A 1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb Red Portrait with a Piedmont Cigarettes back, graded SGC 30, captured the auction’s top price at $6,025 after 17 bids when the Sterling Sports Auction closed on August 6, 2026. Featuring one of baseball’s greatest early stars in the landmark T206 issue, the card carried the desirable Factory 42 designation. Starting with a $1,000 minimum bid, the Cobb ultimately climbed to more than six times its opening level to lead the vintage heavy auction.
A 1957 Topps Baseball complete set of 407 cards, accompanied by two checklists, finished second at $4,820 after 22 bids. The classic 1957 Topps issue includes cards of many of the era’s greatest players and remains a popular set with vintage collectors. The complete set also opened at $1,000 before nearly reaching the $5,000 level.
Another set took the third position, as a 1968 Topps Baseball near complete set containing 591 of the set’s 598 cards generated 26 bids and sold for $3,013. The result demonstrated collector interest in largely complete vintage sets alongside individually graded Hall of Fame cards.
Ty Cobb made a second appearance among the auction’s top results. A 1911 T205 Ty Cobb with a Polar Bear back, graded SGC Authentic, sold for $2,531 after 17 bids. Combined with the $6,025 T206 Red Portrait, the two Cobb cards accounted for more than $8,500 in sales.
One of the more unusual early baseball cards also generated the auction’s highest bid count. A 1926-27 Aguilitas #777 Adolfo Luque graded SGC 50 attracted an impressive 40 bids before selling for $1,989 from a minimum bid of just $50.
Top 10 Auction Results:
- 1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb Red Portrait, Piedmont Cigarettes – SGC 30 – $6,025
- 1957 Topps Baseball Complete Set (407) with Two Checklists – $4,820
- 1968 Topps Baseball Near-Complete Set (591/598) – $3,013
- 1911 T205 Ty Cobb, Polar Bear – SGC Authentic – $2,531
- 1926-27 Aguilitas #777 Adolfo Luque – SGC 50 – $1,989
- 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan Rookie – PSA 4 – $1,808
- 1969 Topps #533 Nolan Ryan – PSA 7 – $1,687
- 1887 N175 Kid Madden Gypsy Queen Cigarettes – PSA 2 – $1,638
- 1911 E100-1 McCredie Bishop & Co. – PSA 1.5 – $1,567
- 1934 Quaker Oats Babe Ruth Premium Photo – PSA 1 – $1,404
Just outside the Top 10, a 1912 S81 Silks Jake Stahl Helmar Cigarettes collectible generated 32 bids and realized $1,326 after opening at only $60.
A 1956 Topps #130 Willie Mays Gray Back graded PSA 6 also attracted 14 bids and finished at $1,145.
Nolan Ryan was another standout, placing two cards among the Top 10. His important 1968 Topps #177 rookie card graded PSA 4 brought $1,808, while his second-year 1969 Topps #533 graded PSA 7 followed closely at $1,687.
The results were dominated by vintage baseball, stretching from 19th-century tobacco issues through the classic Topps sets of the 1950s and 1960s. Early cards proved especially competitive, with the Adolfo Luque Aguilitas card attracting 40 bids and the Jake Stahl silk drawing 32.
At the top, however, it was Ty Cobb and the legendary T206 issue that prevailed. The $6,025 Red Portrait gave Cobb the auction’s highest individual result, while his T205 Polar Bear card added another Top 5 finish, underscoring continued collector demand for early tobacco cards featuring one of baseball’s most important players.
For complete auction results visit https://www.sterlingsportsauctions.com/catalog.aspx.
1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb, Red Portrait, Piedmont Cigarettes SGC 30 *Factory 42* – Sold For $6,025
