Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 420:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! An Extensive Collection of Late 1980s Baseball Trading Cards Featuring Key Rookie and Star Players
This large collection primarily consists of baseball cards from the late 1980s, specifically the years 1987, 1988, and 1989. The assembly includes significant volume from major manufacturers including Topps, Fleer, Donruss, and Score. The collection is organized into multiple cardboard storage boxes, with numerous key cards protected in individual plastic top-loaders.
Identified highlight cards include:
1987 Topps: #170 Bo Jackson (RC), #320 Barry Bonds (RC), #606 Tom Glavine (RC), #620 Jose Canseco (All-Star Rookie), and #634 Nolan Ryan (Record Breaker).
1988 Topps: #18 Al Leiter (RC) Future Star, #170 Bo Jackson, #250 Nolan Ryan, and #366 Mark McGwire (All-Star).
1989 Topps: #273 Craig Biggio (RC), #305 Gary Sheffield (RC) Future Star, #530 Nolan Ryan, #540 Bo Jackson, and #647 Randy Johnson (RC).
1988 Score: #103 Bo Jackson, #107 Barry Bonds, and #250 Nolan Ryan.
1988 Fleer: Box labeled as a complete or near-complete set, plus multiple Superstar Specials subset cards featuring Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, and Wade Boggs.
1988 Donruss: Including Barry Bonds #324, Jose Canseco #605, Tony Gwynn #621, and Jody Reed #404 (Rated Rookie).
The collection features a mix of base cards, rookie cards, and star subsets. The cards are primarily paper stock with various gloss levels and border designs characteristic of the era, such as the wood-grain border of 1987 Topps and the vibrant colored borders of 1988 Score. The bulk of the collection is housed in multiple-row and single-row cardboard storage boxes.
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. The highlighted rookie and star cards housed in top-loaders generally appear to have sharp corners and clean edges, though some exhibit centering typical of the period, ranging from well-centered to slightly off-center. Bulk cards in storage boxes appear neatly packed and well-maintained. There is no evidence of moisture damage or significant structural wear to the storage containers.
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