Title: Vintage Cards Smash Records at REA March Auction
Subtitle: Record-breaking sales at REA’s March Encore auction see iconic cards fetching top dollar, with a Babe Ruth piece leading the charge.
Meta Description: REA’s March Encore sale breaks records as vintage baseball cards fetch top dollar, including a $32,400 Babe Ruth gem.
In the thrilling world of vintage baseball cards, the recent March Encore auction at Robert Edward Auctions (REA) was a stage set for record-breaking magic. With over 3,300 lots up for grabs, the event attracted collectors and enthusiasts alike, resulting in a jaw-dropping sum of over $1.3 million in total sales.
Standing tall among the treasures was the remarkable 1933 V353 World Wide Gum Canadian Goudey #80 Babe Ruth card, which commanded an impressive $32,400. This piece of history, graded PSA EX-NM 6, stole the spotlight and set the tone for a series of impressive sales that followed suit.
Not to be outdone, a 1911 E94 George Close Candy Ty Cobb SGC POOR 1 and a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder PSA EX 5 with a Tolstoi Back made waves of their own, fetching $28,000 and $27,600 respectively. These transactions smashed previous records, showcasing the enduring appeal of iconic players from baseball’s golden era.
The auction was a battleground of bids, with nearly 66,000 offers flying back and forth across the lots. A 1976 Topps #500 Reggie Jackson PSA GEM MINT 10 went under the hammer for a staggering $30,000, while a 1980-1981 Topps Basketball Larry Bird/Magic Johnson Rookie PSA MINT 9 earned an impressive $25,200. The 1948-1949 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson Rookie PSA VG+ 3.5 also made a grand entrance, closing at $23,400.
Delving further into the treasure trove, a 1911 M110 Sporting Life Cabinet Honus Wagner PSA GOOD 2 (MK) and a 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie SGC GOOD+ 2.5 proved their worth, each fetching $14,400. Rare gems such as an Extremely Rare 1921 Schapira Bros. Candy Babe Ruth box part and an 1888 N28 Allen & Ginter John Clarkson PSA EX-MT 6 stirred up excitement, selling for $10,800 and $8,100, respectively.
But the record-breaking spree didn’t stop there. Other notable mentions included a Billy Southworth Single-Signed Baseball, a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Portrait PSA POOR 1 (Brown Hindu Back) that went for $7,500, and a 1934 R320 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig SGC GOOD+ 2.5 commanding $5,280.
REA president, Brian Dwyer, expressed his delight at the auction’s overwhelming success, signaling a strong vintage market and paving the way for a promising Spring Catalog Auction. With each bid, a piece of history found a new home, solidifying the enduring allure of vintage baseball cards in the hearts of collectors worldwide.
