Mile High Card Company December Auction Posts Incredible Sales Records

Castle Rock, CO - Mile High Card Company closed out 2023 with a robust winter auction, headlined by numerous record-setting prices and the sale of perhaps the two most significant rookie cards of the post-war era; 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle RC PSA 8 NM/MT which sold for $378,997 “Overall, our auction results show that we’re still riding a bull market. We can’t wait to show you what 2024 has in store for the hobby” said MHCC CEO and President Brian Drent. Also leading the bidding was a 1916 M101-4 Sporting News #87 Joe Jackson (Blank Back) PSA 7 NM that sold for $104,302, over four times the previous record price of $25,000, 1934 Goudey #61 Lou Gehrig PSA 8 NM-MT fetching $101,623, 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 NM-MT that received heavy action to close at $89,635, and a 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente PSA 8 NM-MT that brought in $72,084.

As stated, the M101-4 Jackson wasn’t the only offering to rewrite the records books as Hall of Famer Willie Stargell was the subject of several new price records with a 1964 Topps #342 Willie Stargell PSA 10 GEM MINT selling for $30,674, smashing the previous high price of $4,154, 1966 Topps #255 Willie Stargell PSA 10 GEM MINT netting $36,406; the previous record price was $8,000, 1973 Topps #370 Willie Stargell PSA 10 GEM MINT raising the bar to $10,665, well over the $6,837 previous record price, and 1974 Topps #100 Willie Stargell PSA 10 GEM MINT that went from a previous high of $1,175 and is now $6,355. Other items to set new record prices in the MHCC auction were a 1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays PSA 3 VG moving the record mark from $9,600 to $11,732, a 1953 Bowman Color #61 George Kell PSA 9 MINT that beat the previous record sale of $3,200 with a sale at $8,460, 1956 Topps #20 Al Kaline Gray Back PSA 9 MINT that sold for $7,198, well above the previous record of $4,000, 1958 Topps #285 Frank Robinson PSA 9 MINT beating the record of $5,500 with a new mark of $7,834, 1962 Topps #45 Brooks Robinson PSA 9 MINT destroying the previous high mark with a world record $30,391 sale, over eight times the previous mark of $3,450, 1969 Topps #100 Hank Aaron PSA 9 MINT selling for $10,665, beating the previous record of $9,900, and a 1972 Topps #229 World Series Game 7 PSA 10 GEM MINT pushing the new record price from $2,025 to $12,388.

Other elite items that received tremendous results were a 1909 S74 Silks (White) Ty Cobb Red Sun Cigarettes SGC 7 NM that hammered at $15,250, 1910-11 Sporting Life M116 Hans Wagner (Pastel) SGC 7.5 NM+ that sold for $77,770, 1915 Cracker Jack #68 Honus Wagner SGC 2 GOOD taking down $13,831, 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson SGC 2 GOOD fetching $45,776, 1941 Playball #71 Joe DiMaggio SGC 8.5 NM-MT+ that sold for $79,531, 1951 Bowman #1 Whitey Ford PSA 8 NM-MT taking in $18,384, 1952 Bowman #101 Mickey Mantle PSA 8 NM-MT changing hands for $22,012, 1952 Topps #407 Ed Mathews SGC 7.5 NM+ selling for $29,967, 1957 Topps #76 Bob Clemente PSA 9 MINT that landed at $13,060, 1957 Topps #328 Brooks Robinson PSA 9 MINT that hauled in $24,068, 1959 Topps #478 Bob Clemente PSA 9 MINT that sold for $12,438, 1960 Topps #316 Willie McCovey All-Star Rookie PSA 9 MINT reeling in $13,850, 1960 Topps #326 Bob Clemente PSA 9 MINT taking in $13,190, 1963 Topps #553 Rookie Stars (Stargell RC) PSA 9 MINT with a fresh sale of $18,384, 1959 Topps #1 Johnny Unitas PSA 9 MINT closing at $17,680, and a 1957 Topps #17 Bob Cousy PSA 8 NM-MT that sold for $34,693. Premium unopened material is always a mainstay of the MHCC auction and the selection was strong once again with an Exceptionally Rare 1964 Topps Baseball High Number Unopened Vending Box (500) selling for $18,540, 1974 Topps Baseball Unopened Wax Box netting $10,366, 1976 Topps Baseball Unopened Wax Box closing at $11,034, 1979 Topps Unopened 2-Box Tray Case BBCE Authenticated taking down $9,908, and a 1977 Topps Star Wars First Series Unopened Wax Box BBCE Authenticated that brought in $12,738.

More items of interest included a Circa 1934 Paul & Dizzy Dean "Beech-Nut Tobacco" Oversized Die-Cut Advertising Sign that hammered at $11,403, Spectacular Babe Ruth Signed OAL (Harridge) Baseball PSA/DNA and JSA closing for $40,486, 1972 California Angels Nolan Ryan Signed Game Used Home Jersey Mears A10, JSA that took down $56,518, 1973 Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles Signed Game Used Road Jersey From His Cy Young Season Sports Investors, LOA JSA that sold for $13,714, 1975 Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles Signed Game Used Road Jersey Mears A10 & Sports Investors LOA selling for $13,714, 1980 Rickey Henderson Game Used Oakland Athletics Alternate Jersey Mears A10 that netted $24,639, 1998 Ken Griffey Jr. Game Used Autographed Bat Used For 33rd Home Run Of The 1998 Season PSA/DNA 10 that took in $17,328, and an Exceptional 1962 Post Alpha-Bits Complete Unopened Box Featuring Sandy Koufax that saw spirited action before closing at $11,028.

MHCC is already on the lookout for quality material to make our first event of 2024 a memorable one. In addition to our auction services, MHCC is an industry leader in private treaty sales of high-profile collectibles. Please always keep us in mind regarding exceptionally high-value sports collectibles on a private sale basis. If you desire the maximum possible return for your prized sports cards and memorabilia, please call our office at (303) 840-2784 to speak with one of MHCC’s experts or visit www.milehighcardco.com