Dallas, TX: One of the most famous of all baseball collectibles, a 1909-era Honus Wagner card, is among the fabulous array of vintage sports trading cards and memorabilia offered by Heritage Auction Galleries in their Signature Auction in Dallas, Texas and online, May 2 and 3, 2008.
“This will certainly be the ‘can’t miss’ auction of the season for the serious card collector,” explained Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Collectibles Auctions for Heritage. “From the rarest and most coveted tobacco cards to outrageously high-grade bubble gum sets, there is something to excite even the most seasoned hobbyist.”
First to draw the hobby’s attention is the fabled Honus Wagner T206, graded SGC 10. And Ivy notes that all three of the toughest cards from this beloved set are available within the auction. “Eddie Plank and the Magee error card establish this as one of the few auctions in history to feature all three of these T206’s.”
Equally thrilling for the advanced hobbyist is one of the few surviving specimens of the 1869 Peck & Snyder Cincinnati Red Stockings trade card, recognized by many as the first baseball card ever produced. “Fewer than ten examples have reached the auction block in the past decade,” noted Ivy, “and this example is authenticated by the experts at PSA.”
Another source of recent hobby gossip is the incredible “Arkansas Find” of Mint PM1 pins, including a never before seen Chief Bender specimen. “These pins are simply never seen in the flawless condition of this find,” explained Ivy. “Even the original mounting cards are here, still attached to the pins. It’s safe to say you’ll never see PM1’s like this again.”
Set collectors are not forgotten either, with fabulous complete or near sets of T206, 1952 Topps, 1933 Goudey and numerous high-grade Topps sets among the highlights.
“Magnificent game used artifacts once again headline the offerings from the memorabilia portion of the sale,” noted Ivy, referencing rookie jerseys from Hall of Famers “Pistol Pete” Maravich and Albert “Red” Schoendienst among the highlights.
“Both rookie jerseys are thought to be the only surviving examples, with each in stunning, unaltered condition,” Ivy explained. “Other gamers from Hall of Fame legends include Freddie Lindstrom, Bob Gibson, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Gordie Howe and Michael Jordan, to name a few.”
“Though lacking Hall of Fame credentials, early Philadelphia Athletics star T. Frederick ‘Topsy’ Hartsel provides some fireworks of his own,” Ivy said, “with his 1910 World Series trophy and game worn jersey consigned to the auction by his family.”
Autograph collectors will find some of the hobby’s greatest rarities within the pages of this auction catalog. “Two incredible personal collections, one of 1930’s and 1940’s government postcards, and the other Hall of Fame plaques, feature all of the greatest names of the era,” asserted Ivy. Fan favorites like Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx and Ott are joined by the scarcely seen Jesse Burkett, Christy Mathewson and Bobby Wallace.
A collection of artifacts consigned by Joe Montana’s high school sweetheart and first wife features the earliest game used and autographed material ever seen from the Hall of Fame quarterback, and includes his signed letter of intent to attend Notre Dame University. The auction also features the most impressive and eclectic assortment of hockey material ever presented within a Heritage auction, with incredible game worn jerseys from Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky among the offerings.
“Sports fans around the world are going to want to participate in this auction,” Ivy said, “and I’d encourage everyone to visit our homepage at www.HA.com/Sports, where they’ll see enlargeable, full-color images of each and every lot, complete with our thorough and informative catalog descriptions. They’ll even have an opportunity to place bids online.”
The trading card portion of the auction will end on Friday, May 2nd in an Extended Bidding format, each lot closing individually after thirty minutes of bidding inactivity following the 9 PM CST cut-off. The memorabilia will be sold May 3rd in a Live auction format beginning at 12 noon CST, with bidders able to participate in person, by telephone, or online at www.HA.com/Live.
Highlights of the auction include:
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner SGC 10 Poor 1: Minimum Bid: $31,250.
1909-11 T206 Sherry Magee (Magie) Error Card SGC 30 Good 2: Minimum Bid: $2,000.
1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank SGC 40 VG 3: Minimum Bid: $7,500.
1869 Peck & Snyder Cincinnati Red Stockings Trade Card PSA Authentic: Minimum Bid: $3,750.
1915 PM1 Ornate Frame Pins Chief Bender: Minimum Bid: $1,250.
1909-11 T206 Near Set: Minimum Bid: $15,000.
1952 Topps Baseball Complete Set: Minimum Bid: $12,500.
1970-71 Pete Maravich Game Worn Rookie Jersey: Minimum Bid: $12,500.
1945 Albert “Red” Schoendienst Game Worn Rookie Uniform: Minimum Bid: $10,000.
1936 Freddie Lindstrom Game Worn Jersey: Minimum Bid: $10,000.
1958 Duke Snider Game Worn Jersey: Minimum Bid: $5,000.
Circa 1911 Tully Frederick “Topsy” Hartsel Game Worn Jersey: Minimum Bid: $5,000.
1977-78 Gordie Howe Game Worn Jersey: Minimum Bid: $10,000.
1994 Wayne Gretzky European Exhibition Tour Game Worn & Signed Jersey: Minimum Bid: $2,500.
2002-03 Michael Jordan Game Worn Jersey: Minimum Bid: $3,000.
1910 Philadelphia Athletics World Championship Trophy Presented to Tully Frederick “Topsy” Hartsel: Minimum Bid: $4,000.
1940’s Babe Ruth Signed Childhood Photograph: Minimum Bid: $3,000.
Circa 1950 Jesse Burkett Signed Black & White Hall of Fame Plaque: Minimum Bid: $1,500.
Heritage specializes in rare and collectible sports cards, as well as uniforms, equipment, and related vintage sports memorabilia. Consignments for future Signature Sports Auctions are currently being accepted. Prospective consignors or sellers of quality vintage sports cards and sports memorabilia are encouraged to contact:
Chris Ivy at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1319 or email: [email protected] Mike Gutierrez at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1183 or email: [email protected] Lee Iskowitz at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1601 or email: [email protected] Mark Jordan at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1187 or email: [email protected] Jonathan Scheier at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1314 or email: [email protected] Stephen Carlisle at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1292 or emaill: [email protected] Phillip Aman at 800-872-6467 Ext. 1106 or email: [email protected]
For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.
