Auction Action

By Joe Orlando

High-Grade Gems Generate $604,818 at Mid-Summer Classic

Despite following of a few other major auctions earlier in the month, Superior Sports showed the collecting public that they are indeed a force to be reckoned with as another quality offering attracted intense bidding. Several price records were reached during the sale including a final bid of $15,525 for a PSA NM-MT 8 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson. That very same card had been selling in the $7,500-$10,000 range for quite some time but this was the first time the card exceeded $15,000 in the respective grade. Here's a quick look at some of the highlights:

Card, PSA Grade and Price Realized

1) 1887 N28 Charles Comiskey, 8, $9,488

2) 1934 Batter Up Jimmie Foxx #28, 8, $2,645

3) 1938 Goudey Joe DiMaggio #274, 8, $19,550

4) 1952 Bowman Stan Musial #196, 9, $6,900

5) 1954 Johnston Cookies Hank Aaron #5, 8, $2,070

6) 1958 Topps Rival Fence Busters #436, 9, $8,510

7) 1958 Topps Ted Williams All-Star #485, 9, $7,475

8) 1958 Topps Willie Mays All-Star #486, 9, $8,050

9) 1959 Topps Willie Mays All-Star #563, 9, $5,635

10) 1960 Topps Carl Yastrzemski #148, 9, $3,226

11) 1960 Topps Willie Mays #564, 9, $2,530

12) 1961 Topps Mickey Mantle #300, 9, $7,187

13) 1962 Topps Whitey Ford #310, 9, $2,415

14) 1962 Topps Hank Aaron #320, 9, $7,187

15) 1964 Topps Willie Mays #150, 9, $3,832

16) 1965 Topps Sandy Koufax #300, 9, $2,710

17) 1969 Topps Roberto Clemente #50, 10, $7,591

18) 1969 Topps Hank Aaron #100, 10, $10,868

19) 1971 Greatest Moments Willie Mays #41, 8, $1,006

20) 1971 Greatest Moments Reggie Jackson #47, 8, $1,210

21) 1972 Topps Roberto Clemente #309, 10, $4,025

22) 1933 Goudey Val Picinich #118, 8, $3,450

23) 1953 Red Man Tobacco Johnny Mize #18, 9, $1,287

24) 1960 Topps Eddie Mathews #420, 9, $1,840

25) 1962 Topps Bob Gibson #530, 9, $1,140

26) 1963 Topps Lou Brock #472, 9, $1,150

27) 1964 Topps Giants Frank Robinson #29, 10, $2,128

28) 1964 Topps Bob Gibson #460, 9, $661

29) 1964 Topps Stand Up Frank Robinson, 9, $1,725

30) 1965 Topps Harmon Killebrew #400, 9, $748

Superior is currently looking for quality consignments for the their next auction and can be reached at 231-922-9862.

Andy Madec's Auction #13 Proves to be a Lucky Number

With an assortment of sportscards up for sale, from the pre-war era to modern times, Andy Madec's latest PSA auction proved to have the right ingredients. The $284,000 sale included a very elusive 1932 U.S. Caramel Bobby Jones card, graded PSA NM-MT 8, which captured a final bid of $11,297. Here's a brief look at some of the highlights:

