Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 429:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! Large Estate Collection of Vintage and Modern Baseball Trading Cards Including 1970s Topps and Archive Series
A substantial estate collection of baseball trading cards spanning from the early 1970s through the late 1990s. The lot contains a diverse assortment of original vintage issues, modern reprint sets, and specialty tribute cards. Notable original Topps issues from the 1970s include a 1970 Pete Rose number 300, 1970 Rod Carew number 290, 1970 Joe Torre number 450, and various 1976 Topps cards featuring stars such as Nolan Ryan number 330, Steve Carlton number 400, Gary Carter number 420, and Dave Winfield. The collection features a significant portion of the 1991 Topps Baseball Archives The Ultimate 1953 Series, sub-titled The Cards That Never Were, with players including Pee Wee Reese, Bob Feller, Duke Snider, Monte Irvin, Ed Mathews, and John Podres. Also included is a set of Negro League Baseball Stars tribute cards featuring Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, and Buck Leonard. Specialty items include Kellogg’s 3-D Super Stars (Lou Brock, Jerry Koosman), 1982 Topps Stolen Base Leaders (Rickey Henderson and Tim Raines), and various 1979 Topps Prospects. A large selection of 1980s and 1990s cards from major manufacturers including Topps, Donruss, Fleer, Score, and Stadium Club are present, with a concentration of New York Yankees players such as Bernie Williams and Dave Winfield. Additional components consist of historical sepia-toned and black-and-white player cards featuring Hall of Famers like Mickey Cochrane, Bill Terry, Dizzy Dean, and Hank Greenberg. Non-sports entries include Topps E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Skywalker’s Rescue) cards. Many key star cards and vintage issues are housed in protective top-loaders and soft sleeves.
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 cards are in raw, ungraded condition. Original vintage issues from the early to mid-1970s exhibit typical age-related wear, including rounded corners, light surface scuffing, and varied centering. The 1980s and 1990s modern cards and the Topps Archive reprint series are generally in Excellent to Near Mint condition.
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