A spectacular 1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax rookie card graded PSA 9 MINT commanded $604,736 to lead Memory Lane Inc.’s Summer Rarities Auction, which concluded on September 26, 2026. The auction grossed over $7.5 million in sales. The auction featured an extensive selection of vintage and modern sports cards, autographs, memorabilia, unopened material, complete sets and other collectibles.
Koufax Rookie Leads the Way at $604,736
The undisputed star of the auction was the 1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax rookie PSA 9 MINT, distinguished as the only PSA 9 Koufax rookie carrying an MBA Gold Diamond designation. Opening at $50,000, the card attracted an impressive $604,736. Koufax’s 1955 Topps rookie remains one of the cornerstone cards of postwar baseball collecting, and the exceptional grade and MBA designation helped separate this example from others in the marketplace.
Roberto Clemente PSA 9 Reaches $170,579
Finishing second was a high-grade 1971 Topps #630 Roberto Clemente graded PSA 9 MINT. After opening at $10,000, the card generated 43 bids and ultimately sold for $170,579. The late career Clemente issue is especially challenging in elite condition, and the result demonstrated the continued demand for premium examples of cards featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates legend.
Signed Michael Jordan Rookie Brings $146,579
The auction’s third highest result came from basketball, where an extraordinary signed 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie card realized $146,579. The card was graded PSA 5 EX, while Jordan’s autograph received a PSA/DNA Auto 7 NM grade. Of particular significance, Memory Lane described the signature as an era-correct autograph dating from 1986/1987, adding another dimension of desirability to one of the hobby’s most famous basketball cards. The card opened at $10,000 and attracted 42 bids before the hammer fell.
Vintage baseball dominated much of the remainder of the auction’s highest-priced material. A remarkable 1923 W515-1 #47 Babe Ruth hand-cut card graded PSA 10 GEM MINT finished at $137,582. Close behind was a 1916 M101-4 Sporting News #87 Joe Jackson blank-back PSA 7 NM, which sold for $134,579.
Basketball returned to the leaderboard with a sealed 1984 Star Chicago Bulls Team Bag, graded DGA 7.5 with the cards receiving an overall 7.0 grade. The unopened Bulls issue also realized $134,579.
Mickey Mantle was represented by a major rookie card result. A 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle rookie graded PSA 7 NM sold for $125,794.
Another substantial result came from a nearly complete set of one of the hobby’s landmark releases. A 1952 Topps near-complete set containing 393 of the 407 cards, including 16 graded cards, brought $122,579.
A high-grade prewar card of another Yankees legend followed. The 1938 Goudey Heads Up #274 Joe DiMaggio PSA 8 NM-MT realized $108,665 and rounding out the Top 10 was Willie Mays. His iconic 1951 Bowman #305 rookie card graded PSA 7 NM finished at $105,888.
Top 10 Results — Memory Lane Summer Rarities Auction
- 1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax Rookie — PSA 9 MINT, MBA Gold Diamond — $604,736
- 1971 Topps #630 Roberto Clemente — PSA 9 MINT — $170,579
- 1986 Fleer #57 Signed Michael Jordan Rookie — PSA 5 EX, PSA/DNA Auto 7 NM — $146,579
- 1923 W515-1 #47 Babe Ruth Hand-Cut — PSA 10 GEM MINT — $137,582
- 1916 M101-4 Sporting News #87 Joe Jackson Blank Back — PSA 7 NM — $134,579
- 1984 Star Chicago Bulls Team Bag — DGA Bag 7.5, Cards 7.0 — $134,579
- 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie — PSA 7 NM — $125,794
- 1952 Topps Near-Complete Set (393/407), 16 Graded — $122,579
- 1938 Goudey Heads Up #274 Joe DiMaggio — PSA 8 NM-MT — $108,665
- 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie — PSA 7 NM — $105,888
Just outside the Top 10, a 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 NM-MT sold for $103,490, giving the auction 11 lots reaching six figures among the results.
The auction sold 1,278 of 1,284 lots, a 99.53% sell-through rate, with 16,922 bids placed by 1,169 bidders. For complete auction results and additional information, visit Memory Lane Inc. For Record Results, Consign with Memory Lane. Accepting Consignments for our Winter Rarities Auction www.memorylaneinc.com or phone: 877.606.LANE (5263)
