Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction has set the tone for 2025 in the world of sports memorabilia, amassing an impressive total of over $7.1 million in sales. Collectors from across the globe eagerly participated in the auction, driving bidding wars for some of the most coveted vintage sports cards and memorabilia.
Babe Ruth once again proved his enduring popularity in the collecting world, with three 1933 Goudey cards graded PSA NM/MT 8 stealing the spotlight. Together, they fetched nearly $700,000, with the #149 card featuring a red background commanding a staggering $316,736. An advertising card from the early 1920s, showcasing Ruth and Carl Mays and graded SGC 3, fetched $95,860 after a heated bidding duel.
Not to be outdone, Joe Jackson’s 1915 Cracker Jack #103 card, graded PSA 7, reached a record-breaking price of $173,794, leading a set break that generated over $850,000 in total sales. The auction also saw three 1952 Topps cards, each graded PSA 8, surpassing six figures, with an Eddie Mathews high-number card taking the lead at $123,484.
Mickey Mantle’s legacy remained strong, with a 1959 Bazooka card graded PSA 6 selling for $33,586 and a complete 1959 Bazooka box featuring Mantle fetching $18,575. Notable Mantle cards from various years, including the 1953 Topps and the 1956 Topps Gray Back, continued to be in high demand, with prices reaching tens of thousands of dollars.
Baseball fans also coveted the 1957 Topps Willie Mays and Whitey Ford cards, each graded PSA 9 and PSA 10, respectively, which sold for impressive sums. Hockey enthusiasts celebrated the sale of a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito rookie card, graded PSA 10, for $72,455. Football items also found their place in the limelight, with rookie cards of players like Bobby Bell, Merlin Olsen, and Art Shell attracting significant bids.
The auction did not just feature cards but also unique memorabilia that stirred excitement among bidders. Items such as a Ty Cobb Tobacco tin from the 1910s, a Mickey Mantle single-signed baseball with a rare “#6” inscription, a handwritten letter from Mantle’s 1951 rookie season, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat from the early 1900s left collectors in awe.
Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction has undoubtedly set a high standard for the year ahead, showcasing record-breaking sales and a diverse array of iconic sports collectibles. As collectors eagerly anticipate future opportunities to acquire these prized pieces of sports history, the auction serves as a promising start to a year filled with memorabilia enthusiasts’ excitement and anticipation.
