Mile High Card Company Spring Auction Nets World Record Prices

Castle Rock, CO - The first catalog auction of 2024 for Mile High Card Company has set the tone for what should be another banner year for the hobby. The 2000+ lot event was headlined by the breakup of the world’s finest 1968 Topps master set with an incredible 10.94 set rating, many of which closed to record prices, for a total of just over $1.1M. Sales from the breakup include a 1968 Topps #280 Mickey Mantle PSA 10 GEM MINT at $235,234, #110 Hank Aaron PSA 10 GEM MINT at $157,381, #247 Reds Rookie Stars Johnny Bench PSA 10 GEM MINT at $64,028, #150 Roberto Clemente PSA 10 GEM MINT at $50,043, #50 Willie Mays PSA 10 GEM MINT at $44,281, and 1968 Topps #177 Mets Rookie Stars Nolan Ryan PSA 9 MINT at $64,028, with record-setting prices for #230 Pete Rose PSA 10 GEM MINT at $33,061 (previous high was $26,746), #5 NL HR Leaders at $19,105 (previous high was $8,650), #374 Roberto Clemente AS at $12,622 (previous high was $7,433), #250 Carl Yastrzemski at $10,683 (previous high was $9,420), #410 Fergie Jenkins at $8,814 (previous high was $4,560), #185 Tom Haller at $7,690 (previous high was $3,400), #143 Pete Cimino at $5,676 (previous high was $1,236), #580 Bob Bailey at $5,293 (previous high was $397), #205 Juan Marichal at $4,773 (previous high was $1,980), #200 Orlando Cepeda at $4,690 (previous high was $1,836), #384 Hal McRae at $4,339 (previous high was $2,874), #441 Alex Johnson at $3,944 (previous high was $1,636), and #135 Paul Blair at $3,224 (previous high was $1,410). “The results of this auction will shake up the PSA Set Registry, not just the 1968 Topps cards but many other world-class examples that have changed hands tonight,” said MHCC President and CEO Brian Drent.

Michael Jordan collectors had an opportunity to land one of the most elusive MJ pasteboards in the hobby; a 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems #23 Michael Jordan (067/100) PSA 5 EX, which settled at $303,842. The same was true for Jim Brown enthusiasts with a tremendous 1964 Philadelphia #30 Jim Brown PSA 10 GEM MINT POP 1 that earned $117,585. Other featured items were a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle SGC 4 VG-EX going to the highest bidder for $77,428, 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ selling for $77,829, 1966 Topps USA Test #35 Bobby Orr PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ fetching a record $72,084, 1907 Dietsche Detroit Tigers Postcards Ty Cobb Fielding PSA 2 GOOD that closed at $20,469, 1907 Wolverine News Co. Ty Cobb Batting SGC 1.5 FR brought in $14,770, 1907 Wolverine News Co. Ty Cobb Portrait SGC 1 PR sold for $12,865, 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal 150/649 Christy Mathewson White Cap SGC 8 NM-MT settled at $16,423, 1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 4.5 VG-EX+ taking in $20,964, 1933 DeLong #7 Lou Gehrig PSA 5 EX selling for a world-record $20,469, 1948 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson PSA 6.5 EX-MT+ that saw spirited bidding before closing at $33,867, 1949 Bowman #50 Jackie Robinson SGC 7 NM fetching $13,850, 1952 Topps #33 Warren Spahn PSA 8 NM-MT bringing in a world-record price of $9,481 (previous high was $3,840), 1956 Topps #173 Johnny Podres Gray Back PSA 10 GEM MINT changing hands for $18,565, 1969 Topps #95 Johnny Bench PSA 10 GEM MINT reeling in $26,760, 1970 Topps #660 Johnny Bench PSA 10 GEM MINT landing at a record $29,950 (previous high was $12,500), 1970 Topps #580 Pete Rose PSA 10 GEM MINT sold for $18,108, 1971 Topps #100 Pete Rose PSA 9 MINT hauled in $25,902, 1971 Topps #250 Johnny Bench PSA 9 MINT posted a fresh sale of $26,760, 1972 Topps #559 Pete Rose PSA 10 GEM MINT took down $19,312, 1973 Topps #130 Pete Rose PSA 10 GEM MINT was a buy for $25,902, 1971 Topps #65 Walt Frazier PSA 10 GEM MINT setting a new high mark at $6,355 (previous record price was $1,455), 1979 O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky PSA 8.5 NM-MT MBA GOLD, the gold standard of hockey cards, sold for $23,114, and 2015-16 Exquisite Collection Endorsements Rookie Relics #ERCM Connor McDavid (43/50) BGS 9.5 GEM MINT AUTO 10 was impressive with a sale of $7,080. A 1951 Parkhurst Complete Set #12 on PSA Set Registry with 7.488 GPA was broken up and sold for $89,294, led by #66 Gordie Howe PSA 6 EX-MT selling for $19,014 and #7 Tom Johnson demolishing the previous mark of $1,135 with a sale of $6,243.

Other notable items include a 1910s American League "All-Star" Team Type I Photo featuring Cobb, Speaker, Johnson, Walsh, Etc. PSA that sold for $20,757, Impressive c.1915-16 Type I Photo of Ty Cobb PSA that hauled in $7,080, Exceptional Signed Babe Ruth Photo From 1927 PSA 8 NM-MT selling for $8,566, 1968 Willie McCovey San Francisco Giants Game Used Home Jersey that hammered at $10,278, 1974 Topps Baseball Unopened 15 Cent, 24 Pack Wax Box BBCE Authenticated selling for $12,438, 1980-81 Topps Basketball Unopened Wax Box BBCE Authenticated fetching $14,544, Exceptionally High-Grade 1967 Topps Baseball Set Completely Graded NM/MT or Better closing at $39,304, and an Exceptional 1972 Topps Baseball Complete Set All PSA 8 or Better bringing in $37,340.

MHCC is already actively seeking quality material to make our next event of 2024 an even more 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/or memorabilia, please call our office at (303) 840-2784 to speak with one of MHCC’s team of experts or visit www.milehighcardco.com.