOE JACKSON

A true country rube with unsurpassed natural talents, perhaps the best player the game has ever known, banned for life from baseball during the prime of his career, the legacy of “Shoeless” Joe continues to illuminate the imaginations of collectors, both young and old alike, whose final bids on several MHCC-offered Joe Jackson cards established new standards for items depicting the tragic American hero. In what may be a record for a card graded “Authentic” with no numerical graded, a 1914 Boston Garter Color Joe Jackson SGC “A” sold for a stupendous $86,976, reaffirming the industry’s high regard for this elusive issue. Additionally, a 1914 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson PSA 5 EX finished remarkably strong at $22,887, and a 1916 Herpolsheimer’s #87 Joe Jackson PSA 6 EX/MT pushed the $10K envelope, finishing at $9,816. Finally, two low grade E90-1 Joe Jackson RCs recorded final sales of $6,848 (SGC 10) and $8,630 (GAI 1.5).

PRE-WAR CARD HIGHLIGHTS:

* 1887 Old Judge N172 Pud Galvin SGC 50 (4) VG/EXÂ Â $5,824
* 1887 Old Judge N172 Dummy Hoy SGC 10 (1) POORÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $1,799
* 1888 Old Judge N173 Myron Allen UNCÂ Â Â Â $6,223
* 1908-09 Rose Postcards Addie Joss SGC 80 (6) EX/NMÂ Â $6,494
* 1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb Portrait Red Back PSA 8 NM/MTÂ Â $17,834
* 1910 E90-2 American Caramel Honus Wagner PSA 4 VG/EXÂ Â $12,283
* 1910 E105 Mello Mint Gum Christy Mathewson SGC 10 (1)Â Â $3,511
* 1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folder Cobb/Moriarty PSA 8 NM/MTÂ $11,086
* 1913 Sporting News M101-3 Ty Cobb SGC 60 (5) EXÂ Â $4,922
* 1914 Boston Garter Color Joe Jackson SGC Authentic  $86,976
* 1914 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson PSA 5 EXÂ Â Â $22,887
* 1915 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson PSA 8 NM/MTÂ Â $12,179
* 1916 Herpolsheimer’s #87 Joe Jackson PSA 6 EX/MT  $8,816
* 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 8 NM/MTÂ Â Â $18,664
* 1933 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig PSA 8 NM/MTÂ Â Â $14,864
* 1935 National Chicle #1 Dutch Clark PSA 8 NM/MTÂ Â $8,630
* 1936 R312 Joe DiMaggio SGC 84 (7) NMÂ Â Â Â $5,824
* 1941 Play Ball #54 Pee Wee Reese SGC 92 (8.5) NM/MT+Â Â $5,956

POST-WAR CARD HIGHLIGHTS:

* 1948 Leaf #8 Satchel Paige PSA 6 EX/MTÂ Â Â $9,829
* 1949 Bowman #172 Eddie Pellagrini PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â $6,157Â
* 1950 Bowman #98 Ted Williams PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â $21,076
* 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle PSA 5 EXÂ Â Â $14,756
* 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle GAI NM/MT 8Â Â Â $7,626
* 1954 Topps #128 Henry Aaron SGC 96 (9) MINTÂ Â Â $20,806
* 1954 Topps #90 Willie Mays PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â Â $10,555
* 1956 Topps #110 Yogi Berra PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $14,052
* 1958 Topps #1 Ted Williams PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â Â $19,160
* 1958 Topps #2 Bob Lemon Yellow Letters PSA 8 NM/MTÂ Â $13,544
* 1958 Topps #150 Mickey Mantle PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â $16,213
* 1959 Topps #350 Ernie Banks PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $12,757
* 1960 Topps #200 Willie Mays PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â $4,763
* 1963 Fleer #42 Sandy Koufax PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $25,503
* 1963 Topps #340 Yogi Berra PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â Â $8,722
* 1967 Topps #581 Mets Rookies (Seaver) PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â $20,575
* 1968 Topps #110 Hank Aaron PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $10,213
* 1971 Topps #513 Nolan Ryan PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â Â $6,846
* 1972 Topps #200 Roger Staubach PSA 9 MINTÂ Â Â $3,764
* 1975 Topps Mini #228 George Brett PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â $7,207
* 1993 SP #279 Derek Jeter PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $4,877
* 2006 Upper Deck First Class Cuts Babe Ruth Signature  $10,151

