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Finds and Interests
At WorthPoint, we see auctions with just a few small, carefully curated lots, and others with hundreds of lots. There’s always something interesting, though, regardless of the size of the sale, and a recent auction at our Industry Partner Robert Edward Auctions had a showstopper of a sports card, the likes of which is rarely seen going up for sale.
A 1953 Topps Jackie Robinson Card Graded PSA 9 Sells for $405,900
The item that came out on top (see what I did there? Top for Topps!) was an incredible 1953 Topps Jackie Robinson baseball card. That alone makes it an item that collectors and baseball fans would be all over; however, this card was exceptional for more than just the player. It was graded by PSA as a 9, which is why the hammer price came to $405,900. Auction information shows that out of 4,823 graded examples of this card, only one has ever had a higher grade.
The grading matters a great deal in sports cards. At the time, the company packaged cards in order, so any pack would show more wear and tear on a #1 card, of any player, since those cards sit on top of the package and can be damaged by shipping and by sitting in vending machine stacks. The Jackie Robinson card was #1 in the original pack it came from, and to be in that condition is almost unheard of.
Complete 1952 Topps Set—Including a Mickey Mantle Card—Sells for $282,900
Another lot in the sale had collectors bidding up to $282,900 for a complete set of cards—that means every baseball card Topps issued in 1952. The highlight of that lot was the Mickey Mantle card, graded as a PSA 4, but in this lot, the fact that the set included all 407 cards issued by Topps in 1952 was the draw. Having the entire set is an advantage for any collector, since they can choose to sell, keep, or flip certain cards. For me, I would love to know the history of some of these cards, especially the ones in such good condition. It’s truly a rare and special sale.
What Rising Sports Card Prices Mean for Collectors
As sports cards continue to heat up as investments, collectors could see price spikes for some cards and increased interest in card auctions. Do you have some cards you’d like to know more about? Check out the WorthPoint Price Guide to see what you might have lurking in a drawer or an old shoe box.