There are iconic cards in the hobby, and then there are the iconic cards that are the envy of any collector. Vintage baseball card collectors have seen many records broken in prices paid for certain cards of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson and so one in 2021. Now Heritage Auction has its key November auction with a massive lineup of cards with ending dates of November 18 to November 20 (2021) and there are going to be some astronomical prices realized in their Fall Sports Collectibles auction.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end sports collectibles as an alternative asset class. This means collectibles are attracting the same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds or other traditional investments. With vintage sports cards frequently commanding tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars, these definitely fall into that category. Collectors with a passion to own a collectible for years frequently have to compete directly against investors whose only desire is to make a profit in the future.

So what happens when you get some of the greatest vintage baseball cards ever produced coming to auction at the same time? Well, that would be a bidding frenzy of course.

With three to five days remaining in the auction, as of Monday mid-day, we have compiled the numbers already being seen in the auction and compared them to mid-Friday (11/12/21) to show how the auctions are progressing. Here is a snapshot of just how astronomical prices are already looking without considering the potential bidding frenzies that may occur.

Also please note that this auction has nearly 50 graded examples from the late 1800s. And perhaps the most stellar is that there are 46 examples of the notorious 1887-90 Old Judge N172 cards up for grabs. You just rarely see this much of that elusive set come up for grabs.

These cards have been ranked by date or genre but these are so far among the highest bid vintage baseball cards in the auction. All images shown below for each have been provided by Heritage Auctions and the images of each specific graded example.

PRE-WAR HEROES: COBB, RUTH, DIMAGGIO

1909-11 T206 Old Mill Ty Cobb (Bat Off Shoulder) PSA NM-MT 8 had a bid of $92,500.00 and $111,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid as of Monday is $115,000.00 and $138,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $150,000+ Heritage Auctions notes that the population for the card in this grade is two and that only one card exists higher.

1909-11 T206 Old Mill Ty Cobb (Red Portrait) PSA NM-MT 8 had a bid of $75,000.00 and $90,000.00 after buyer’s premium on November 12, 2021.

The current bid is $97,000.00 and $117,000.00 after buyer’s premium. With an estimate of $100,000.00 Heritage Auctions notes that the population of this card in this condition is one and that none are known to exist higher.

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #144 SGC NM/MT 8 had a bid of $120,000.00 and $144,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid is $125,000 and $150,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $150,000+ Heritage Auctions has called this card an absolute masterpiece of the species that’s seemingly untouched by the nine decades that have passed since its printing.

1938 Goudey Joe DiMaggio #274 SGC 96 Mint 9 had a bid of $77,500.00 and $93,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid is $80,000.00 and $96,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $200,000.00+ for the DiMaggio rookie, Heritage Auctions notes that this is the nicest graded example known. Some collectors argue that the 1938 Goudey cards are not of the same caliber as other Goudey and Play Ball cards of the era. That said, that’s for each collector to argue about.

POST-WAR HEROES: ROBINSON, MANTLE, MAYS, CLEMENTE, KOUFAX

1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson Rookie #79 PSA NM-MT 8 had a bid of $170,000.00 and $204,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid is $175,000.00 and $210,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $350,000.00+ Heritage Auctions explains that over 1,500 examples have been submitted but only eight command a superior assessment.

1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson #50 PSA Mint 9 had a bid of $180,000.00 and $216,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid is $190,000.00 and $228,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $400,000+ Heritage Auctions notes that the card’s surfaces are entirely immune to both wax and gum stains.

1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle Rookie #253 PSA NM-MT 8 had a bid of $220,000.00 and $264,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid is $230,000.00 and $276,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $400,000+ Heritage Auctions notes that only 10 climb higher in PSA grade.

1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 PSA NM-MT 8 had a bid of $165,000.00 and $198,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid stands at $165,000.00 and $198,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $200,000.00+ Heritage Auctions explains that only 11 are rated higher.

1953 Topps Jackie Robinson #1 PSA Mint 9 had a bid of $100,000.00 and $120,000.00 after buyers premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid is $115,000.00 and $138,000 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $150,000.00+ only one example grades higher according to Heritage Auctions. This is an incredibly tough card to find in higher conditions.

1955 Topps Roberto Clemente Rookie #164 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 had a bid of $125,000.00 and $150,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid stands at $125,000 and $150,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $150,000.00+ the card is ranked in the top one third of one percent at .0028% according to Heritage Auctions. Most of these graded examples have off-centering that is just too difficult to argue with the graders about, but not this example.

1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Rookie #123 PSA Mint 9 had a bid of $190,000.00 and $228,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid is $210,000.00 and $252,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $400,000.00+ Heritage Auctions determined this card to be in the top .003% finest from 9,000+ card submissions. This price here is amazing when considering that the Koufax card has the largest graded PSA population (over 9,000 graded) of any other player in the set and with the entire set’s PSA graded population of more than 178,000 cards when tallying up all graded player cards.

1968 Topps Johnny Bench Reds Rookie Stars #247 PSA Gem Mint 10 had a bid of $75,000.00 and $90,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid stands at $75,000.00 and $90,000.00 after buyer’s premium.

With an estimate of $80,000.00+ the card according to Heritage Auctions is one of only 15 examples for the grade. This 1968 Topps set is notorious for being hard to find in stellar and nearly perfect condition due to the colored edges and as the paper shows any blemishes.

MICKEY MANTLE ENCORE

Mickey Mantle deserves and encore in this auction. On top of a game-worn autographed jersey he also has a prized 1952 Topps card (#311) in a very well-centered SGC 4. That card has hit $70,000 after 34 bids, with a buyer’s premium taking it up to $84,000 for the prized card. Its auction estimates was $50,000+ and it is being tracked by about 150 bidders.

Another PSA 5 example of the 1952 Mantle is trailing the SGC 4 despite a higher grade (centering is less perfect in comparison) with a bid of $57,500 (or $69.000 after the buyer’s premium).

And lastly, a PSA 8 grade of the 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle has already hit $67,500 (or $81,000 after the buyer’s premium).

Images above provided by Heritage Auctions.

MORE MODERN LEGENDS

1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie #57 SGC Gem Mint 10 had a bid of $130,000.00 and $156,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid stands at $165,000.00 and $198,000.00 after buyer’s premium. With an estimate of $250,000.00+ Heritage Auctions notes that only one card ranks higher in condition and this is one of only 25 examples graded in this condition.

1993 SP Derek Jeter Rookie #279 SGC Gem Mint 10 had a bid of $82,500.00 and $99,000.00 after buyer’s premium on Friday November 12, 2021. The current bid stands at $82,500.00 and $99,000.00 after buyer’s premium. With an estimated $250,000.00+ Heritage Auctions notes that only four SGC examples have been graded GEM MINT.