DALLAS, TX.- Heritage Auctions’ Winter Sports Card Catalog Auction, held Jan. 30–31, concluded with a total of $14,578,137, driven by extraordinary demand for modern-era trophies, iconic rookie cards and period-signed autographs from the Golden Age Collection.

Leading the event was a 2006 Fleer Buyback Michael Jordan (1986 Fleer-Autograph) #57 PSA Authentic, Auto 10, which realized $884,500. One of just 23 examples signed by Jordan in 2006, the card represents a convergence of rarity, condition and significance, pairing the most important basketball card of the modern era with one of the scarcest authenticated Jordan autographs. The result underscored the enduring strength of the Michael Jordan market and the continued appetite for elite basketball material.

“This signed 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie card is special for several reasons,” says Chris Ivy, Heritage’s Director of Sports Auctions. “First and foremost, it is limited to one of only a few examples that were purchased by Upper Deck company and signed by Jordan in 2006 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this iconic card. Following Fleer’s bankruptcy and liquidation, Upper Deck acquired the assets and brand name of Fleer in July 2005 in a move that paved the way for Upper Deck, which held — and still holds — Jordan’s exclusive signing rights to purchase 23 examples of his original 1986 Fleer rookie card, have Jordan sign them and then randomly insert redemption cards into packs of 2006-07 Fleer basketball. Of the 23 cards released, only 14 cards are known, graded and in the hands of private collectors, a measure of exclusivity that makes this one of the most sought-after signed Jordan cards in the market, as exhibited by this wonderful result.”

Not surprisingly, Jordan’s popularity extended beyond the auction’s top lot. A Vintage Signed 1985 Nike Michael Jordan (Promo) PSA EX-MT 6, PSA/DNA Auto 9 scored a winning bid of $106,750, a record for the card, while another example with an Auto 8 grade brought $59,780, the fourth-highest price ever for the card.

Post-war baseball stars also delivered standout performances. A 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan — Mets Rookie Stars #177 PSA Mint 9 realized $353,800, a record for the grade and a result reflecting sustained interest in high-grade examples of one of the most celebrated rookie cards of the modern era. The result was 2.5 times the previous record for a Mint 9 Ryan rookie. His popularity also brought a record $47,580 for a 1971 Topps Nolan Ryan #513 PSA Mint 9 and $43,920 for another example, giving Heritage the top two results for the card in the same auction. Yet another record was set for the all-time strikeout king when a 1979 Topps Nolan Ryan #115 PSA Gem Mint 10 sold for $40,260 — the most ever for a 1979 Topps card other than Ozzie Smith’s rookie card.

A 1973 Topps Willie Mays #305 PSA Gem Mint 10, one of just three graded at the highest level, finished at $146,400, a record for the grade and the most for any Mays card after 1961.

Other post-war cards that performed exceptionally well included a 1975 Topps Robin Yount Rookie #223 PSA Gem Mint 10, from a population of just six that achieved $152,500 — also a world record for the grade — and one of just three examples of a 1973 Topps Johnny Bench #380 PSA Gem Mint 10 that ended at a record $36,600.

The auction also featured the second installment of The Golden Age Collection, a remarkable assemblage of period-signed cards from the 1940s and 1950s that once again drew intense interest. Among the highlights were a period-signed 1950 Bowman Jackie Robinson #22 PSA VG 3, PSA/DNA Auto 9 that sold for $134,200, a record for a signed version of the card, and a 1952 Topps Roy Campanella #314 PSA VG 3, PSA/DNA Auto 9 that brought the highest price ever for a signed Campanella card and the second-highest result for any card for the legendary Dodgers catcher: $106,750. A signed 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle #101 PSA Poor 1, PSA/DNA Auto 9 ended at $91,500, while a signed 1952 Bowman Willie Mays #218 PSA Good+ 2.5, PSA/DNA Auto 9 reached $30,500, a record for a signed version of the card, further emphasizing the strength of this tightly curated group, which reflects a lifelong pursuit by the original collector to meet players in person and preserve their autographs at the height of their careers.

Vintage baseball cards from the Deadball Era and the early 20th century remained a focal point throughout the auction. A 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy Babe Ruth (Blank Back) #147 SGC EX 5 realized $237,900, one of just two known examples and the only blank-backed specimen in the SGC population. Closely following was a 1916 Herpolsheimer Co. Babe Ruth Rookie #151 PSA Fair 1.5, one of only five examples in the PSA population, which finished at $231,800. Together, the results reaffirmed Ruth’s unmatched status in the hobby and the premium commanded by his rarest regional and early-career issues.

Another top result came from the pre-war era with a 1909–11 E90-1 American Caramel Joe Jackson Rookie PSA VG 3, which brought a winning bid of $164,700. Long regarded as one of the most important cards in the hobby, the Jackson rookie remains a cornerstone of elite collections, valued for both its scarcity and its connection to one of baseball’s most complex and compelling figures.

Modern and contemporary cards were an important pillar of the auction’s success. A 2025 Topps Chrome Update Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge (MLB Gold Logoman MVP-Autograph Relic) #GLD-OJ, serial-numbered 2/4, realized $164,700. Featuring gold Logoman patches worn exclusively by Major League Baseball award winners, the card celebrates back-to-back MVP seasons by two of the game’s most dominant players and reflects the growing prominence of Logoman cards as centerpieces of modern collecting. Another Logoman card proved to be enormously appealing, as 62 bids poured in for a 2025 Topps Dynasty Black Clayton Kershaw (3,000 Strikeout Pants-Autographed Logoman) #CKD-1 - #’d 1/1 that achieved $115,900 — the second-highest result ever for any Kershaw card.

Football and basketball offerings rounded out the top results, led by a 1957 Topps Bart Starr #119 Rookie SGC Mint 9 that sold for $256,200, the second-highest result ever for a Starr card, trailing only the $288,000 paid at Heritage for another example in 2017. Basketball collectors also pursued a Signed 1980 Topps Larry Bird, Julius Erving and Magic Johnson — Scoring Leader Rookie PSA Mint 9, PSA/DNA Auto 10 that reached $134,200, combining rookie-era imagery with perfect autograph grades from three of the sport’s most important figures.

Other key results included, but were not limited to:

• A 1952 Topps Yogi Berra #191 PSA NM-MT 8 nearly tripled its pre-auction estimate when it closed at a record $53,680.

• The only example of a 1974 Yamakatsu New Japan Andre the Giant (Pro Wrestling-Winning Stamp) #25 PSA EX+ 5.5, issued during the wrestling legend’s formative years, brought $24,400. Winning Stamp examples already are significantly scarcer than standard issues, the vast majority having been redeemed for prizes and consequently canceled, making surviving, unredeemed copies exceptionally rare. This result is a record price for the entire set.

Beyond sports, the auction demonstrated continued enthusiasm for high-grade non-sports material. A 1940 R146 Leader Novelty Superman Near Set (34/36) that is ranked third all-time on the PSA Set Registry flew up, up and away to $128,100. The first true comic book superhero’s appeal took off in the late 1930s and quickly became a symbol of strength, justice and mass-market appeal. This offered 34-card near-set of PSA-graded cards captures vivid Golden Age artwork drawn directly from early comic issues and reflects the vibrant cross-promotion between candy makers and comic publishers at the time. With many cards lost to time due to their fragile packaging and short-term distribution, surviving examples in this quantity are exceedingly rare.