Big Names, Big Bids: Mickey Mantle, Gordie Howe, and Bobby Orr Cards Hit the Auction Block

• Posted: June 6, 2025, 2:45 am
• in Sports Card News
• by bionic

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If you’re a sports card collector with a taste for the classics, mark your calendar for June 22nd. Miller & Miller Auctions is rolling out their Pre-1980 Sports Cards & Memorabilia auction, and it’s shaping up to be a lineup straight out of a Hall of Fame induction ceremony.


This online-only event — no in-person hoopla, just straight-up internet bidding — features 235 lots of sports treasures. Among the top headliners is the 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle rookie card, often called the crown jewel of baseball cards. It’s graded PSA 2 Good — which means it’s seen some love over the years — but with solid edges and a decent surface, it’s expected to fetch anywhere between $40,000 and $50,000 CAD.


Miller & Miller’s Consignment Director, Ben Pernfuss, pointed out that Mantle is just the tip of the iceberg. Collectors can also get their hands on a bundle of 40 cards from the highly-coveted 1952 Topps Sixth Series. These “High Numbers” (cards #311 through #407) are considered the rarest of the set, and even though many are well-worn, they’re estimated to bring in $3,000 to $5,000 CAD.


Hockey fans, don’t feel left out. The auction lineup features a 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie card, graded PSA 3 Very Good. Even with some wear, it’s the centerpiece of the 1951-52 Parkhurst set and is expected to score between $8,000 and $10,000 CAD.


If you’re more of a Bobby Orr devotee, you’re in luck too. A 1966 Topps #35 Bobby Orr rookie card, graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, will be hitting the block, with an estimate of $8,000 to $9,000 CAD. It’s one of the most recognizable hockey cards ever, and a must-have for anyone building a serious collection.


A particularly interesting piece of memorabilia is a game-used, team-signed Bill Barilko hockey stick from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1951 Stanley Cup-winning season. Bearing Barilko’s number 5 and signed by the championship team, this stick is a real piece of hockey history, estimated to bring in $3,000 to $5,000 CAD.


The auction also features a shadow box that practically screams Canadiens pride. It holds Parkhurst rookie cards of Maurice and Henri Richard, graded KSA 4 and 3 respectively, along with a signed Louisville Pro Flex stick, a puck, and a bronze plaque. It’s a true collector’s piece with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.


Other highlights include a complete set of 110 of Topps’ oversized “Tall Boys” hockey cards from 1964-65, featuring legends like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Tim Horton. They’re in good to very good shape and estimated at $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.


And for fans of The Great One, there’s a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee uncut sheet featuring 226 hockey cards — including a pristine Wayne Gretzky rookie card. Despite some minor edge wear, this sheet is expected to bring in $3,500 to $4,500 CAD.


Ben Pernfuss summed it up by noting that this sale is a rare chance to snag investment-grade pre-1980 sports cards and memorabilia from some of the biggest names in sports history.


Interested bidders can head to the Miller & Miller Auctions site for all the details or catch the action on LiveAuctioneers. Miller & Miller is Canada’s go-to for selling high-value collectibles, and they’re always on the lookout for quality consignments.


Auction link: Miller & Miller Pre-1980 Sports Cards & Memorabilia