Over the recent weekend, Heritage Auctions' Winter Sports Card Auction made waves in the collecting community with its historic sales. The standout of the event was the premiere 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card, graded 5.5 by SGC, which fetched an astounding sale price of $630,000. With only seven other examples known within SGC's records, this rare card drew significant attention from collectors.
The auction itself was a monumental success, accumulating over $11.1 million in total sales. Seven items, including the buyer's premium, each sold for upwards of $100,000. A particular highlight was the sale of a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card graded PSA 10, which achieved the highest sale price for a Gem Mint PSA graded copy since September 2021.
One of the most exciting aspects of the auction was the impressive assortment of vintage, still-sealed boxes. Among them, a 1965 Topps Baseball wax box containing cards from the second, third, and fourth series caught the attention of bidders. This box, originating from the collection of Adolph “Herky” Rupp Jr., who was the descendant of legendary Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, sold for an impressive $336,000 following authentication by BBCE. The Rupp Jr. collection also featured a 1953 Topps Willie Mays card, graded PSA 8, which commanded a price of $186,000.
In addition to the Rupp Jr. collection, the auction included several unopened boxes from a recently discovered collection. These items, acquired towards the end of the previous year, piqued the interest of collectors. A 1970 Topps Baseball 6th series cello box set a new record with a sale price of $105,000, while a 1968 Topps Football 1st series 36-pack cello box reached $99,000. A 1973 Topps Baseball 3rd series 500-count vending box also sold for $18,600. The initial offerings from this collection, associated with a former Topps employee, garnered $284,455, with further sales expected to reach into the seven figures in the coming months.
Furthermore, the auction featured nearly two dozen vintage autographed cards, amassed by Mike Greenbaum during their time of origin. One of the standout pieces was a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson card, graded 1.5 with an autograph grade of 8, which led the pack at an impressive $117,000. A similarly graded signed Roy Campanella card from the same set fetched $69,000.
Individual card sales were also noteworthy, with a T206 Ty Cobb Green portrait, graded PSA 6 and featuring a Piedmont advertising back, selling for $105,000. A 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle card, graded PSA 9, reached $80,533, while a 1962 Topps Manager’s Dream card, showcasing both Mantle and Mays, sold for $75,000.
Complete sets were in high demand, with the highest-rated set of 1909-1912 Colgan’s chips discs selling for $54,000. The 16th ranked 1969-70 Topps Basketball set garnered $93,000, and an all-PSA 8 1952 Bowman baseball set was acquired for $84,000, highlighting the auction's diverse and valuable selections.
Heritage Auctions' Winter Sports Card Auction was a resounding success, setting records with its historic sales. The premier 1916 M101-5 blank back Babe Ruth rookie card and the gem mint 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card stole the spotlight, but the auction's diverse offerings of vintage cards, still-sealed boxes, autographed cards, individual card sales, and complete sets showcased the breadth of collectible treasures available to passionate collectors.
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