In the digital age of NFTs and cryptocurrency, there’s something refreshingly nostalgic about a good old-fashioned sports memorabilia auction. Enter Miller & Miller Auctions, where classic meets cutting-edge in an internet-only extravaganza slated for June 22nd. This event promises to be a playground of dreams for sports fans and card collectors alike, as vintage treasures take center stage in the pre-1980 sports smorgasbord.
Leading the lineup of 235 lots is none other than the legendary Mickey Mantle, the baseball icon whose 1952 Topps #311 rookie card is often regarded as the Mona Lisa of collectables. Mantle’s rookie card, even when it’s graded a humble PSA 2 Good, is the stuff of legend. With the corners showing the ghosts of a thousand thumbtacks and the surface telling stories of youthful adoration, this card remains a heavyweight contender. Estimated at a cool $40,000 to $50,000 CAD, the card’s appeal is as undeniable as a Mickey Mantle home run.
Baseball enthusiasts won’t just be stopped at Mantle; they’ll be spirited away by a tantalizing collection of the infamous 1952 Topps Sixth Series cards ("High Numbers") covering numbers #311 to #407. While these cards wear their age as badges of honor, they still manage to exude a timeless aura that whispers tales of sandlot games and crackerjack boxes. Their estimated value taps in at $3,000 to $5,000 CAD, offering a golden opportunity for collectors to nab a slice of baseball history.
Across the ice, in a realm where blades glide as gently as memories of vintage hockey games, the 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie card stands out with the authority of a seasoned pro. Graded PSA 3 Very Good, this card may not be pristine, but it certainly retains a robust presence. Estimated between $8,000 to $10,000 CAD, it's a piece of history that any hockey aficionado would love to cherish.
Not to forget the great Bobby Orr, whose 1966 Topps #35 rookie card joins the fray. Graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, Orr’s card is a siren call to both invest and indulge. It’s expected to settle between $8,000 and $9,000 CAD, a fair price for a relic of the defenseman who revolutionized the game.
Offering a unique slice of hockey history is a game-used, team-signed Bill Barilko hockey stick from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1951 Stanley Cup-winning era. Complete with Barilko’s number 5 and signatures from his teammates, this stick isn’t just a piece of equipment; it’s a walking, or rather skating, exhibit of hockey heritage. Expected to score a winning bid of $3,000 to $5,000 CAD, this relic is a must-have for die-hard fans of the sport.
For those with an eye for presentation, a shadow box display housing Parkhurst rookie cards for Maurice and Henri Richard will attract more than just passing interest. Graded KSA 4 and KSA 3 respectively, these cards snuggle within a 24-inch by 72-inch box along with a Louisville Pro Flex stick sans puck signed by both brothers, a Canadiens puck, and a stately bronze plaque. This assembly of Montreal Canadiens lore is estimated to fetch itself a proud $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.
Also up for auction is a complete set of 110 much-coveted 1964-65 Topps “Tall Boys” hockey cards, notorious for their unusual size. Highlighting legendary names like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Tim Horton, this set boasts a good to very good condition rating, tempting bids of $4,000 to $6,000 CAD from seasoned collectors.
Rounding out the auction is the newly discovered Grail of the modern hockey card era: a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee uncut sheet showcasing 226 hockey cards, including a flawless #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card. This rarity, harboring only minor edge wear, is expected to light up the room with a final value in the range of $3,500 to $4,500 CAD.
As Ben Pernfuss, the erudite Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, enthuses, this auction is essentially a who’s who parade of sports legends. “Collectors will find key cards from groundbreaking sets, immortalizing some of sports most iconic names,” he asserted passionately.
Potential bidders can peruse the auction catalog on Miller & Miller’s website or, better yet, jump into the virtual fray via LiveAuctioneers. As Canada’s trusted purveyor of high-value collections, Miller & Miller Auctions apply the same care and attention to all collectables, be they sports cards, watches, jewelry, or otherwise.
So, saddle up your laptops and flex those fingers, for Miller & Miller’s auction promises a digital hurly-burly, where past meets present and legends are, yet again, born.
Mickey Mantle Rookie At Auction
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