Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 396:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! A Large Collection of Vintage Baseball Cards Including 1982 Fleer Cal Ripken Jr and 1983 Donruss Ryne Sandberg Rookies
This lot consists of a large collection of baseball trading cards primarily spanning the 1970s and 1980s. The cards are manufactured by Topps, Donruss, and Fleer and are constructed of printed cardstock. The collection is organized across multiple cardboard storage boxes, many of which contain handwritten inventory notes on yellow adhesive paper indicating specific years and featured players. Notable highlights verified within the collection include a 1982 Fleer Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card number 176 and a 1983 Donruss Ryne Sandberg rookie card number 277, both of which are protected in plastic top-loaders. A grouping of 1983 Donruss cards includes Cal Ripken Jr. number 598, Nolan Ryan number 60, Rickey Henderson number 591, Mike Schmidt number 38, and Pete Rose number 18. Other significant cards identified include a 1981 Donruss Rickey Henderson number 11, a 1981 Topps Kirk Gibson rookie card number 315, Eddie Murray number 490, and Reggie Jackson number 460. The bulk of the collection is sorted by year, with inventory notes indicating Topps cards from 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1987, and 1989. Also included are bulk cards from 1981 and 1983 Donruss, 1981 and 1982 Fleer, and a boxed 1986 Fleer baseball set.
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 offered in raw, ungraded condition. Key star and rookie cards have been placed in protective top-loaders or sleeves and generally appear to be in Excellent to Near Mint condition, displaying sharp corners and clean edges with typical centering for the period. The bulk cards housed in storage boxes appear well-maintained and organized, though they have not been individually inspected. Some of the cardboard storage boxes show external wear and handwritten notations consistent with long-term storage and organizational use.
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