Vintage Baseball Cards and Complete Sets Shine in REA’s June Auction

REA’s June Encore Auction concluded on Sunday night, with set building emerging as a prominent theme. Six complete graded sets ranked among the top ten items sold. Leading the auction were Topps Baseball complete sets from 1963, 1960, and 1961, which sold for $75,000, $66,000, and $54,000, respectively. These sets are some of the highest-ranked on the PSA Set Registry. Other notable complete sets from 1950 Bowman, 1964 Topps, and 1965 Topps Baseball each fetched $37,200.

The auction, featuring 3,278 lots, amassed over $1.7 million in sales with more than 67,300 bids placed.

One of the auction's highlights was a 1970-1971 Topps Basketball #160 Jerry West PSA GEM MINT 10 card, one of only two in this grade, which sold for $54,000, setting a new record for this card. This sale comes just after the Basketball Hall of Famer, who inspired the NBA logo, passed away last week at the age of 86.

Other notable sales included:

• 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb SGC FAIR 1.5 - $38,400 (a record for the card in this grade)
• 1957 Topps #95 Mickey Mantle PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 - $38,400
• 1980-1981 Topps Basketball Unopened Wax Box (36 Packs) - BBCE - featuring Larry Bird and Magic Johnson’s Rookie Year - $18,600
• 1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth PSA VG+ 3.5 - $16,200
• 1933 R319 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig PSA EX 5 - $13,200
• 1933 R319 Goudey #149 Babe Ruth SGC VG 3 - $13,200
• 1907 Wolverine News Postcard Ty Cobb Batting Rookie PSA Authentic - $11,700
• 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Autographs #BCA-AJ Aaron Judge Blue Wave Refractor #18/50 PSA GEM MINT 10 - $10,200
• 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Seymour Portrait PSA VG-EX 4 - Cycle 460 Back - 1 of 1 - Highest Graded! - $9,900
• 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie PSA VG-EX 4 - $9,000

“This auction reinforced the strong results for top-quality graded sets and the consistent demand for vintage staples and rare finds,” said REA President Brian Dwyer. “Our Summer Catalog Auction, starting next month, is packed with items we believe will continue to excite collectors and drive these trends.”

The highly anticipated Summer Catalog Auction begins on July 23. Collectors can request a catalog through the REA website. REA will also exhibit a large selection of its Summer Auction items at booth #6032 during The National in Cleveland.

For more details on REA’s upcoming auction schedule and to explore stories from previous and upcoming consignors, visit the REA website.