The social platform for antiquers, collectors, and enthusiasts

High Grade National Chicle Football Set Headlines Million Dollar Memory Lane Auction

February 22, 2015, TUSTIN, CA – Over $1 million worth of vintage and rare sports cards and sports memorabilia is up for grabs as Memory Lane opens its first I Own It Now catalog of 2015 Monday, February 23 at 12 p.m. Eastern time.  In all, 526 lots have been consigned to the sale, highlighted by a complete, graded set of 1935 National Chicle Football.
The first set featuring all professional football players, the National Chicle issue includes a NM/MT Bronko Nagurski, one of the most famous– and scarce– sports trading cards ever made.  The set of 36 cards is priced at $175,000, but as with all lots in the I Own It Now concept, potential buyers can wait until February 26 to see if the item is still available and make their own offer.
The majority of the cards in the set grade either mint or near mint-mint+.  The catalog also includes a separate 1935 National Chicle Knute Rockne card, graded PSA 9 ($22,000).
All lots sold will be subject to a 15% buyer’s premium.
Multiple century-old Ty Cobb cards lead off the baseball portion of the catalog including a 1907-09 Novelty Cutlery postcard featuring Cobb and Honus Wagner, graded PSA 6 ($17,500), a 1910 E98 Cobb graded PSA 9 from the famous Black Swamp Find ($35,000), a 1915 Cracker Jack PSA 8 ($32,500) and one of the hobby’s best copies of the 1912 T227 Honest Long Cut Tobacco card ($9,800).
Dozens of other pre-War singles are in the catalog including a 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig (PSA 8), a T5 Pinkerton Cabinet Frank ‘Home Run’ Baker, W600 Honus Wagner Type IV variation, one of only seven graded examples of the Novelty Cutlery Christy Mathewson, a signed 1933 Joe DiMaggio Zeenuts card, plus higher end examples from sets like T206, Sporting Life, Mecca, Turkey Red, Cracker Jack, Goudey, Diamond Stars and Play Ball.
Two 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie cards, both graded and NM headline the post-War selections. Nearly 70 graded 1952 Topps are available including two of the iconic Mickey Mantle card, plus Duke Snider (PSA 9, $9,500), Yogi Berra and Early Wynn.
A complete set of 20 PSA-graded 1954 Wilson Franks is priced at $25,000 while a 1954 Dan Dee Proof Set, also graded, is available at $22,500.
Two 1957 Topps Bill Mazeroski rookie cards including a PSA 10 ($25,000) are offered, along with a PSA 10 1957 Topps Gil Hodges ($8,500), and mint, graded 1954 and ’56 Topps Ted Williams cards.
Speaking of Williams, a complete, unopened box of the 1959 Fleer issue bearing his name and BBCE authenticated, will be available at $29,500 along with a BBCE approved 1986-87 Fleer Basketball unopened box at $26,000 and other sealed specimens.
Collectors of perfection will have the chance to land several modern era hallmark rookie cards in PSA 10 holders including:  1976 Topps Walter Payton ($13,995), 1979 OPC Ozzie Smith ($6,500), 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson ($25,500), 1981 Topps Joe Montana ($13,750) and 1986 Topps Jerry Rice ($11,995).
Two 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookies are in the catalog, including a BGS 9.5 ($12,995) and there is a 1980-81 Topps Larry Bird/Magic Johnson rookie, also graded 9.5 ($7,500).
The #1 rated 1951 Topps Ringside Boxing set on PSA’s Registry is being offered.  Carrying an 8.179 GPA, it’s priced at $27,500.
Memorabilia items include a 1997-98 Michael Jordan road uniform ($12,000), a 1920s Lou Gehrig Type I photo, two Babe Ruth signed checks (one dual signed), a Cobb check and two from Roberto Clemente as well as a copy of Mickey Mantle’s 1947 Commerce, OK High “Mick” signed yearbook.
The entire catalog can be previewed now online.  Once the straight sale portion closes February 26 at 1:45 p.m. EST, offers will be taken on the remaining items until Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m.
Memory Lane is also accepting quality consignments for its next catalog auction, set for this spring.  The deadline is March 16.  For more information, to register for the sale and upcoming auction and receive free full-color catalogs, visit MemoryLaneInc.com.