Hold onto your baseball caps, folks, because Willie Mays just hit it out of the park again! The 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card has shattered records by selling for an incredible $390,935 at Robert Edward Auctions’ Summer Catalog Auction. This iconic card, the highest-graded example to hit the auction block in over 15 years, had collectors swinging for the fences. With no PSA 10 Mays rookie cards in existence and only eight in a PSA 9, it’s no surprise that bidders went all out for this cardboard treasure.
To put this remarkable sale into perspective, a PSA 8 copy of the same Mays card sold for $207,400 just last week at Goldin. Clearly, Mays’ rookie cards are hotter than a scorching summer day at the ballpark!
But where is all that cash headed? The proceeds from this record-breaking sale will be used to fund a college scholarship endowment, shaping the future while making history in the world of sports memorabilia. A win-win situation, indeed!
The Summer Catalog Auction was a grand slam on its own, raking in over $13.3 million from more than 82,000 bids across nearly 3,200 lots. Thirteen items broke the six-figure barrier, including a 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie PSA 4.5 that set a new record by selling for an impressive $162,000 – the highest ever for that grade.
Among the other heavy hitters were an autographed 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella rookie (PSA 3) with a PSA 9 signature grade, fetching $132,000, and a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card (PSA 7 with a 7 autograph rating) that netted $120,000.
Not to be outdone, a 1936-1937 Dizzy Dean St. Louis Cardinals game-used road jersey scored a cool $114,000, setting a new record for Dizzy Dean memorabilia.
Some other notable home run sales included a 1933 R338 Sport Kings #2 Babe Ruth PSA NM-MT 8 at $120,000, a 1915 Boston Red Sox Real-Photo Team Postcard with Babe Ruth Rookie at $114,000, a 1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson Rookie PSA GEM MINT 10 at $111,000, and a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Glove Shows PSA EX+ 5.5 (Broad Leaf 460 Back) at $111,000.
The auction also saw a 1979-1980 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #18 Wayne Gretzky Rookie PSA MINT 9 going for $105,000, a 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson SGC GOOD+ 2.5 at $102,000 (a record for the SGC grade), a 1933 V353 World Wide Gum Canadian Goudey #80 Babe Ruth PSA NM 7 at $96,000 (a record for the card), and a 1984-1985 Star Company Basketball #101 Michael Jordan Rookie BGS NM-MT+ 8.5 at $52,800 (a record for the Beckett grade).
Brian Dwyer, President of REA, expressed his excitement about the auction, stating, “This auction was a blast from start to finish, with new record prices being set left and right. We’re incredibly grateful to the consignors who trusted us with these amazing items and to the bidders who made this another record-breaking auction for us.”
If you missed out on this thrilling auction, fret not! REA’s next big event is the September Encore Auction, scheduled to run from September 12-22. Mark your calendars and get ready for more exciting action in the world of sports memorabilia!
