Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction kicked off the new year in style, raking in an impressive total of over $7.1 million in sales. The event, which featured a dazzling array of vintage sports cards and memorabilia, attracted fervent bidding from collectors globally.
The unmistakable star of the auction was none other than the legendary Babe Ruth, whose cards commanded significant attention and hefty price tags. Among the standout sales were three 1933 Goudey cards graded PSA NM/MT 8, cumulatively fetching close to $700,000. The #149 card, boasting a striking red background, stole the show by selling for an astounding $316,736.
A rare advertising card dating back to around 1920, showcasing Ruth alongside Carl Mays and graded SGC 3, incited a heated bidding war before being hammered down at an impressive $95,860. Other notable Ruth pieces included a 1921 E253 Oxford Confectionery card graded PSA 5, fetching $52,102, and a 1932 U.S. Caramel card graded PSA 6.5, which realized $48,508.
Not to be outdone, Joe Jackson’s 1915 Cracker Jack #103 card, graded PSA 7, made waves by setting a new record for its grade, selling for a hefty $173,794. As part of a set break, the Jackson card contributed to a collective $850,000 in sales.
1952 Topps favorites also proved their enduring allure, with three PSA 8 cards breaching the six-figure mark. The high-number Eddie Mathews card stole the spotlight, commanding $123,484, while Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays cards also amassed substantial bids.
Mickey Mantle, a perennial favorite among collectors, continued to capture hearts and wallets alike. A rare 1959 Bazooka card graded PSA 6 changed hands for $33,586, while a complete 1959 Bazooka box, featuring Mantle on the back and graded PSA 1, fetched $18,575. An assemblage of four PSA 10 Bazooka Mantle cards from 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1966 collectively garnered nearly $50,000.
The auction witnessed further Mantle magic with sales like the 1953 Topps PSA 7 NM for $29,012, the 1956 Topps Gray Back PSA 8.5 for $38,879, and the 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantle graded SGC 9, selling for $16,886. Baseball aficionados also celebrated acquisitions such as the 1957 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9 at $58,961 and the 1957 Topps Whitey Ford PSA 10 at $56,153.
Hockey enthusiasts had cause for cheer with the sale of a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito rookie card, graded PSA 10, fetching $72,455. Not to be overshadowed, football cards made their mark with notable sales including the 1964 Topps Bobby Bell rookie PSA 10 at $31,558, the 1964 Philadelphia Merlin Olsen rookie PSA 10 at $19,018, and the 1973 Topps Art Shell rookie PSA 10 at $20,432.
In addition to cards, the auction featured unique memorabilia that piqued the interest of bidders, such as a Ty Cobb Tobacco tin from the 1910s fetching $30,463, a Mickey Mantle single-signed baseball with a rare “#6” inscription at $20,934, a handwritten letter from Mantle’s 1951 rookie season also at $20,934, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat from circa 1910-15 selling for $16,121.
Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction set the bar high for 2025 with its record-breaking sales and exceptional offerings, leaving collectors eagerly anticipating the next chance to acquire prized pieces of sports history.
