Heritage Auction (10/24-26)…Observations and Share your Winnings...Another MBA-Gold Record Set

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mintonlypls
mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭

Let me start by saying that 1970s Nolan Ryan cards in a PSA-10...smashed records and smashed auction estimates

1972 Nolan Ryan PSA-10....$91,500
1976 Nolan Ryan PSA-10...$76,000
1979 Nolan Ryan PSA-10....$36,500

And even though it is only one data point...MBA Diamonds did well, too!

1956 Mickey Mantle (Gray back) PSA-9 (MBA-Gold)...$415,000, previous record $175,000

Other highlights...

1955 Ernie Banks PSA-9...$31,750...previous record, $15,000
1956 Hank Aaron PSA-9 (White Back)...$73,000...previous record, $41,000
1957 Willie Mays PSA-9...$73,000...previous record, $63,000
1957 Don Drysdale RC PSA-8.5 (mine) $11,000…previous record at $5,500 dates back to 2020
1957 Brooks Robinson RC PSA-8.5 (mine) $14,700...tying previous record
1960 Willie Mays PSA-9...$44,000...previous record, $35,000
1962 Roberto Clemente PSA-9...$70,000...previous record, $41,000
1967 Carl Yastrzemski PSA-10...$61,000...previous record ?

I bid on a 1951 Bowman Willie Mays RC PSA-6...but bailed in the upper 20s. Here is my only win:

And it is a diamond candidate...

mint_only_pls

Comments

  • Ahmanfan
    Ahmanfan Posts: 4,513 ✭✭✭✭
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    Nice card to be in your upgrade pile!

    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Agree…out-of-register concern, though.

    mint_only_pls
  • bgr
    bgr Posts: 4,981 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @mintonlypls said:
    Agree…out-of-register concern, though.

    that is exactly the need for the upgrade. good eye.

  • brad31
    brad31 Posts: 3,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congrats Monte on the sales and the purchase. Was underbidder on the ‘71 OPC Jackson in a 7. Trying to not spend right now so wasn’t disappointed to lose it but good to know I wouldn’t have gotten it for my price.

  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 26, 2025 9:26PM
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    On Sunday Night (10/26) in the Heritage Auction...a 1967 Tom Seaver RC PSA-9 (MBA-Gold) sold for $34,160 breaking the record for the assigned grade at $26,300.

    mint_only_pls
  • KendallCat
    KendallCat Posts: 3,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Was following the 56 Mantle PSA 9, and obviously not bidding on it, which ended up going for over $400k. Huge record bump in price on that one. I was a bidder early on the T206 Mathewson which went through the roof from the Pitchers Cache collection, and that one ended at $13k and was a stunner.

    KC

  • bgr
    bgr Posts: 4,981 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 27, 2025 8:19AM
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    What are your thoughts on the 1914 Balt. News Babe Ruth which sold for right around $4M last week? This one went over $7M a couple years ago in REA (I think?). It's not an attractive card and I find it hard to elevate over any of; sporting news RC, 33 Goudeys outside of the mere archaeological aspect of its rarity.

  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 27, 2025 7:42PM
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    I think when you are talking big money (millions) that eye appeal (the image itself, not speaking in terms of color, centering, etc.) and high end matter. The 1914 Ruth fails both tests badly.

    mint_only_pls
  • smallstocks
    smallstocks Posts: 1,810 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Monte, you beat me out on that Koufax . . . by a mile! Man prices have skyrocketed. I did win a bunch of PSA 9 cards for my 1949 Bowman set and won the 1967 Topps Who Am I graded set.


    Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    My limit was $5,000 b4 buyer’s premium.

    mint_only_pls
  • Ahmanfan
    Ahmanfan Posts: 4,513 ✭✭✭✭
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    @KendallCat said:
    Was following the 56 Mantle PSA 9, and obviously not bidding on it, which ended up going for over $400k. Huge record bump in price on that one. I was a bidder early on the T206 Mathewson which went through the roof from the Pitchers Cache collection, and that one ended at $13k and was a stunner.

