A 1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth rookie card and Billy Sims’ 1978 Heisman Trophy ring were among the items changing hands in Memory Lane Inc’s recent I Own it Now sale. Numerous individual sports cards, sets and memorabilia were sold in the unique, two-week event. “This was our fourth I Own it Now event and collectors seem to be intrigued by it,” said Memory Lane’s J.P. Cohen. “They jump on the phones as soon as we open to grab something they don’t think is going to last long like the Ruth rookie card. Others try to wait it out and make a deal.”Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on items spanning virtually the entire 20th century of sports collectibles. I Own it Now offers a collection of premier items offered for sale by consignors. Collectors can choose to purchase at a listed selling price or wait through an initial offering period in hopes an item they want doesn’t sell. An offer can then be made to the seller who can either accept it or reject it.
Among the other items sold were a pair of Ruth owned bats, a 1913 Fatima Team Card set, ranked second on the PSA Set Registry with a GPA of 4.45, a 1910 T210 Old Mill Casey Stengel rookie card graded PSA 4, a high grade 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig #92, a 1925 Gehrig Exhibit rookie card, a 1927 York Caramels Ruth, a high grade 1966-67 Topps Bobby Orr rookie card, a NM/MT 1953 Topps Willie Mays, a 1950 Bowman Elroy Hirsch graded PSA 10, a 1954 Dan Dee Mantle graded PSA 7, a 1957 Topps Mantle graded PSA 8 and a PSA 8 1965 Topps Joe Namath rookie card.
Memory Lane will offer its next I Own it Now catalog early in 2012.
The company is also taking consignments for its final auction of 2011 set to close December 17. High grade and rare sports cards and quality sports memorabilia is being accepted until October 31. Over 1,000 lots will be offered including portions of one of the hobby’s best vintage card collections. Memory Lane recently acquired dozens of vintage card sets dating from the early 1900s through the 1960s and the collection will be offered piece-by-piece over the next several auction events.
To receive free catalogs, register for the auction or consign items to the upcoming events, contact Memory Lane via their website (http://www.memorylaneinc.com) or by phone at (714) 730-0600.
