In a digital world dominated by clicks and scrolls, it's refreshing to find sports history encapsulated in the analog charm of vintage cards and memorabilia. Blending nostalgia with a dash of competitive spirit, Miller & Miller Auctions is about to give sports fans and card collectors a real treat on June 22nd. The auction house is gearing up to showcase a lineup of pre-1980 sports treasures featuring some of the grandest icons from the annals of baseball and hockey.
Imagine a sunny afternoon in 1952, children chewing bubble gum and trading cards of their favorite baseball players. Fast forward to today, and one of those innocent treasures has transformed into the Holy Grail of the card collecting world: the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle rookie card. This gem, graded PSA 2 Good, is expected to send collectors into a frenzied bidding war, with its value estimated between $40,000 and $50,000 CAD. Though its corners have worn the passage of time, the card still holds a solid surface and edges, enough to make a seasoned collector's heart skip a beat.
But Mickey Mantle isn't the only shining star in this celestial event. Alongside him, Miller & Miller is featuring a coveted group of 40 cards from the famous Topps 1952 Sixth Series. Dubbed the “High Numbers,” this assembly ranges from Mantle's rookie card to #407. Despite their worn appearance, these are genuinely the top tier of that set, expected to fetch between $3,000 and $5,000 CAD, making them a precious opportunity for collectors who appreciate history in its most tangible form.
Hockey enthusiasts, fear not! Your legends are entering the fray as well, led by the riveting presence of the 1951 Parkhurst #66 rookie card featuring Gordie Howe. Graded PSA 3 Very Good, this card may not have a minty glow, but it carries an undeniable eye appeal and is recognized as the crown jewel of the 1951-52 Parkhurst set. This relic of hockey history is tagged with an expectation to sell for $8,000 to $10,000 CAD.
Adding to this parade of legends, Bobby Orr’s renowned 1966 Topps #35 rookie card will make its appearance in the auction arena. Graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, it promises to captivate both die-hard hockey fans and serious investors, with estimates swirling around $8,000 to $9,000 CAD.
The auction also features more than just skin-trading cards. It offers a slice of living history, as seen in a team-signed, game-used Bill Barilko hockey stick from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ celebrated 1951 Stanley Cup-winning season. Adorned with Barilko’s number 5 and the signatures of his fellow teammates, this tangible piece of lore is sure to set the hearts of hockey aficionados alight, valued at a modest $3,000 to $5,000 CAD.
As if that weren't enough to whet the collective appetite, there's a spectacular shadow box in play. It houses Parkhurst rookie cards for Maurice and Henri Richard, bearing the grades KSA 4 and 3 respectively. Enclosed with a Louisville Pro Flex stick graced with their autographs, alongside a Canadiens puck and a bronze plaque, this piece envelops the rich and storied history of the Montreal Canadiens. Collectively, it commands an estimated value of $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.
For those with a penchant for the unique, a 110-card set of 1964-65 Topps "Tall Boys" hockey cards promises a bidding war of epic proportions. Known for their elongated design, these cards feature names like Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull. While the set stands in good to very good condition, its value is pegged at $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.
And we save the last spotlight for the uncut sheet of this auction—a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee sheet presenting 226 hockey cards, highlighted by a pristine Wayne Gretzky rookie card. Despite some minor edge fraying, this survivor's rarity adds tremendous value, projected between $3,500 and $4,500 CAD.
In the world of memorabilia, this auction is nothing short of a who's who of sports greats. As Ben Pernfuss, Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, aptly puts it, these auctions hold "key cards from the groundbreaking 1951 Parkhurst hockey and 1952 Topps baseball sets featuring some of the most iconic names in sports."
For those maneuvering in the realm of nostalgia and collecting, the cache of treasures forged from leather, wood, and paper awaits. You can peer through the auction catalog on Miller & Miller's website or join the bidding frenzy via LiveAuctioneers. This auction promises more than just memorabilia; it offers a gateway to a bygone era where legends were immortalized one card at a time.
Mickey Mantle Rookie At Auction
Comments