    KC

    Wonder what the back looks like? Looks like a 7! (Mathewson)

    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • KendallCat
    KendallCat Posts: 3,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Ahmanfan said:

    @KendallCat said:
    Was following the 56 Mantle PSA 9, and obviously not bidding on it, which ended up going for over $400k. Huge record bump in price on that one. I was a bidder early on the T206 Mathewson which went through the roof from the Pitchers Cache collection, and that one ended at $13k and was a stunner.

    KC

    Wonder what the back looks like? Looks like a 7! (Mathewson)

    The back looked like it had a little bit of ink on it, but for me 99% of the card is how it looks on the front. This one looks spectacular, but the price was just unreal for the grade. Not to say that is not warranted, but for me personally I would rather spend my money on something else for 13 K.

  • MantleFan23
    MantleFan23 Posts: 722 ✭✭✭✭
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    I don't really get the gold sticker on the Mantle PSA9. I collect this set, and I guess if I were the market for a 9 (which I'm not), I would pass on this one. The card is OC left to right, plus there seem to be slight touch of wear on the top right. For a Gold 9, I would expect it to blow me away and this one doesn't. Your thought KC?

  • KendallCat
    KendallCat Posts: 3,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @MantleFan23 said:
    I don't really get the gold sticker on the Mantle PSA9. I collect this set, and I guess if I were the market for a 9 (which I'm not), I would pass on this one. The card is OC left to right, plus there seem to be slight touch of wear on the top right. For a Gold 9, I would expect it to blow me away and this one doesn't. Your thought KC?

    I noticed the same thing about the centering. No question it is a beautiful card and deserving of a 9, but the centering would bother me along with a tiny bit of tilt. For $400k IMO it would have to be flawless.

    I subbed a pair of 56 Mantle’s to MBA and one was a silver and one a gold. Have owned them for several years and saves me a ton of money in comparison to a PSA 9.

    KC

  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 28, 2025 4:34PM
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    The ‘56 Mantle PSA-9 MBA-Gold is not centered/level in the PSA-holder giving the appearance of a “tilt”. The centering side-to-side when viewing horizontally is slightly off, not dead centered.

    mint_only_pls
  • olb31
    olb31 Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    THE 1956 Mantle's both the 4 and 9 have slight tilts. i would give both 9's for centering though. like most topps cards, almost none of them were completely 50/50.

    Work hard and you will succeed!!
  • MantleFan23
    MantleFan23 Posts: 722 ✭✭✭✭
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    @KendallCat said:

    @MantleFan23 said:
    I don't really get the gold sticker on the Mantle PSA9. I collect this set, and I guess if I were the market for a 9 (which I'm not), I would pass on this one. The card is OC left to right, plus there seem to be slight touch of wear on the top right. For a Gold 9, I would expect it to blow me away and this one doesn't. Your thought KC?

    I noticed the same thing about the centering. No question it is a beautiful card and deserving of a 9, but the centering would bother me along with a tiny bit of tilt. For $400k IMO it would have to be flawless.

    I subbed a pair of 56 Mantle’s to MBA and one was a silver and one a gold. Have owned them for several years and saves me a ton of money in comparison to a PSA 9.

    KC

    Now those are two cards that are high end for the grade!

  • Ahmanfan
    Ahmanfan Posts: 4,513 ✭✭✭✭
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    @olb31 said:
    THE 1956 Mantle's both the 4 and 9 have slight tilts. i would give both 9's for centering though. like most topps cards, almost none of them were completely 50/50.

    If that 8 has a tilt then no card is centered. Looks perfect to me.

    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • UlyssesExtravaganza
    UlyssesExtravaganza Posts: 1,026 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Ahmanfan said:

    @olb31 said:
    THE 1956 Mantle's both the 4 and 9 have slight tilts. i would give both 9's for centering though. like most topps cards, almost none of them were completely 50/50.

    If that 8 has a tilt then no card is centered. Looks perfect to me.

    I dont see a tilt on the 8 but a mouse did take a bite out of it on the upper right side close to the corner.

    I dont know if there is a Mouse Bite Qualifier but if so I'd give it a PSA 9 (MB).

  • olb31
    olb31 Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Sweet card, one of my favorites.

    Work hard and you will succeed!!
  • Ahmanfan
    Ahmanfan Posts: 4,513 ✭✭✭✭
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    I like your 8 better than your previous 8.5. Even at the same costs better color and centering.

