Babe Ruth, Pete Rose Rookie Cards Top $700,000 and Other Huge Heritage Auctions Card Sales

By Ryan Cracknell | Hobby Editor

It was more astonishing vintage sales over the weekend at Heritage Auctions’ 2016 August Sports Collectible Platinum Auction. A total of 32 individual sports cards sold for at least $50,000.

A couple of different eras were at the forefront of the action. A PSA 7 1916 M101-5 Sporting News Babe Ruth and a PSA 10 1963 Topps Pete Rose rookie card each sold for $717,000. A PSA 10 1968 Nolan Ryan rookie card finished at $612,359.83 and a PSA 10 1969-70 Topps Lew Alcindor went for $501,900.

To give a little added perspective to these sales, all four were higher than a game-used bat Jackie Robinson used in his rookie season. It sold for $478,000.

A BGS 10 Black Label 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Kobe Bryant was the top modern card sale, finishing at $71,700.

Here’s a list of all the cards selling for at least $50,000 in the Heritage Auctions sale.

Big Sports Card Sales from the Heritage Auctions 2016 August Sports Collectible Platinum Auction

1916 M101-5 Sporting News Blank Back Babe Ruth PSA 7 – $717,000

1963 Topps Rookie Stars #537 Pete Rose/Pedro Gonzalez/Ken McMullen/Al Weis PSA 10 – $717,000

1968 Topps Mets Rookie Stars #177 Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman PSA 10 – $612,359.83

1969-70 Topps Lew Alcindor RC PSA 10 – $501,900

1952 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9 – $382,400

1956 Topps Gray Back Mickey Mantle PSA 10 – $382,400

1954 Topps Hank Aaron RC PSA 9 – $358,500

1955 Topps Sandy Koufax RC PSA 9 – $215,100

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 7 – $203,150

1909-11 E90-1 American Caramel Joe Jackson PSA 5 – $143,400

1909-11 T206 Piedmont Cy Young Bare Hand Shows PSA 9 – $143,400

1916 Standard Biscuit D350 Babe Ruth PSA 2 – $131,450

1963 Topps Rookie Stars #537 Pete Rose/Pedro Gonzalez/Ken McMullen/Al Weis PSA 9 – $131,450

1933 Sport Kings Jim Thorpe PSA 9 – $119,500

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 6.5 – $107,550

1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson PSA 8 – $107,550

1915 Cracker Jack Walter Johnson PSA 9 – $101,575

1952 Bowman Willie Mays PSA 9 – $89,625

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle SGC 84 – $89,625

1888-89 N173 Old Judge Cabinet Harry Wright SGC 84 – $83,650

1932 U.S. Caramel Bobby Jones PSA 9 – $77,675

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 6 – $77,675

1955 Topps Sandy Koufax RC PSA 8.5 – $71,700

1911 T206 Sweet Corporal Ty Cobb Green Background PSA 7 – $71,700

1971 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 10 – $71,700

1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Kobe Bryant BGS 10 Black Label – $71,700

1970 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 10 – $65,725

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #144 PSA 8 – $59,750

1933 Sport Kings Babe Ruth PSA 8 – $59,750

1955 Topps Roberto Clemente RC PSA 8 – $54,970

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle SGC 50 – $50,787.50

1969 Topps Reggie Jackson RC PSA 9 – $50,190

Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks.