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Heritage Auctions
2003 Upper Deck Exquisite
Collection LeBron James
(Exquisite Rookie Patch
Autographs-Level 1) #78 BGS
Mint 9, Auto 10 - #'d 74/99
sold for $324,000 at Heritage
Auctions’ 2023 June 24 Sports
Showcase Auction. Beyond the
supreme notoriety of the subject,
this particular issue likewise
represents a dramatic step for-
ward, one of the all-time greatest
basketball brands ever produced. image of similar box
The Upper Deck Exquisite in similar condition
Collection saw no shortage of
doubters when it debuted with Mile High Card Company
$500 price tags, but today A 1959 Topps Football 1st Series Unopened
there’s nary a collector active Vending Box Group of (2) Banded sold for
during that period that doesn’t $41,270.40 at Mile High Auction Company’s
harbor regret at failing to purchase Spring 2023 Auction in April. With Topps taking
every available box when he had over the sports trading card market from Bowman,
the chance. Just ninety-nine examples of this rookie format, pairing a the late 1950s became a bit of an experimental era
patch of game-worn jersey and a bold blue sharpie signature, were for the company. The 1959 series delivered the first
inserted at random within those high-dollar boxes, and they are today pasteboards of #4 Max McGee, 51 Sam Huff, 103
considered the most desirable of all LeBron rookies, bar none. Alex Karras, 116 Jerry Kramer, 132 Jim Parker, and
140 Bobby Mitchell. The featured pair of
Robert Edward Auctions untouched vending boxes hails from the first series,
A 1933 R319 Goudey #149 which houses the cards of #1 J. Unitas, 10 J. Brown,
Babe Ruth trading card sold for 20 Gifford, 23 Starr, 40 Layne, 51 Huff, 55 Berry,
$11,700 at Robert Edward and 82 Hornung.
Auctions’ June 2023 Encore
Auction. Babe Ruth’s career as an Memory Lane
American professional baseball A 1965 Yogi Berra Hillerich & Bradsby Game-
player spanned 22 seasons, from Used Bat PSA GU9 sold for $46,126.60 at Memory
1914 through 1935. In various Lane’s Spring ’23 Rarities Auction. Over his 19 years
surveys and rankings, Ruth has in the big leagues, he batted .285 with 358 home
been named the greatest baseball runs and 1,430 RBIs. And more significantly, Berra
player of all time. In 1933, Goudey won three American League MVP awards when the
produced a 240-card set, also called likes of Ted Williams, Al Kaline, and Mickey Mantle
“Big League Chewing Gum.” These were on top of their games. Yogi spent 19 years
cards, issued with bubble gum in behind the plate for the New York Yankees (1946-
each pack, were the first baseball 1963) and the New York Mets (1965), though only
gum cards. This example with a red appearing in four games for the Mets. Likely, a
background has vibrant colors, weapon of heavy practice and game use, this superbly
outstanding registration, moderate preserved B211 Louisville Slugger Bat hails from Berra’s 1965 season
corner wear, and centering slightly with the Mets and shows unbelievable wear and game use. PSA has
toward the bottom left. Graded noted that this bat originated from a February 2, April 5, or April 26th
FAIR 1.5 by SGC.
order placed by Berra. It is one of the final bats ever used by Berra
during his career.
Grey Flannel Auctions
A 1933 Woody English Inaugural Wheatland Auction Services
MLB All-Star Game-Used National A Rarely Seen 1921 Oxford
League Flannel Uniform sold for Confectionery Co. E253 Babe Ruth
$48,871 in June through Grey Flannel Graded SGC 1 sold for $10,620 at
Auctions. The 1933 Major League Wheatland Auction’s May 2023
Baseball All-Star Game was the first- Auction. The 1921 Oxford
ever All-Star Game in baseball history. Confectionary (E253) baseball set
It was played on July 6, 1933, at consists of 20 cards measuring
Comiskey Park. The success of the approximately 1-5/8” x 2-3/4” each.
1933 All-Star Game led to it becoming The front of each example bears a
an annual event, and it has since posed player photo with his last name
become one of the most beloved and and team affiliation printed within a
anticipated events in baseball. Woody white stripe at the bottom; the reverse
English was considered one of the top identifies a checklist and notes that
shortstops of his era. Offensively, the cardboard collectibles have
English was known for his ability to been produced for the Oxford
make contact and get on base. This was Confectionary Company of Oxford,
the only time in the history of the Pennsylvania. The key card of the
All-Star Game that a special non-team uniform was worn. 20-card set is this Babe Ruth card.
16 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