    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • gemint
    gemint Posts: 6,289 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 31, 2025 9:49AM
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    Nice pick-ups. I made an aggressive run at one of the last upgrades I need for an all PSA 9 vintage baseball set. It's a low pop card that surprisingly had 1/3 of the entire population get auctioned off over the past month. Unfortunately there were a few other aggressive bidders and it ended up going for more than I'm willing to pay. It closed at 2x the previous record price.

  • KendallCat
    KendallCat Posts: 3,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2, 2025 7:49PM
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    @Ahmanfan said:
    I like your 8 better than your previous 8.5. Even at the same costs better color and centering.

    Thank you for the nice note, and it is very much appreciated. Guess no reason to get an 8.5 based on the feedback from several posters here and elsewhere.

    KC

  • captfisch
    captfisch Posts: 125 ✭✭✭
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    I didn't win one, but a 1977 Star Wars #1 sold for $220000 not including buyer's premium. May seriously have to consider selling mine now.

  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2, 2025 12:14PM
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    Wow! That’s serious money for a Star Wars card!

    mint_only_pls
  • olb31
    olb31 Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Not a Star Wars fan but I do like the 60 and 70 non-sports. Star Trek!!

    Work hard and you will succeed!!
  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Unbelievable 1, Matt!

    mint_only_pls
  • Raptormaniacs
    Raptormaniacs Posts: 160 ✭✭✭
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    @mattyc_collection said:
    Great "4" of the 56 Mick, KC. On the topic of 56T Mantles, since I don't care about card backs I happily stare at this daily in my case, which cost me peanuts, and allows me to keep that Heritage 9 money on hand for things where the value is not determined so much by one stranger's opinion ;)

    What am I missing? That card looks beautiful.

  • mattyc_collection
    mattyc_collection Posts: 2,141 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The back has paper loss; but I never look at the backs so for me it's like getting the "Bank Error In Your Favor" card in Monopoly.

    I love hunting freak "pound for pound" cards that please my eye as much as possible in the lowest grade/cost possible. So a 1 like that is my ideal state for a card, because I can't get prettier for cheaper and if I bought an 8-9-10 I'd have to care what it would sell for.

  • KendallCat
    KendallCat Posts: 3,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @mattyc_collection said:
    Great "4" of the 56 Mick, KC. On the topic of 56T Mantles, since I don't care about card backs I happily stare at this daily in my case, which cost me peanuts, and allows me to keep that Heritage 9 money on hand for things where the value is not determined so much by one stranger's opinion ;)

    Just an amazing unicorn of a card Matt👍

  • NachoNeil
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    The 1977 Star Wars in high grade all crushed it, including #1 Skywalker.

  • mintonlypls
    mintonlypls Posts: 2,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice example, Brad!

    mint_only_pls
  • Ahmanfan
    Ahmanfan Posts: 4,513 ✭✭✭✭
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    What’s the. Catalyst for the Star Wars to go crazy? Seems other pop culture stuff is down from COVID highs.

    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • threeofsix
    threeofsix Posts: 716 ✭✭✭✭
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    @Ahmanfan said:
    What’s the. Catalyst for the Star Wars to go crazy? Seems other pop culture stuff is down from COVID highs.

    Could it be the 50th Anniversary that’s coming in 2027? Each decade of its release seems to spark renewed interest.

    The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one.
    Live long, and prosper.
  • 1982FootballWax
    1982FootballWax Posts: 2,838 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 6, 2025 1:26PM
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    @Ahmanfan said:
    What’s the. Catalyst for the Star Wars to go crazy? Seems other pop culture stuff is down from COVID highs.

    Star Wars is most certainly an outlier.

    IIRC the #1 Card in 1976 "Welcome Back Kotter" set in PSA 9 sold in 2021? 2022? for $1500 or $1600. It was billed as "Travolta Rookie". I'm sure there are many other examples of TV/Film cards that sold for 4 figures then that will never sniff those numbers again.

    It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
    Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)

  • Yankees70
    Yankees70 Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 6, 2025 3:14PM
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    Here's my Mantle:

    Well close enough.

  • BaltimoreYankee
    BaltimoreYankee Posts: 3,265 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Yankees70 said:
    Here's my Mantle:

    Well close enough.

    That's a fine looking Richard you got there.

    Daniel