Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 392:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! A Collection of Vintage and Modern Baseball Cards and Boxed Sets featuring Hall of Fame Rookies and Stars
This extensive collection features a wide variety of baseball cards primarily spanning the 1970s through the early 2000s, with highlights including rookie cards, star players, and retail-exclusive boxed sets. Primary manufacturers represented include Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Upper Deck, Score, Action Packed, and Bowman. Notable rookie cards identified in the lot include a 1972 Topps 79 Carlton Fisk, a 1974 Topps 456 Dave Winfield, a 1975 Topps 620 Gary Carter, a 1976 Topps 444 Dennis Eckersley, and multiple copies of the 1982 Topps 21 Cal Ripken Jr. Future Stars card. Other significant rookie issues include the 1977 Topps 473 Andre Dawson, 1979 Topps 116 Lou Whitaker and 115 Ozzie Smith, 1981 Topps 315 Fernando Valenzuela, 1987 Topps 170 Bo Jackson and 316 Rafael Palmeiro, 1991 Upper Deck 1 Chipper Jones, and a 2001 Topps T247 Albert Pujols. The lot also contains a 1994 Action Packed 23 Michael Jordan card depicting his tenure with the Birmingham Barons and a 2008 Topps Democratic National Convention Joe Biden card. Boxed sets and special editions include multiple 1982 Kmart 20th Anniversary Topps Collectors Series, 1987 Kmart Stars of the Decades, Fleer 1987 Baseball Best and 1986 Baseball Superstars, Woolworth All-Time Record Holders, and various Topps Baseball Highlights and MVP Checklist sets. A modern 2015 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders team set is also present alongside several collectors cards of Christy Mathewson, Eddie Gaedel, and Pete Gray. Star representation throughout the lot includes Nolan Ryan, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Carl Yastrzemski.
Provenance / Authentication Note: This item originates from a single-owner collection assembled by a dedicated sports fan (with a strong focus on Notre Dame and New York Yankees memorabilia). The collector actively pursued autographs over many years through in-person events, including games, autograph shows, and visits to National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum during player events, as well as through direct mail requests to athletes and celebrities. The collection included supporting material such as handwritten correspondence sent to athletes (in some cases with payment enclosed), along with photographs of the collector with various signers. A portion of this same collection was featured in our March 21st auction, where multiple items were authenticated by James Spence Authentication (JSA). In regards to any items with signature(s): While this specific item(s) may not be individually submitted for third-party authentication, it originates from the same collection and shows consistency with previously authenticated pieces. As with many large autograph collections, there may be a small number of facsimile or clubhouse-style signatures present, but for the most part we have seen AUTHENTIC SIGNATURES within the collection. Based on the overall provenance and our review, we maintain a strong level of confidence in the authenticity of most items. Bidders are encouraged to review all photos carefully and bid according to their own level of comfort. No additional authentication documentation is included unless visible within the lot photos. Please reach out with any questions.
Condition report:
All cards are in raw, ungraded condition. A significant portion of the key rookie and star cards are protected in individual plastic top-loaders and penny sleeves. The vintage cards from the 1970s exhibit varying degrees of centering and minor corner softening consistent with age and typical production standards. The 1981 Fernando Valenzuela card is housed in a top-loader marked as an error. Protected cards appear to have well-maintained surfaces and edges, while cards in loose stacks may show more pronounced edge wear. Boxed sets show light shelf wear to the outer packaging but appear to be complete.
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