Heritage Auctions is set to host the biggest sports collectibles sale of the 21st century, with its Platinum Night sale expected to realize more than $10 million.
Historic treasures from the worlds of baseball, football and hockey will line up alongside some of the world’s rarest trading cards, with numerous auction records set to potentially tumble.
"With every world record price we record, the calls from top collectors increase," said Chris Ivy, Director of Heritage Sports Collectibles. "We have literally dozens of six-figure lots on offer as a result."
Amongst the most notable lots is the Charles Conlon Photographic Archive, regarded as the most important baseball photography archive in existence. Between 1904 and 1942, Conlon travelled across the U.S photographing the greatest players and capturing the most famous moments of the pre-war era.
The remarkable archive features over 7,000 original one-of-a-kind negatives, including shots of players such as Babe Ruth, Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb, and is expected to sell as a single lot for an estimated $1 million.
The auction also features an outstanding array of sports trading cards, led my multiple high-grade examples of the most iconic post-war card of all, the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, which come with estimates of $200,000+.
Further rare offerings include a superb 1916 M101-5 Babe Ruth rookie card, described as "the most important baseball card on the planet", estimated at $600,000+; a PSA Gem Mint 10 copy of the 1953 Topps Willie Mays #244 card, valued at $800,000+; and the world’s only known Gem Mint 10 examples of Topps rookie cards for Pete Rose, Nolan Ryan and Kareem-Abdul Jabbar.
Highlights amongst the strong selection of game worn uniforms include three jerseys worn by legendary quarterback Brett Favre during pivotal moments in his career; and the hockey jersey worn by Maurice Richard during the inaugural NHL All-Star Game in 1947.
The vast auction will also feature personal mementos such as Ernie Banks’ Hall of Fame induction ring, estimated at $100,000+; Herb Pennock’s 1927 New York Yankees World Championship Ring, also estimated at $100,000+; and the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl IX Ring Presented to ‘Mean Joe’ Greene, estimated at $40,000.
The Heritage Auctions Sports Collectibles Platinum Night Auction takes place on August 27-28.
