Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 400:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! A Large Collection of Vintage Topps Baseball Trading Cards, Circa 1978-1983
This is a substantial collection of Topps brand baseball trading cards dating from approximately 1978 to 1983. The collection is organized into several cardboard storage boxes, with a significant number of key cards individually protected in plastic sleeves and top-loaders. High-profile cards identified in the lot include a 1983 Topps Ryne Sandberg Rookie Card (number 83), a 1981 Topps Fernando Valenzuela Rookie Card (number 750) featuring the pink Dodgers logo, and a 1982 Topps Steve Sax Rookie Card (number 602). Other vintage highlights include a 1978 Topps Robin Yount (number 450) and a 1979 Topps Tom Seaver (number 500).
The assortment contains numerous cards of Hall of Fame players and stars from the early 1980s, including Mike Schmidt (1981 number 540), Johnny Bench (1981 number 600), George Brett (1982 number 200), Rod Carew, and Rickey Henderson. The 1982 Topps Stolen Base Leaders card (number 161) featuring Henderson and Tim Raines is also present. The lot includes various Topps subsets such as All-Star cards, Record Breaker cards, and multi-player Future Stars rookie cards. Storage boxes are hand-labeled by year and type, such as 81 Topps, 82 RC, and 82 Topps. One box is a repurposed Wilsons shipping container. The total quantity is estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,500 cards.
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:
The collection appears generally well-preserved. Many of the featured star and rookie cards are housed in individual protective holders and present in Good to Near Mint condition. Centering varies across the set, which is typical for Topps cards of this era. Bulk cards stored in rows show minor signs of handling and corner wear consistent with age. There are no professionally graded or slabbed cards in this lot.
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