Card, PSA Grade and Price Realized

1) 1948 Bowman Stan Musial #36, 8, $4,054

2) 1950 Bowman Phil Rizzuto #11, 9, $3,300

3) 1953 Topps Yogi Berra #104, 8, $1,089

4) 1953 Topps Bobby Shantz #225, 9, $1,728

5) 1954 Topps Ernie Banks #94, 8, $3,190

6) 1956 Topps Ted Williams #5, 8, $2,122

7) 1964 Topps Eddie Mathews #35, 9, $2,130

8) 1957 Topps Ted Williams #1, 8, $2,357

9) 1957 Topps George Kell #230, 9, $706

10)1959 Topps Willie Mays #50, 9, $7,795

11)1959 Topps Hank Aaron #380, 8, $706

12)1960 Topps Billy Pierce All-Star #571, 9, $391

13)1962 Topps Hank Aaron #320, 8, $919

14)1963 Topps Nellie Fox #525, 9, $666

15)1963 Topps Roberto Clemente #540, 9, $5,361

16)1964 Topps Eddie Mathews #35, 9, $2,130

17)1965 Topps Roberto Clemente #160, 9, $3,540

18)1950 Bowman Sid Luckman #27, 9, $1,064

19)1950 Bowman Tom Fears #51, 9, $1,064

20)1965 Topps Joe Namath #122, 8, $4,287

Andy Madec, President of Andy Madec Sportscards Inc., felt that his latest auction answered some questions about the market. "We felt that the prices were very good, especially on the PSA 8'," explained Madec. "There is a real strong feeling of optimism from out clients right now because they feel a surge in the market is on the horizon."

Andy Madec is currently accepting quality consignments for his next auction slated for December 2001. Look for a supplement in SMR.

Record Bidding Pushes Mastro Fine Sports Auction to $5.3 Million

High quality PSA cards, game-used bats, game-used jerseys, displays and autographs all helped make the latest Mastro Fine Sports auction a huge success. With $5,301,268 of total bids, it became the highest grossing sports auction of the year. Once again, we were reminded of what an awesome force Mickey Mantle is to the hobby as two major Mantle items broke price records. A PSA NM-MT 8 1952 Topps Mantle broke new ground with a final bid of $57,560 making it the highest price every paid for a 1952 Topps Mantle in NM-MT condition. A 1955 Mickey Mantle game-used World Series bat also set a new standard with a closing bid of $51,518. Here's a look at some other auction highlights:

Item and Price Realized

1) PSA NM-MT 8 1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie #106 $58,139

2) PSA NM-MT 8 1933 Goudey Rogers Hornsby #119 $6,412

3) PSA NM-MT 8 1933 Goudey Andy Cohen #52 $15,128

4) PSA NM-MT 8 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #53 $52,854

5) PSA NM-MT 8 1933 Goudey Glenn Myatt #10 $4,766

6) PSA NM-MT 8 1933 Goudey Babe Herman #5 $5,244

7) PSA NM-MT 8 1933 Goudey Roy Johnson #8 $5,244

8) PSA NM-MT 8 1933 Goudey Owen Carroll #72 $8,107

9) PSA Mint 9 1933 Goudey Taylor Douthit #40 $5,768

10) PSA Mint 9 1933 Goudey Jimmy Dykes #6 $6,980

11) 1933 American League All-Star team signed baseball $52,854

12) Cy Young single signed baseball $15,474

13) Mark McGwire single signed baseball $3,215

14) PSA Mint 9 and Gem Mint 10 Ichiro Suzuki card collection $5,032

15) Jim Thorpe Canton Bull Dogs Sweater $27,782

16) PSA NM-MT 8 1950 Bowman Doak Walker #1 $2,656

17) PSA Gem Mint 10 1950 Bowman Elroy Hirsch #52 $4,773

18) PSA NM-MT 8 1952 Bowman Large Jim Lansford #144 $6,500

19) PSA NM-MT 8 1948 Bowman George Mikan #69 $10,928

20) 1991/92 Michael Jordan Game-Used Bulls jersey $21,846

21) 2000 Los Angeles Lakers Championship Ring $22,659

22) PSA NM-MT 8 1957/58 Topps Bobby Hull #66 $5,962

23) 1937 Joe Louis British Empire Championship Belt $24,031

24) PSA NM-MT 8 1911 T205 Christy Mathewson $21,846

25) PSA NM-MT 8 1909 Ramly Walter Johnson $24,031

26) PSA NM-MT 8 1911 E94 Ty Cobb $21,300

27) PSA NM-MT 8 1915 M101-5 Sporting News Joe Jackson $24,615

28) PSA EX 5 1935 Zeenut P.C.L. Joe DiMaggio $12,788

29) PSA Mint 9 1941 Play Ball Hank Greenberg #18 $7,760

30) PSA 8 NM-MT 1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 $12,022

31) PSA 8 NM-MT 1951 Bowman Whitey Ford #1 $7,225

32) PSA 8 NM-MT 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 $57,560

33) PSA 8 NM-MT 1953 Topps Willie Mays #244 $10,928

34) PSA Mint 9 1961 Topps Yogi Berra MVP #472 $2,346

35) PSA Mint 9 1964 Topps Pete Rose #125 $6,567

36) PSA Mint 9 1965 Topps Pete Rose #207 $5,768

37) PSA Mint 9 1967 Topps Pete Rose #430 $3,714

38) PSA Mint 9 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt #615 $1,599

