A mint condition Mickey Mantle baseball card sold for $12.6 million Sunday, blasting into the record books as the most ever paid for sports memorabilia in a market that has grown exponentially more lucrative in recent years.
The rare Mantle card surpassed the record set just a few months ago – $9.3 million for the jersey worn by Diego Maradona when he scored the controversial “Hand of God” goal in soccer’s 1986 World Cup.
This easily surpassed the $7.25 million for a century-old Honus Wagner baseball card recently sold at a private sale.
And last month, the heavyweight boxing belt Muhammad Ali reclaimed during the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” sold for nearly $6.2 million.
All are part of the booming market for sports collectibles.
Prices are rising not only for the rarest items, but also for pieces that can collect dust in garages and attics. Many of those items end up on consumer auction sites like eBay, while others are put up for bids by auction houses.
Because of its near-perfect condition and legendary subject matter, this Mantle card is destined to be a top seller, said Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage Auctions, which is running the bidding.
Some see collectibles as a hedge against inflation over the past few years, he said, while others rekindled childhood passions.
Ivy said savvy investors see inflation coming down the road – as it has. As a result, sports memorabilia is becoming an alternative to traditional Wall Street investments or real estate — especially among members of Generation X and older millennials.
“There’s only so much Netflix and ‘Tiger King’ people can watch (during the pandemic). So, you know, they’re getting back into the hobby, and obviously collecting sports is part of that,” said Ivy, who noted the uptick. in calling among potential sellers.
Add that interest from wealthy overseas collectors, and you have a confluence of factors that make sports collectibles particularly attractive, said Ivy.
“We’ve kind of started to see some growth and some rise in prices that led to some media coverage. And I think it all just kind of built on itself,” he said. “I would say the onset of the pandemic really added gasoline to that fire.”
Before the pandemic, the sports memorabilia market was estimated at more than $5.4 billion, according to a 2018 Forbes interview with David Yoken, founder of Collectable.com.
By 2021, that market has grown to $26 billion, according to market research firm Decipher, which predicts the market will grow astronomically to $227 billion within a decade – partly fueled by the rise of so-called NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, which are digital collectibles. with a unique data-encryption fingerprint.
Sports cards have been especially in demand, as people spent more time at home and an opportunity arose to rummage through potential treasure troves of childhood memories, including old comic books and small stacks of bubble gum cards featuring marquee sports stars.
The lure of making money in something that could be sitting in the basement of one’s childhood is irresistible, according to Stephen Fishler, founder of ComicConnect, who has watched the rise of growth – and profitability – of collectibles being traded across auction houses.
“In a nutshell, the world of modern sports cards has gone bonkers,” he said.
Mantle’s baseball card dates from 1952 and is widely regarded as one of the handful of baseball legends in near-perfect condition.
The auction netted a handsome profit for Anthony Giordano, a New Jersey waste management entrepreneur who bought it for $50,000 at a New York City event in 1991.
“When I hit 10 million, I just turned around. I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore,” said Giordano, 75, Sunday morning. His sons oversee the auction for him. “They stayed and called me in the morning bright and early to tell me it had reached its destination.”
The card is one of dozens of sports collectibles up for auction. In all, the items fetched $28 million, according to Derek Grady, executive vice president of sports auctions for Heritage Auctions.
“Collecting sports is finally paying off as an investment,” Grady said. “The best sporting goods are now beginning to rival works of art, rare coins and rare artifacts as great investment vehicles.”
Mantle who hit the switch was a Triple Crown winner in 1956, a three-time American League MVP and a seven-time World Series winner. The Hall of Famer died in 1995.
“Some people can say it’s just a baseball card. Who cares? It’s just a Picasso. It’s just a Rembrandt to other people. It’s a thing of art for some people,” said John Holden, professor in sports management law at Oklahoma State. and amateur sports card collectors.
Like a piece of art that has no intrinsic value, it is said that when it comes to sports cards, the price is in the eye of the beholder – or the pocketbook of the potential bidder.
“The value,” says Holden, “is whatever the market is willing to support.”
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Nolan Ryan 1968 Mets Rookie Card graded gem mint 10 Sold for $500,000. Nolan Ryan’s 1968 rookie card, which depicts him as a member of the New York Mets, sold for $500,000 at auction Saturday. Goldin Auctions reported the winning bid.
What brand of baseball cards are worth the most?
The most valuable brand of baseball cards can vary depending on the specific card, but Topps is generally the most valuable baseball card brand. Topps is considered an industry leader, and the rookie cards produced by Topps are often highly sought after.
What baseball cards are hot right now? #1 Hottest Sports Card Right Now â Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners To see also : State of the sports card boom: After an all-time high, is the market still healthy?.
- 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Julio Rodriguez.
- 2022 Topps Series 2 Julio Rodriguez Short Print RC.
What brand of cards is the best?
Best Overall: KEM Poker Red and Blue Arrow Standard Index Playing Cards (Pack of 2) A gold standard in casinos and poker tournaments, KEM is known for making the best playing cards in the industry. This may interest you : Second Statement on Russia War Against Ukraine & International Sports – US Department of State.
What was Mickey Mantle’s last Topps card?
All of Mantle’s career statistics can be seen in the 1969 Topps #500 finale, but there is a variation on the last card that has become popular. See the article : MBB Faces Ohio State In NYC In CBS Sports Classic – University of North Carolina Athletics. The 1969 Topps White Letter Mantle was produced in limited numbers, along with several other players in the set.
How much does a Mickey Mantle card cost? In selling for $5.2 million, Mantle’s card broke the record set by Mike Trout’s rookie card back in August, which sold for $3.94 million.
What year was Mickey Mantle’s rookie card?
A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card called “the finest example in the world” was sold this morning by Heritage Auctions for a record-setting price of $12.6 million.
What was Mickey Mantle’s last card?
The All-Star announced his retirement on March 1, 1969! (Topps’ exclamation.) They could not believe that Mantle had left them in the cardboard lurch without a bona fide New York Yankees legend to showcase every spring and summer, and could not the rest of the baseball world.
Will baseball cards lose value?
It seems natural to most people that baseball cards can lose their value, but the truth is that the value of vintage cards hasn’t really appreciated since the early 1990s. I was a collector when sports cards gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. Many new collectors entered (or re-entered) the hobby.
Will baseball cards become valuable in the future? You can invest in them only if you want to gain some profit in the future. There is no scheme for the present, but an opportunity for the future. The value of the majority of baseball cards will increase over the years. It is more like a fun hobby that can give you an opportunity to monetize.
Are baseball cards a good investment now?
Sports cards can be a great investment, but the majority of your investments should be in traditional vehicles like the stock market. Investing in sports cards can be a way to monetize your hobby.
Are sports cards going down in value?
Booming Pandemic Sports Card Prices for candles and single cards are rising and peaking in 2020 and 2021. Mainstream media outlets are filled with reports of huge amounts of money being spent on cards. But the downside to the boom is that the crash will see the value plummet from a higher point.
Which Panini cards are worth the most?
A favorite in the hearts and collections of many, Prizm can be considered as the best of the Panini card brands. So, it’s also usually the most valuable, and really sought after.
What is the most valuable Panini basketball card? Panini’s 2009-10 Panini National Treasures is one of the most coveted sets of all time, with Logoman Curry’s rookie card leading the way. Not only is Curry’s Logoman serial-numbered 1-of-1 autographed rookie basketball card the most expensive basketball card ever sold, but it’s also one of the most valuable sports cards in the hobby.