PSA 10 GEM MINT HIGHLIGHTS:

* 1954 Bowman #105 Veryl Switzer PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â $1,086
* 1954 Bowman #112 Leon Hart PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $1,470
* 1956 Topps #34 Tom Brewers PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $2,901
* 1956 Topps #190 Carl Furillo PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $5,414
* 1958 Topps #339 Fred Hatfield PSA 10 GEM MINT Â Â $2,355
* 1961 Topps #50 AL Strikeout Leaders PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â $1,227
* 1962 Topps #213 Richie Ashburn PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â $4,674
* 1963 Fleer #21 Leon Wagner PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $1,446
* 1963 Topps #334 Wynn Hawkins PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $1,195
* 1965 Topps #187 Casey Stengel PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $3,136
* 1965 Topps #205 Warren Spahn PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $1,945
* 1965 Topps #308 Mets RCs Jones/Parsons PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ $2,569
* 1965 Topps #470 Yogi Berra PSA 10 GEM MINT Â Â Â $5,558
* 1965 Topps #551 Mets Team PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $2,591
* 1966 Topps #360 Ron Hunt PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $1,315
* 1966 Topps #402 Jim Hickman PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $1,086
* 1967 Topps #186 Mets Maulers PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $2,569
* 1968 Topps #100 Bob Gibson PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $1,767
* 1968 Topps #330 Roger Maris PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $3,191
* 1970 Topps #1 Mets Team PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $2,851
* 1971 Topps #183 Gil Hodges PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â Â $1,767
* 1972 Topps #271 Paul Warfield All-Pro PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â $1,497
* 1972 Topps #275 Garo Yepremian PSA 10 GEM MINTÂ Â $1,647

SET HIGHLIGHTS:
* 1923-24 V145-1 Hockey Near Set 29/38 with PSA Graded  $21,047
* 1936 V304D O-Pee-Chee Hockey 4th Current & All-Time Finest PSA $15,811
* 1948 Leaf Set Completely Graded PSA 5 EX with Variations $44,629
* 1955 Topps Baseball High-Grade Complete Set PSAÂ Â $14,208
* 1955 Bowman Football 3rd Current & All-Time Finest PSA Set $52,639
* 1959 Topps Football 6th Current Finest PSA Set Registry  $30,860
* 1963 Topps Baseball Complete set with PSA Graded  $11,741
* 1963 Topps Football 5th Current Finest PSA Set Registry  $19,133
* 1965 Topps High Grade Near Set all PSA 9 & 10Â Â Â $47,853
* 1967 Topps Football 7th Current Finest PSA Set Registry $11,508
* 1970 Topps Baseball 5th All-Time Finest PSA Set Registry $12,916
* 1973 Topps Baseball 4th All-Time Finest PSA Set Registry $20,392
* Larry Bird Master Set 1st Current & All-Time Finest PSA Set   $11,611

In addition to the above sets and singles, Mile High’s most recent offering also included an impressive array of autographed items, unopened material, and other memorabilia, as well as vast selection of non-sports items. According to Vice President of Operations, Ben Gassaway, “The success of the non-sport material in our most recent catalogue is evidence of our willingness to cater to all our bidders needs. We look forward to continuing to expand into other non-sport markets. Anything Americana: comics, albums, historical and political memorabilia,” commented Gassaway. “It’s all game.”

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 spring 2008 as well as a premier catalogue event for summer 2008. 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