In a digital age teetering on the edge of virtual reality, Miller & Miller Auctions is hosting a trip down memory lane that promises to coax the nostalgic bones of sports fans and card collectors everywhere. On June 22nd, from the comfort of your favorite armchair—and perhaps with the company of trusty bidding fingers—you can dive into an online auction that offers a tangible slice of sports history. This pre-1980 spectacle serves up 235 lustrous lots ranging from the pinnacles of baseball lore to the icy legends of hockey.
Headlining this collector’s cornucopia is none other than the legendary Mickey Mantle, who graces us with his iconic presence. Remember the 1952 Topps #311? Yes, it’s that Mickey Mantle rookie card—the sparkling unicorn of baseball cardcopia—is expected to trigger a bidding war of epic proportions. Even though its corners may exhibit the wrinkles of time (come on, who doesn’t), a PSA 2 Good grade ensures it won’t go unnoticed—expected to gallop home with a cool $40,000 to $50,000 CAD. For the serious aficionado, the card’s gently loved condition is just another charming chapter of its storied past.
But Mantle is not the only diamond gracing this exhibition. Another assemblage of Topps’ 1952 Sixth Series are trotting into the limelight, with prices estimated between $3,000 and $5,000 CAD. They might bear the scars of history, but who among us doesn’t yearn for a bit of authentic aging, particularly when it involves names like Mantle?
Swing your attention to the icy allure of hockey, and Gordie Howe is poised to slapshot into your collection dreams. His 1951 Parkhurst #66 rookie card, glaring out at you with a PSA 3 Very Good glow, tempts with the promises of fetching between $8,000 and $10,000 CAD. Despite minor imperfections, it remains the treasured centerpiece of the prestigious Parkhurst set.
And then there’s Bobby Orr, deified defenseman, with his 1966 Topps #35 rookie card shining in the auction’s spotlight. Graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, Orr’s card is as irresistible as a breakaway goal in triple overtime to the hockey connoisseurs and investors, estimated between $8,000 and $9,000 CAD.
Veering into the more eclectic trophies in this collection, one finds a game-used hockey stick that once graced the hands of Bill Barilko during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ victorious 1951 Stanley Cup season. Imprinted with the team’s signatures (talk about a conversation starter) and Barilko’s number 5, this artifact embodies a turbulent snapshot of hockey lore, priced between $3,000 and $5,000 CAD.
For those who prefer their idols encased for eternity, a shadow box brimming with Parkhurst rookie cards of the renowned Maurice and Henri Richard awaits your bid. The box does not host mere cards; it shelters a tapestry of Canadiens history complete with a signed stick, puck, and bronze plaque, all wrapped in a handsome 24 inches by 72 inches embrace. This piece is estimated to make between $4,000 and $6,000 CAD.
Another standout, the 1964-65 Topps “Tall Boys” slab tempts with its elongated allure. Decked with the faces of legends like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Tim Horton, this 110-card set, graded in good to very good, stands tall both literally and figuratively, with an expected price between $4,000 and $6,000 CAD.
And finally, the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee uncut sheet, spotlighting a mint #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card, swirls into view. Despite some light edge-wear, this rare survivor is pegged to skate away with $3,500 to $4,500 CAD.
Sharing his enthusiasm for this time capsule is Ben Pernfuss, Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, who quipped about the auction’s star power: “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.”
Prospective bidders can pore over the auction catalog on Miller & Miller’s website or immerse themselves in the frenzied action via LiveAuctioneers. Miller & Miller Auctions is acknowledged as Canada’s beacon for high-value collections, meticulously threading the line between treasure and tradition, always ready to offer your collectibles the reverent care they exude.