Over the weekend, Heritage Auctions’ Winter Sports Card Auction made history with its remarkable sales. The star of the show was the premiere SGC graded 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card, which fetched an astonishing price of $630,000. With a rating of 5.5 by SGC, this rare card is one of only seven known examples in SGC’s records. The auction itself amassed an impressive total of over $11.1 million in sales, with seven items exceeding $100,000 each, including the buyer’s premium. Notably, a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card, graded PSA 10, achieved the highest sale price for a Gem Mint PSA graded copy since September 2021.
One of the highlights of the auction was a collection of vintage, still-sealed boxes. Among them was a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box containing cards from the second, third, and fourth series. This box, originating from the collection of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., descendant of the renowned Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, sold for an impressive $336,000 after being authenticated by BBCE. Rupp Jr.’s collection also featured a 1953 Topps Willie Mays card, graded PSA 8, which commanded a price of $186,000.
In addition to these remarkable finds, the auction unveiled several unopened boxes from a recently discovered collection acquired at the end of the previous year. These boxes created a buzz among collectors, with a 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box setting a new record at $105,000. A 1968 Topps Football 1st series 36-pack cello box also reached new heights, selling for $99,000. Moreover, a 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box found a buyer at $18,600. The initial offerings from this collection, connected to a former Topps employee, fetched a total of $284,455, with expectations of reaching the seven-figure mark as more items are sold in the future.
The auction also featured a collection of nearly two dozen vintage autographed cards amassed by Mike Greenbaum during their original release. Among them, a standout was a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card, graded 1.5 with an autograph grade of 8, which led the pack with a purchase price of $117,000. A similarly graded signed Roy Campanella card from the same set fetched $69,000.
Notable individual card sales include a T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait, graded PSA 6 with a Piedmont advertising back, which sold for $105,000. A 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded PSA 9, reached an impressive $80,533, while a 1962 Topps Manager’s Dream card, featuring both Mantle and Mays, sold for $75,000.
Complete sets were not overlooked in this auction. The highest-rated set of 1909-1912 Colgan’s chips discs sold for $54,000. The 16th ranked 1969-70 Topps Basketball set was acquired for $93,000, and an all-PSA 8 1952 Bowman baseball set found a new owner at $84,000. These sales highlight the diverse and valuable selections available at the Heritage Auctions event.
The Winter Sports Card Auction at Heritage Auctions showcased an extraordinary range of rare vintage cards, still-sealed boxes, autographed treasures, and complete sets. With its record-breaking sales exceeding $11.1 million, this auction marks a momentous occasion in the world of sports card collecting.
