1953 Topps Mickey Mantle #82 PSA Mint 9
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Mantle's debut season of 1951 was punctuated both by hints of his preternatural slugging power and by batting slumps that led the Yanks to demote their top prospect to 40 games in the minors. The 1952 season saw Mantle validate the enormous expectations that had been placed upon him, leaving no doubt that he was the rightful heir to the center field grass willed to him by a retiring Joe DiMaggio.
Only 10 examples of this early Mantle card have achieved a Mint 9 rating, with only two superior.
SOLD FOR: $396,000.00
1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal 150/30 Eddie Plank PSA VG 3
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Theories for the scarcity of this card paying tribute to Connie Mack's superstar southpaw are identical to the Honus Wagner tales, with aversion to tobacco advertisement and contractual stalemate with the American Tobacco Company the most commonly referenced causes.
SOLD FOR: $252,000.00
1933 Butter Cream Babe Ruth PSA EX 5 - A Relic of Hobby History.
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
In 1933 the Butter Cream Confectionery Corp. produced what was thought was a 29-card set of baseball player trading cards that were really contest forms where youngsters and adults young at heart were to guess a players final batting average as of October 1.
Graded PSA EX 5. One of two in EX with none higher.
SOLD FOR: $192,000.00
1902-11 W600 Sporting Life - Type 1 Honus Wagner (Street Clothes) PSA VG-EX 4
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
This stalwart warrior for the Pittsburgh Pirates is honored twice in the W600 issue—an in-uniform image that has been elevated to immortality through its contemporary use in the fabled T206 issue, and the format found here that captures the Old Dutchman in his Sunday best. While both versions are exceedingly rare today, each numbering in the single digits in the PSA census, this street clothes variety is the less common of the pair.
SOLD FOR: $180,000.00
1909-11 T206 Hindu-Red Ty Cobb (Red Portrait) PSA VG-EX 4 - One of Only Six Known
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Graded PSA VG-EX 4.
This is one of two cards tied as the highest grade on record from a total pop of just six. Colors are very strong. Centering is close to perfect. The white frame only mildly affected by spot discoloration.
SOLD FOR: $126,000.00
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 PSA NM-MT 8
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Top-tier Mantle cardboard has been enjoying an enduring value surge for the past 20 years, with a distinct spike in the past 24r months.
SOLD FOR: $111,000.00
1909-11 T206 Broad Leaf 460 Walter Johnson (Hands At Chest) PSA VG-EX+ 4.5 - The Only PSA Graded Example!
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
There are over 900 T206 representations (w/qualified cards) at the time of this writing. This is the one and only card on record with the Broad Leaf brand.
SOLD FOR: $108,000.00
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM 7
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Many trading card experts have gone so far as to suggest that the 1952 Topps Mantle has supplanted the T206 Wagner as the hobby's most celebrated representative, even though relative populations indicate that the Mick will never quite match pricing for the Old Dutchman.
SOLD FOR: $105,000.00
1958 Topps Bobby Hull #66 PSA NM-MT 8
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Graded PSA NM-MT 8.
There are just eight others that have equaled the NM-MT grade level with a pair rated higher.
SOLD FOR: $78,000.00
1960 Topps Willie Mays #200 PSA Gem Mint 10 - Pop Three
Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Graded PSA Gem Mint 10.
One of only three examples to earn the ultimate PSA rating. The card features crystal clear registration, brilliant white borders, perfect centering, and four razor sharp corners.
SOLD FOR: $75,000.00
