PWCC’s August Premier Auction is live (at 7 p.m. ET on September 8, 2022) and features more than 400 elite assets across baseball, basketball, football, hockey, golf, soccer, and more. Bidding will conclude on September 22, 2022 at 7PM PT, with extended bidding starting immediately after. To apply to bid go to: https://pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction.
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente ROOKIE #164 MBA PSA 9 MINT (PWCC-A)
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction/4795
This is one of the finest copies of Roberto Clemente’s rookie card in the world. Of the 4,735 copies of Clemente’s rookie card ever graded by PSA, just 11 have received a PSA 9 grade. Just one copy has ever received the coveted PSA 10 Gem Mint status. That means this item is a Top 12 card at least — but with a PWCC-A Eye Appeal and MBA Gold designation, this copy has very few peers in terms of overall quality.
Public records show a PSA 9 copy of the card has sold at public auction just five times since July 2015. The last time one sold was in March 2021 and it set the current record for any Clemente card at $1,107,000.
2009 National Treasures Stephen Curry ROOKIE PATCH AUTO /25 #206 BGS 9.5
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction/5303
Since the start of the year, the /99 version of Curry’s 2009 National Treasures RPA has shown up at auction eight times. Twice this year has that card hit a ‘for card’ record of $720,000.
This is a /25 gold parallel of the card. Just three copies have appeared at auction this year – and the last BGS 9.5 sold for a “for card” record of $840,000.
2003 Exquisite Emblems Of Endorsement Michael Jordan PATCH AUTO /15 #MJ BGS 9
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction/5034
2003 Exquisite Noble Nameplate Michael Jordan PATCH AUTO DNA 10 /25 MBA PSA 10
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction/5225
2003 Exquisite Collection Number Pieces Michael Jordan PATCH AUTO /23 BGS 9.5
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction/5035
A number of the Michael Jordan offerings headed to the PWCC September Premier Auction are Exquisite with a capital E. Multiple Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Jordan cards go live Sept. 8 and these three items are among the biggest on offer.
One prominent insert set from the inaugural edition is the Emblems Of Endorsement Patch Autos, which are numbered to /15. Featuring back-to-back “E”-shaped patch windows, one of two retired players in the 12-card checklist is Michael Jordan. Each patch window in this example is adorned with a three-color piece above a hard-signed autograph.
The Noble Nameplates Jordan PSA 10 Auto 10 tri-color game-worn Patch /25 that earned an MBA Gold sticker.
The Number Pieces Patch Auto insert features a patch window in the shape of a player’s uniform number and were serial numbered accordingly. Only two of the 23 examples of Jordan’s card have received a BGS 9.5 designation
1957 Topps Basketball Bill Russell ROOKIE #77 PSA 8 NM-MT
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction/5355
Russell’s ‘57 Topps rookie card demands attention at every level regardless of centering, creases, snow, miscuts, marks, or coffee stains—the result of his historical significance, scarcity, card aesthetics, and career accomplishments.
This card has few issues at it is PSA 8 – and PSA has only awarded three examples a higher grade.
1914 Cracker Jack Christy Mathewson #88 SGC 3 VG
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction/4683
The 1914 Mathewson is inexplicably rare with PSA having graded just 32 examples — 23 of which earned a grade of PSA 2 or lower. SGC has graded 27 of them, only four of which have earned a higher grade than an SGC 3.
Cracker Jack used the same design on the 1914 and 1915 issues, turning the flip side upside down on the 1915 cards, but not so with Mathewson’s lithograph. His 1915 issue is a portrait—not an action shot, which further reduces the availability of this throwing card.
The card is an SGC 3, but bidders will need to decide if the Cracker Jack stains on the flip side give the card character and provenance or if they are technical flaws.
1933 Blue Bird Babe Ruth FRONT VIEW PSA 8.5 NM-MT+
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction/4838
The same year Goudey produced four iconic Babe Ruth cards, a soda company called Blue Bird manufactured two Ruth cards (this issue and a side view card of him swinging his bat) to promote their drinks. PSA has graded 29 copies of the card, and this PSA 8.5 is tied with another card as the highest PSA example. Since 2008, there have been only 23 auctions of a Blue Bird Ruth.
PWCC Offers One of the Scarcest Michael Jordan Insert Card at Auction
This 1998 Hoops Slam Bams Michael Jordan BGS 9 is numbered to 100 but that serial number belies the true scarcity of the card. In terms of grading population count, there are just 25 in the world. Beckett has graded 14, PSA has graded 10, and SGC has graded 1. With those low numbers it should be no surprise that the Jordan Slam Bams insert shows up at auction with extreme rarity. Since 2008, the card has appeared at auction just 12 times. This might be the hobby’s next $100,000 card. However, with the insert showing up at a rate of roughly once a year, this BGS 9 copy at PWCC might be the last time we see it available for some time.
What might be most interesting, however, is the last three sales points:
Jan. 2019 a PSA 9 sold for $8,988.
Nov. 2021 BGS Authentic sold for $5,300
Sept. 10, 2022 a PSA 9 copy sold for $97,200.
“Of all the true inserts of Michael Jordan, the Slam Bams is one of the rarest,” said Jesse Craig, Director of Business Development at PWCC. “Yes, it’s numbered to 100, but you really can’t find these with any true frequency. It’s definitely a grail-type insert card.”
Also on the block
Other impressive offerings in the auction include:
- 2003 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor LeBron James ROOKIE /50 #111 PSA 9 MINT
- 2003 Topps Chrome Xfractor LeBron James ROOKIE /220 #111 BGS 10 PRISTINE
- 1986 Fleer Basketball Michael Jordan ROOKIE #57 PSA 10 GEM MINT
- 2000 Fleer E-X Essential Credentials Future Tom Brady ROOKIE /25 #122 PSA 9 MINT
- 2017 National Treasures Patrick Mahomes II ROOKIE PATCH AUTO /99 #161 BGS 9.5
- 2020 Immaculate Collection Luka Doncic LOGOMAN PATCH AUTO 1/1 #LA-LUD BGS 8
- 1977 Futbol Discs Argentina Juniors Diego Armando Maradona ROOKIE #11 PSA 7 NRMT
For more information, visit https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/premier-auction. The auction ends with Extended Bidding on Thursday, September 22, 2022.
The Monthly Premier Auction offers the most sought-after trading cards and other tangible assets in the industry. This marketplace is comprised exclusively of museum-caliber investment pieces. PWCC hosts this exclusive event every month, featuring everything from vintage classics to modern RPAs to investment-minded factory sealed wax. Designed for both savvy investor and passionate collectors alike; anyone looking to add a jaw-dropping card to their collection should check it out.
