Collectors and sports enthusiasts alike are set for a nostalgic roller-coaster as Miller & Miller Auctions unveils an online-only extravaganza celebrating iconic moments in sports history. Happening on June 22nd, this no-holds-barred virtual clash features a who’s who of baseball and hockey greats, serving up 235 remarkable lots of pre-1980 sports cards and memorabilia. The highlight? Vintage treasures that have moonlighted as pinnacles of collecting zeal now beckon with an irresistible charm that blends nostalgia and prestige.
Mickey Mantle, the legendary batman of the diamond, takes center stage with his hallowed 1952 Topps #311 rookie card. Revered as the holy grail of baseball card collecting, its mere mention stirs the passions of collectors. Although the card bearing his youthful visage bears a PSA 2 Good grade — hinting at corners that perhaps saw too many summers — its core remains unshaken. A true gem, nevertheless, this piece is expected to not just fetch, but magnetize between $40,000 and $50,000 CAD. For any serious card aficionado, this is the price worth shelling out for a piece of baseball legend.
The Mantle magic doesn’t stand alone in the dugout of memory. Complementing it is a suite of 40 cards from Topps’ 1952 Sixth Series, the notorious “High Numbers”. These cards, including the revered #311 Mantle, up to #407, are a collectors’ dream, offering glimpses of bygone legends despite bravely sporting battle scars of wear and tear. These are projected to hit the pockets between $3,000 and $5,000 CAD, offering hobby historians a chance to embrace memorabilia royalty.
Turning ice-cold with that puckish charm, hockey legends are well represented too. Central to this is the 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie card. While it carries a PSA 3 Very Good rating, signaling it’s endured the rink time vehemently, it retains that quintessential allure. Its skate mark in history alongside a price projection of $8,000 to $10,000 CAD asserts its status as the jewel of the 1951-52 Parkhurst collection.
Bobby Orr, another pillar in hockey’s Hall of Fame, refuses to skate off without a cheer. His 1966 Topps #35 rookie card, blessed with a KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint grade, is sure to tantalize hockey purists and seasoned investors alike. With an estimated value of between $8,000 and $9,000 CAD, it echoes the remarkable legacy of perhaps the greatest hockey defenseman.
Yet, what is a showcase without an extraordinary memento that stands apart? Enter a game-used, team-signed Bill Barilko hockey stick. Emerging from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1951 Stanley Cup triumph with its number 5 proudly declared, and signatures of teammates in tow, this relic captures a unique slice of hockey bravado, expecting bids from $3,000 to $5,000 CAD.
For those with an eye for displays, an impressive shadow box anchors further stardom. Housing Parkhurst rookie cards for Maurice and Henri Richard, with grades KSA 4 and 3 respectively, this Montreal Canadiens’ relic is presented alongside a signed Louisville Pro Flex stick, a Canadiens puck, and a bronze plaque. A handsome estimation of $4,000 to $6,000 CAD turns it into a collector’s opulent dream.
Football enthusiasts can also indulge in the nostalgia-fueled sweepstakes; a complete 110-piece 1964-65 Topps “Tall Boys” hockey card set stands waiting. Known for their elongated form factor and houses icons like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Tim Horton, the collective derives an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000 CAD while promising decades-spanning storytelling.
In a final touch of card-collecting alchemy, a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee uncut sheet dazzles, holding a spotless #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card beneath its protective gaze. While minor edge wear tiptoes along its legacy, its rarity guarantees allure, with expectations of $3,500 to $4,500 CAD.
Ben Pernfuss, the Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, sums up the affair’s gravitas perfectly, “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.” The invitation is clear — seize this opportunity to capture the echoes of yesteryears. Bidding is simple, a venture through Miller & Miller’s website transports you to the auction halls in partnership with LiveAuctioneers. Serving with expertise in collectibles, Miller & Miller Auctions stands not only as Canada’s bastion for rare gems, but a custodian of iconic narratives writ large in sports history.
