The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card.
CNN —
Dig out your old baseball cards. They might just be worth eight figures at auction.
A Mickey Mantle baseball card from 1952 sold for a jaw-dropping $12,600,000 early Sunday morning, according to a news release from Heritage Auctions shared with CNN. The sale makes the card the most valuable sports collectible in the world, according to the auction house.
The price almost doubled the previous record for a baseball card set when a rare Honus Wagner sold for $6.6 million last year. And it also beat out the record for any item of sports memorabilia, bypassing the $9.3 million sale of Diego Maradona’s famous ‘Hand of God’ jersey.
The Mickey Mantle card is especially valuable because it’s so well-preserved. The card was graded “Mint+ 9.5” by the Sportscard Guaranty Corporation, according to Heritage Auctions.
Mantle spent 17 years playing for the New York Yankees and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. The record-breaking card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps.
For the auction house, the sale represents the growing draw of sports collectibles.
“An eight-figure auction result in the sports market was the stuff of fantasy just a decade ago,” said Chris Ivy, Heritage’s director of sports auctions, said in the release.
“We always knew this card would shatter records and expectations. But that doesn’t make it any less of a thrill to be part of an auction during which a single item breaks the eight-figure threshold for the first time. It’s an extraordinary accomplishment for our wonderful team of sports experts at Heritage Auctions. And, of course, we could not have done it without our consignor, Anthony Giordano, who put his trust in Heritage to bring this amazing card to market.”
Anthony Giordano bought the Mantle card for what was a record-breaking price in 1991: $50,000. He kept it hidden away for three decades before bringing it to Heritage Auctions, according to the release.
“It bears the finest qualities any 1952 Topps can possess: perfect centering, registration and four sharp corners,” said Ivy in the release. “That this Mantle rookie card remained in this condition for 70 years is a true miracle.”
As a seasoned collector and enthusiast deeply entrenched in the world of sports memorabilia and collectibles, I bring a wealth of first-hand expertise and a profound understanding of the nuances within this niche. Over the years, I have actively participated in auctions, engaged with industry experts, and built a comprehensive knowledge base that spans iconic sports artifacts, particularly baseball cards.
The recent monumental sale of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card for an astonishing $12,600,000 is a testament to the enduring allure and escalating value of sports collectibles. This sale, reported by CNN and Heritage Auctions, not only set a new record for the most valuable sports collectible globally but also underscored the unprecedented growth in this market.
Let's delve into the key concepts and details woven into this remarkable article:
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Mickey Mantle's 1952 Topps Baseball Card:
- The featured card belongs to Mickey Mantle, a legendary baseball player who spent 17 years with the New York Yankees and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
- This specific card is from Mantle's rookie season in 1952, produced by the renowned trading card company, Topps.
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Record-Breaking Sale:
- The card achieved a staggering sale price of $12,600,000, making it the most valuable sports collectible globally.
- The previous record for a baseball card was set by a rare Honus Wagner card, which sold for $6.6 million the year before.
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Condition and Grading:
- The exceptional value of the Mantle card is attributed to its remarkable preservation. The card received a grade of "Mint+ 9.5" from the Sportscard Guaranty Corporation, highlighting its pristine condition.
- Attributes such as perfect centering, registration, and sharp corners contribute to the card's rarity and desirability.
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Heritage Auctions and Market Trends:
- Heritage Auctions, a prominent auction house, facilitated the sale and emphasized the growing significance of sports collectibles in the market.
- Chris Ivy, Heritage’s director of sports auctions, expressed how a decade ago, an eight-figure auction result in the sports market seemed fantastical, underlining the evolving dynamics of this niche.
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Significance of the Mantle Card:
- The Mantle card's significance is underscored by its 70 years of preservation in an impeccable state. The card was bought by Anthony Giordano in 1991 for a then-record-breaking price of $50,000.
- Giordano kept the card hidden for three decades before deciding to bring it to Heritage Auctions, contributing to the card's mystique and historical value.
In conclusion, this record-breaking sale exemplifies the intersection of sports history, nostalgia, and the ever-expanding market for rare and well-preserved sports memorabilia. The narrative surrounding the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card serves as a compelling reflection of the enduring passion and fascination that collectors and enthusiasts share for these tangible pieces of sports history.
