In the realm of sports cards and memorabilia, some names hold a reverberating allure that transcends generations. This June 22nd, Miller & Miller Auctions invites ardent collectors to an online celebration of nostalgia and rarity with their pre-1980 sports collection showcase. Like a time capsule unlocking treasures from the radiant past of baseball and hockey, this digital gathering is bound to set hearts racing faster than a Mantle home run or an Orr skate along the blue line.
At the heart of this collection is a card that needs no introduction—the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle rookie card. Often heralded as the “holy grail” of baseball cards, it stands as a paragon amid cardboard legends. Despite its PSA 2 Good rating (a discerning euphemism for corners that have likely weathered decades of discussions and exchanges), this card’s expected hammer price ranges from CAD 40,000 to 50,000. It’s a signal flare calling all aficionados, from mere admirers to fervid collectors, summoning them to a digital coliseum where the sparks of bidding battles are sure to fly.
Mantle isn’t alone in the cardinal spotlight; he is flanked by a cadre of luminaries from the mystic 1952 Topps Sixth Series. These “High Numbers,” spanning from #311 to #407, shimmer with a bygone brilliance, promising to fetch a tidy sum of CAD 3,000 to 5,000. Though some bear the imperious marks of time and handling, their collective aura as embodying a transformative era in baseball remains irresistible.
But let’s not skate past the wonderland of hockey nostalgia on offer. Gracing the auction is the 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie card, exuding an ice-cold charm that’s expected to fetch an impressive CAD 8,000 to 10,000. Graded at PSA 3 Very Good, it boasts a distinct appeal, like a championship banner hanging classically from the rafters, resonating deeply within the hearts of hockey historians and enthusiasts alike.
Speaking of ice titans, Bobby Orr makes his graceful appearance with the 1966 Topps #35 rookie card. Graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, Orr’s card is pegged between CAD 8,000 to 9,000, a price reflective of his legacy as one of the greatest to ever carve up the ice. Serious investors and Orr devotees are expected to rally around this prime rookie entry, much like Orr himself rallied his team time and again.
Amid these treasures, a uniquely Canadian piece stands apart—a game-used Bill Barilko hockey stick signed by the 1951 Stanley Cup-winning Toronto Maple Leafs. Emblazoned with Barilko’s transcendent number 5 and adorned with teammates’ signatures, it is a relic steeped in hockey folklore, awaiting its new keeper for an estimated CAD 3,000 to 5,000.
For those partial to exhibition pieces, there’s the captivating shadow box featuring Maurice and Henri Richard’s Parkhurst rookie cards. Graded KSA 4 and 3, these cards, along with a signature-laden Louisville Pro Flex stick, bridge the chasm between sporting legend and art installation. This masterpiece, bolstered by a Canadiens puck and a commemorative plaque, is anticipated to draw CAD 4,000 to 6,000.
Notably, the auction also presents a full collection of the 1964-65 Topps “Tall Boys,” an ingeniously oversized set capturing icons like Howe, Hull, and Horton. Each card is a testament to the era’s flair, with expectations landing between CAD 4,000 and 6,000.
Crowning the exciting roster is an uncut 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee sheet featuring 226 hockey cards, with a pristine Wayne Gretzky rookie card taking center stage. Despite minor edge wear, this sheet is a glimpse into its era, suggesting CAD 3,500 to 4,500.
Ben Pernfuss, the astute Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, envelops the auction with historical import, highlighting its assemblage of key cards from groundbreaking hockey and baseball sets. It’s poised to be a stirring encounter as collectors sift through gilded fragments of sporting narrative.
Interested brushstrokes in this tapestry can explore the complete catalog via Miller & Miller’s digital domain or engage in bidding theatrics with LiveAuctioneers. With a distinguished reputation for shepherding collections of eminent value, Miller & Miller approaches this assembly with the care and excitement akin to a rookie donning a major league cap for the first time. Whether you are chasing Mantle magic or Howe’s ice enigma, this spectacle holds a promise of sporting treasure aplenty for those who dare to dream—and bid.
