In the world of sports memorabilia, some items are more than just collectibles; they are time machines that evoke the golden eras of sports legends with the mere glimpse of a card or a smear of ink. As such, enthusiasts and collectors alike are in for an absolute treat with Miller & Miller Auctions’ upcoming event on June 22nd. No jazzy auction halls or gavel-banging this time—this is a full digital foray into the past, welcoming eager bidders to dive into an extensive collection of pre-1980 sports cards and memorabilia from the comfort of their homes.
Amongst the dazzling array of items that promise to set hearts racing and bids soaring, the towering figure of Mickey Mantle takes front and center. His 1952 Topps #311 rookie card, a piece so revered it’s practically hallowed in the world of baseball cards, is the crowning jewel of the collection. Though it has weathered its fair share of scuffles with time—boasting corners akin to the melting edges of a once-bright glacial expanse—its appeal remains undampened. Sporting a modest PSA 2 Good grade, this card is estimated to fetch between $40,000 and $50,000 CAD, a price range as bright as Mantle’s legacy.
For those who index their moments not just through Mantle, the auction offers an engaging tapestry woven with other emblematic figures of the baseball realm. A fascinating array of 40 cards from the celebrated Topps’ 1952 Sixth Series, known in the esoteric circles of card collection as “High Numbers,” also graces the event. This group, spanning card numbers from Mantle’s #311 to #407, is poised to garner $3,000 to $5,000 CAD. These cards, with their charming patinas of wear, are whispers from an era past, crafting stories in their wrinkles and bends.
Shifting gears from baseball’s diamond to hockey’s rink, the auction doesn’t hold back on charm or nostalgia. The illustrious 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie card titillates collectors and fans alike with a touch of icy elegance and history. Expected to sell for $8,000 to $10,000 CAD, this PSA 3 Very Good graded card captures the avatar of a hockey era encapsulated between four corners of brilliance.
And where Howe begins, Bobby Orr steps earnestly forward, defying the test of time with his 1966 Topps #35 rookie card. Graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, this card is not just a collector’s item; it’s an artifact of cultural heritage on skates, pegged at estimates hovering around $8,000 to $9,000 CAD, and perhaps a delightful birthday gift for anyone with a predilection for pucks and sticks.
Among the unique treasures parading at the auction is a relic that speaks volumes of heroics past, a Bill Barilko hockey stick from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1951 Stanley Cup-winning season. Embellished with signatures and tales, the stick tells an ice-borne saga worthy of epic retellings. Anticipated to garner $3,000 to $5,000 CAD, it’s not just a stick; it’s an usher to moments of triumph nestled within memory’s recesses.
And if displays of grandeur are more your style, a shadow box homage to hockey legends Maurice and Henri Richard awaits. This grand frame, a confluence of history and artistry, presents Parkhurst rookie cards graded KSA 4 and 3, surrounded by a bevy of memorabilia including a Louisville Pro Flex stick and a Canadiens puck. Valued at $4,000 to $6,000 CAD, it ensures that office walls or den corners become shrines to heroism.
Collectors will also discover a complete set of the enchanting and elongated 1964-65 Topps “Tall Boys” hockey cards assembly. This set, featuring stalwarts like Gordie Howe and Tim Horton, is a broad sweep of nostalgia numbering 110 strong and promising good to very good conditions for $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.
Among these gems treads a brilliant 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee uncut sheet of 226 cards, crisp and brimming with a pristine #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card. A rarity, minor edge wear notwithstanding, this sheet is a jewel among gems calling for $3,500 to $4,500 CAD.
As articulated by Ben Pernfuss, the Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, this auction is nothing short of a vibrant chorus of sports history. “Collectors will find key cards from the groundbreaking 1951 Parkhurst hockey and 1952 Topps baseball sets featuring some of the most iconic names in sports,” he heralded, holding out the digital gavel for eager fingers.
For those ready to leap into the fray, the auction catalog is just a click away on Miller & Miller’s website, with a live avenue to join the action through LiveAuctioneers. Enshrined as Canada’s purveyor of high-value collections, Miller & Miller stand vigilant, ensuring each cherished piece is treated with the care afforded to a rookie cradling his first glove or stick.
