Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction kicked off the year on a high note, generating over $7.1 million in total sales. Collectors were treated to a dazzling array of vintage sports cards and memorabilia, with some of the most coveted items commanding impressive prices.
Babe Ruth stole the show at the auction, with three 1933 Goudey cards in PSA NM/MT 8 condition collectively fetching nearly $700,000. The standout among these was the #149 card with a striking red background, selling for an astounding $316,736. Another highlight was a rare advertising card from around 1920 featuring Ruth and Carl Mays, graded SGC 3, which ignited a heated bidding war before settling at $95,860. Additional Ruth treasures included a 1921 E253 Oxford Confectionery card in PSA 5 condition selling for $52,102, and a 1932 U.S. Caramel card graded PSA 6.5 fetching $48,508.
The auction also saw a record-breaking sale for a 1915 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson card in PSA 7 condition, which commanded $173,794. This card was part of a set break that collectively raked in over $850,000 in sales.
1952 Topps cards proved to be favorites among collectors, with three PSA 8 graded cards surpassing the six-figure mark. An Eddie Mathews high-number card led the pack, selling for $123,484, while cards featuring Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays also garnered significant interest.
Mickey Mantle cards continued to captivate collectors, with a rare 1959 Bazooka card in PSA 6 condition fetching $33,586. A complete 1959 Bazooka box with Mantle on the back, graded PSA 1, achieved $18,575. Noteworthy Mantle highlights included a 1953 Topps PSA 7 NM card selling for $29,012, a 1956 Topps Gray Back PSA 8.5 card fetching $38,879, and a 1966 O-Pee-Chee Mantle SGC 9 card bringing in $16,886. Four PSA 10 Bazooka Mantle cards from 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1966 collectively earned close to $50,000.
In addition to these key highlights, the auction featured other notable sales such as a 1957 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9 card selling for $58,961, a 1957 Topps Whitey Ford PSA 10 card fetching $56,153, and a 1965-66 Topps Phil Esposito rookie card in PSA 10 grade going for $72,455. Football enthusiasts also had their share of excitement with sales like the 1964 Topps Bobby Bell rookie PSA 10 card at $31,558, the 1964 Philadelphia Merlin Olsen rookie PSA 10 card at $19,018, and the 1973 Topps Art Shell rookie PSA 10 card at $20,432.
Beyond the cards, the auction showcased unique memorabilia that piqued the interest of bidders, including a Ty Cobb Tobacco tin from the 1910s selling for $30,463, a Mickey Mantle single-signed baseball with a rare “#6” inscription fetching $20,934, a handwritten letter from Mantle’s 1951 rookie season also at $20,934, and a Joe Jackson Louisville Slugger decal bat from the early 1900s hitting $16,121.
Memory Lane’s Winter Rarities Auction set a remarkable standard for the year 2025, with its record-breaking sales and exceptional offerings leaving collectors eagerly anticipating the next opportunity to acquire pieces of sports history.
