DALLAS, TX.- One of football collecting’s greatest modern treasures soared to $1,113,250 to help Heritage’s July 10–11 Summer Sports Card Catalog Auction, in which several records were set, reach $18,335,172.

The 2000 Playoff Contender Championship Ticket Autograph Tom Brady Rookie #144 PSA NM-MT 8, PSA/DNA Auto 10, numbered 83/100, commemorates the beginning of the career of the quarterback who transformed from the 199th selection in the 2000 NFL Draft into the only seven-time Super Bowl champion and is regarded as one of the most significant modern football cards ever produced. It is graded NM-MT 8 with a flawless autograph and carries MBA Silver certification.

Also reaching seven figures was a spectacular 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM-MT 8 that drew 37 bids on its way to $1,555,500. One of the hobby’s defining postwar cards, it remains among the most coveted collectibles in existence thanks to both Mantle’s enduring popularity and the legendary story behind the scarce high-number series, much of which was famously discarded into the Atlantic Ocean decades ago. Of nearly 2,100 examples submitted to PSA, only 14 have received higher grades than the example offered in this auction.

Mantle continued to command collectors’ attention elsewhere in the auction as a 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle #65 PSA Mint 9 achieved $402,600, setting an auction record. The card, which celebrates Mantle during the early years of his Hall of Fame career, is among the finest known examples, with no PSA-graded copy ranking higher. All told, the Yankees legend was featured on 92 lots in the auction.

Another record-setting performance came from one of the greatest all-around athletes in American history. A 1933 Sport Kings Jim Thorpe #6 PSA Mint 9 realized $777,750, establishing an auction record for any memorabilia from Thorpe, the ultimate multi-sport athlete who played professional football, baseball and basketball and was the first Native American to win Olympic gold for the United States, at Stockholm in 1912. If that were not enough, Thorpe also was the National Football League’s first president.





“This is an incredible card, featuring one of the greatest athletes of all time,” says Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage Auctions. “Decades after he produced record-setting performances in multiple sports, his card smashed the world record for any of his items. It realized nearly six times the previous auction record and many multiples of our pre-auction estimate, underscoring the continued strength of the sports collectibles market and Heritage’s position as the leader of the hobby.”

Another important 1952 Topps offering reached an auction-record price for the grade when a 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson #312 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 climbed to $622,200. Robinson’s first Topps appearance honors the Hall of Famer whose extraordinary talent and courage forever changed baseball and American society while producing one of the most distinguished playing careers of his generation.

The market for elite rookie cards remained exceptionally strong throughout the auction. A 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Rookie #123 PSA Mint 9 realized $390,400, reflecting continued demand for one of baseball’s greatest pitchers. Just 25 examples have reached PSA Mint 9 status from more than 12,000 submissions, with only three graded higher.

Basketball’s most iconic standard-issue rookie card also delivered another headline result when a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie #57 PSA Gem Mint 10 brought $347,700. The landmark card continues to define the modern basketball hobby, commemorating the player who transformed both the NBA and sports marketing while remaining the benchmark standard-issue Jordan collectible.

Jordan collectors also pursued one of the hobby’s most important early premium insert cards when a 1999 Upper Deck Game Jerseys Autograph Patch #GJ10A BGS Mint 9, numbered 19/23, achieved $231,800, setting an auction record for the card and exceeding its pre-auction estimate by more than threefold. Produced during the formative years of authenticated autograph and game-used memorabilia cards, it represents one of the hobby’s earliest and most desirable Jordan autograph patch issues.

Collectors also demonstrated sustained enthusiasm for elite complete sets. A 1963 Topps Baseball Complete Set (576), ranked No. 4 Current Finest on the PSA Set Registry with a GPA of 8.656, realized $317,200. Featuring stars including Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Willie Stargell, Pete Rose and Stan Musial, the remarkably preserved set represents one of the hobby’s most challenging high-grade accomplishments.

Among the hobby’s legendary prewar rarities, a 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal Eddie Plank PSA VG-EX 4 realized $280,600. Long regarded alongside Honus Wagner as one of the key rarities of the celebrated T206 issue, the scarce Plank remains one of the cornerstone cards of the Tobacco Era.

Other standout results included, but were not limited to:

• A 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain Rookie #8 PSA Mint 9: $189,100
• A 1957 Topps Baseball PSA NM-MT 8 Complete Set (407): $183,000
• A 1986 Fleer Basketball Wax Box with 36 unopened packs: $183,000