In a world enamored with the newest and shiniest collectibles, there's nothing quite like the allure of a vintage sports card. Like a well-aged Cabernet or a grandmother’s attic chest of hidden treasures, these pieces of sports history capture glories of the past and the imaginations of collectors. Buckle up if your tastes lean towards nostalgia in ink and cardboard, as Miller & Miller Auctions is about to transport bidders back to the golden days of sports with a magnificent online event on June 22nd.
Imagine a digital space, teeming with the feverish clicking of curated keystrokes, where internet bidders jostle for their share of sporting glory. With 235 lots of sports cards and memorabilia, all pre-dating the postmodern frenzy of 1980, this auction is a veritable Olympic event for collectors. The crown jewel of this assembly? Well, step right up to behold the celebrated visage of Mickey Mantle himself.
The 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle rookie card stands as a venerable monument in the annals of baseball lore. Considered the holy grail of baseball cards, this revered relic—even if it bears a visage slightly softened by the caressing hands of time—is ready to summon bids that might empty more than a few piggy banks. With estimates ranging from $40,000 to $50,000 CAD, this card, graded PSA 2 Good, dares bidders to overlook its well-rounded corners in favor of its indomitable legacy.
Mantle isn’t flying solo on this grand stage. Accompanying him are 40 cards from the remarkable 1952 Topps Sixth Series—the famously scarce "High Numbers." These cards, showcasing the giants of baseball's golden age, are up for grabs with a pre-sale estimate hovering between $3,000 and $5,000 CAD. Time may have added a touch of patina to these gems, but their historical significance gleams as brightly as ever.
Let's pivot away from the diamond to the icy arenas where the legends of hockey lay in wait. Enter the 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie card into the spotlight, primarily armed to extract between $8,000 and $10,000 CAD from captivated bidders. Graded PSA 3 Very Good, this card might not be primped for a showcase pedestal but its allure, akin to an old warrior, is undeniable, enticing both historians and hockey devotees.
From the realm of slapshots and ice rinks, enters none other than the bard of blue lines, Bobby Orr. His 1966 Topps #35 rookie card, graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, is anticipated to tempt fans with its projected value of $8,000 to $9,000 CAD. For fans and investors, Orr’s card is not merely a piece of paper but a ticket to celebrating one of hockey’s most revered careers.
Adjust your focus slightly to capture a splendid curiosity—a Bill Barilko hockey stick, brandishing signatures from the Maple Leafs’ 1951 Stanley Cup-winning ensemble. A memorabilia artifact that resonates with team spirit, estimated from $3,000 to $5,000 CAD, this stick swirls tales of legendary triumphs past.
If encapsulating sports nostalgia in a shadow box is more your style, consider the Parkhurst rookie cards of Maurice and Henri Richard, gloved in a majestic display along with a signatory stick, puck, and plaque. Valued between $4,000 and $6,000 CAD, this poetic assemblage is every Canadiens fan's ode to the icy grace and tenacity of the Richard brothers.
The supporting players—the complete 110-set of 1964-65 Topps "Tall Boys" cards. An ensemble cast of hockey's shining stars from Gordie Howe to Tim Horton, expectedly drawing between $4,000 and $6,000 CAD.
Returning to cards where legends are still fresh in our minds, you will find an uncut sheet from the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee: a pristine #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card amongst its ranks. With an estimated value of $3,500 to $4,500 CAD, this sheet, a time capsule showcasing hockey royalty, is sure to spark a frenzy.
Ben Pernfuss, Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, aptly puts it all in perspective. His sentiment echoes the enthusiasm of enthusiasts waiting to lock horns in this auction: “Collectors will find key cards from the groundbreaking 1951 Parkhurst hockey and 1952 Topps baseball sets featuring some of the most iconic names in sports.”
For the seasoned historian or the novice collector, this is a path to timeless sporting artifacts. Paint the town digital on June 22nd by joining this illustrious cavalcade through LiveAuctioneers and Miller & Miller's auction catalog. Canada’s premier auction house is ready to transport the splendor of sports history's finest directly into the virtual palm of your smartphone. Happy bidding!
Mickey Mantle Rookie At Auction
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