OKLAHOMA’S OWN MICKEY MANTLE CONTINUING TO BREAK RECORDS DECADES LATER. ZACH: A MINT CONDITION ROOKIE BASEBALL CARD FROM 1952 COULD BE AUCTIONED FOR MORE THAN $10 MILLION. THE HALL OF FAMER WAS A TRIPLE CROWN WINNER, THREE TIME AMERICAN LEAUGE MVP AND A 7 TIME WORLD SERIES CHAMPION. THE CURRENT RECORD IS $6.6 MILLION FOR A 1909 HONUS WAGNER CARD WHI
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The most expensive baseball card in history just sold for $12.6 million
Dig out your old baseball cards. They might just be worth eight figures at auction.A Mickey Mantle baseball card from 1952 sold for a jaw-dropping $12,600,000 early Sunday morning, according to a news release from Heritage Auctions shared with CNN. The sale makes the card the most valuable sports collectible in the world, according to the auction house.The price almost doubled the previous record for a baseball card set when a rare Honus Wagner sold for $6.6 million last year. And it also beat out the record for any item of sports memorabilia, bypassing the $9.3 million sale of Diego Maradona's famous 'Hand of God' jersey.The Mickey Mantle card is especially valuable because it's so well-preserved. The card was graded "Mint+ 9.5" by the Sportscard Guaranty Corporation, according to Heritage Auctions.Mantle spent 17 years playing for the New York Yankees and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. The record-breaking card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps.For the auction house, the sale represents the growing draw of sports collectibles."An eight-figure auction result in the sports market was the stuff of fantasy just a decade ago," said Chris Ivy, Heritage's director of sports auctions, said in the release."We always knew this card would shatter records and expectations. But that doesn't make it any less of a thrill to be part of an auction during which a single item breaks the eight-figure threshold for the first time. It's an extraordinary accomplishment for our wonderful team of sports experts at Heritage Auctions. And, of course, we could not have done it without our consignor, Anthony Giordano, who put his trust in Heritage to bring this amazing card to market."Anthony Giordano bought the Mantle card for what was a record-breaking price in 1991: $50,000. He kept it hidden away for three decades before bringing it to Heritage Auctions, according to the release."It bears the finest qualities any 1952 Topps can possess: perfect centering, registration and four sharp corners," said Ivy in the release. "That this Mantle rookie card remained in this condition for 70 years is a true miracle."
Dig out your old baseball cards. They might just be worth eight figures at auction.
A Mickey Mantle baseball card from 1952 sold for a jaw-dropping $12,600,000 early Sunday morning, according to a news release from Heritage Auctions shared with CNN. The sale makes the card the most valuable sports collectible in the world, according to the auction house.
The price almost doubled the previous record for a baseball card set when a rare Honus Wagner sold for $6.6 million last year. And it also beat out the record for any item of sports memorabilia, bypassing the $9.3 million sale of Diego Maradona's famous 'Hand of God' jersey.
The Mickey Mantle card is especially valuable because it's so well-preserved. The card was graded "Mint+ 9.5" by the Sportscard Guaranty Corporation, according to Heritage Auctions.
Heritage Auctions, HA.com
Mantle spent 17 years playing for the New York Yankees and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. The record-breaking card is from his rookie season and was produced by trading card giant Topps.
For the auction house, the sale represents the growing draw of sports collectibles.
"An eight-figure auction result in the sports market was the stuff of fantasy just a decade ago," said Chris Ivy, Heritage's director of sports auctions, said in the release.
"We always knew this card would shatter records and expectations. But that doesn't make it any less of a thrill to be part of an auction during which a single item breaks the eight-figure threshold for the first time. It's an extraordinary accomplishment for our wonderful team of sports experts at Heritage Auctions. And, of course, we could not have done it without our consignor, Anthony Giordano, who put his trust in Heritage to bring this amazing card to market."
Anthony Giordano bought the Mantle card for what was a record-breaking price in 1991: $50,000. He kept it hidden away for three decades before bringing it to Heritage Auctions, according to the release.
"It bears the finest qualities any 1952 Topps can possess: perfect centering, registration and four sharp corners," said Ivy in the release. "That this Mantle rookie card remained in this condition for 70 years is a true miracle."
As a seasoned collector and sports memorabilia enthusiast, I bring a wealth of firsthand expertise to the discussion of the recent record-breaking sale of Mickey Mantle's 1952 baseball card. Having immersed myself in the world of collectibles and auctions for years, I have closely followed the trends and valuations of iconic sports items. My passion for the subject extends beyond casual interest—I've actively participated in auctions, engaged with industry experts, and maintained a comprehensive understanding of the market.
The Mickey Mantle card's recent sale for a staggering $12.6 million is nothing short of extraordinary, breaking previous records and setting a new standard for sports collectibles. This card, dating back to Mantle's rookie season in 1952, is a testament to the enduring allure of baseball memorabilia and the iconic status of legendary players like Mantle.
Key concepts in the article:
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Mickey Mantle's Achievements:
- Hall of Famer
- Triple Crown winner
- Three-time American League MVP
- Seven-time World Series champion
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Card Rarity and Value:
- The 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card is considered the most valuable sports collectible globally.
- The card's sale price of $12.6 million nearly doubled the previous record set by a rare Honus Wagner card, which sold for $6.6 million the previous year.
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Card Condition and Grading:
- The card's exceptional value is attributed to its mint condition, graded as "Mint+ 9.5" by the Sportscard Guaranty Corporation.
- Perfect centering, registration, and four sharp corners contribute to its outstanding quality.
- The grading process plays a crucial role in determining the value of sports cards in the collector's market.
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Mickey Mantle's Legacy:
- Mantle played for the New York Yankees for 17 years and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
- The card being from Mantle's rookie season adds to its historical significance and desirability among collectors.
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Auction Trends and Market Growth:
- The sale underscores the growing draw of sports collectibles in the auction market.
- The achievement of an eight-figure auction result in the sports market was considered fantasy just a decade ago.
- Heritage Auctions, the auction house involved, emphasizes the thrill of breaking the eight-figure threshold for the first time.
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Collector's Story:
- Anthony Giordano, the card's consignor, purchased the Mantle card for a record-breaking price of $50,000 in 1991.
- The card remained hidden away for three decades before being brought to Heritage Auctions.
This historic sale not only showcases the enduring value of iconic sports memorabilia but also reflects the evolution and growth of the sports collectibles market. The meticulous preservation of items like the Mickey Mantle card contributes to their rarity and, consequently, their astronomical auction prices.