39) 1932 Negro League photo w/Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige $12,788

40) 1968 Ernie Banks game-used/signed Cubs jersey $23,830

41) 1977 Tom Seaver game-used/signed Reds jersey $6,825

42) Tony Gwynn game-used fielder's glove $4,710

43) 1997 Mark McGwire game-used/signed A's jersey $7,938

44) 1937 Carl Hubbell game-used New York Giants jersey $48,048

45) Babe Ruth "Over the Fence" movie poster $64,099

46) Original Mutoscope Machine with Babe Ruth reel $21,300

47) Josh Gibson studio photograph $12,806

48) Original Jack Havey Babe Ruth portrait $12,501

49) Willie McCovey's 500^th home run baseball $18,055

50) Pete Rose signed 3000^th hit base $9,390

51) PSA VG 3 T206 Ty Cobb with Cobb back $48,048

52) PSA 9 Mint 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135 $24,407

53) 1930 Indy 500 Rickenbacker Trophy of Billy Arnold $18,751

54) Christy Mathewson six page handwritten letter $27,077

55) 1922-24 Babe Ruth contract $29,832

56) 1927 Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig signed barnstorming photo $27,077

57) 1931 Babe Ruth, Connie Mack and John McGraw signed photo $14,066

58) 1933 Babe Ruth contract $27,119

59) Black and White Hall of Fame Plaque Card Collection $42,576

60) 1928 Jimmie Foxx vault marked game-used bat $31,189

61) 1933 Mel Ott game-used bat $30,925

62) 1950-52 Stan Musial game-used bat $6,980

63) 1950 Richie Ashburn signed/game-used bat $5,829

64) 1950-54 Jackie Robinson game-used bat $38,705

65) 1955 Mickey Mantle game-used World Series bat $51,518

66) 1953 Ted Williams signed/game-used bat $21,300

67) 1957 Hank Aaron signed/game-used All-Star bat $21,300

68) 1962 Frank Robinson signed/game-used All-Star bat $7,508

69) 1966 Roberto Clemente signed/game-used bat $13,112

70) 1966 Willie McCovey signed/game-used All-Star bat $3,537

71) 1969-72 Al Kaline signed/game-used bat $3,436

72) 1973 Pete Rose signed/game-used All-Star bat $7,678

73) 1979 Carl Yastzremski signed/game-used All-Star bat $2,839

74) 1976 Johnny Bench signed/game-used Bicentennial All-Star bat $3,537

75) 1987 Mike Schmidt signed/game-used home run bat (#'s522, 523) $5,768

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Joe Orlando has been an advanced collector of sportscards and memorabilia for over 25 years. Orlando attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California where he studied communications and was the starting catcher for the baseball team. After a brief stint in the minor leagues, Orlando obtained a Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School in Southern California in the spring of 1999. During the last twelve years, Orlando has authored several collecting guides and dozens of articles for Collectors Universe, Inc. Orlando has also authored two books for Collectors Universe. Orlando's first book, The Top 200 Sportscards in the Hobby, was released in the summer of 2002. His second book, Collecting Sports Legends, was released in the summer of 2008. Orlando has appeared on several radio and television programs as a hobby expert including ESPN's award-winning program Outside the Lines and HBO's Real Sports, as the featured guest. Currently, Orlando is the President of PSA and PSA/DNA, the largest trading card and sports memorabilia authentication services in the hobby. He is also Editor of the company's nationally distributed Sports Market Report, which under Orlando's direction has developed into a leading resource in the market. Orlando also contributed the foreword and last chapter to The T206 Collection: The Players and Their Stories, a 2010 release, and to The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball's Prized Players, a 2013 release.