Heritage’s two-day Summer Sports Card Auction on July 30-31, 2020 hit a very high score when 1,971 bidders drove the auction total to $9.4 million.

“Last weekend’s sale checks in as our largest Summer Sports Card event to date,” said Chris Ivy, Heritage’s Director of Sports Auctions. “And we are very excited to be launching our Summer Platinum Night event on the heels of this amazing result, as the August event includes hundreds of incredibly significant, museum-worthy pieces. The strength of the sports market in the midst of a global pandemic speaks to the stability of the market, with vintage trading cards leading the charge.”

The 1986-1987 Fleer Basketball Cards & Stickers complete set (all graded PSA Gem Mint 10), featuring two Michael Jordan cards, grabbed first place when it sold for $216,000. An unopened box of 1986-1987 Fleer Basketball cards containing 36 unopened packs realized $90,000.

Cards from the 1933 Sports Kings set made by the Goudey Gum Company achieved impressive totals. The Jim Thorpe card PSA Mint 9 from the collection went for $138,000, Ty Cobb’s Sports King card PSA Mint 9 hammered for $132,000, and Babe Ruth’s Sports King card PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 also brought $132,000.

A Red Grange PSA Mint 9, the highest grade awarded to the card, sold for $81,000. A Knute Rockne Sports Kings Mint 9 reached $63,000.

From the world of hockey, an unopened box of 1979 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards, which could contain multiple Wayne Gretzky rookie cards, realized $108,000. One of Gretzky’s O-Pee-Chee rookie cards PSA Mint 9, with only two higher known to exist, sold for half that, at $54,000.

One of the oldest collections in the auction proved one of the most valuable. The T201 Mecca Double Folder baseball cards made in 1911 brought $94,800. This 50-card collection holds the top “Current Finest” spot on the PSA Set Registry.

On the newer end of the spectrum, a 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph Superfractor Bobby Witt Jr. 1/1 graded #CPA-BWJ BGS Gem Mint 9.5, Auto 10 sold for $43,200.

Some of the other sale highlights include a 1969 Topps Lew Alcindor #25 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 for $84,000, 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig #37 PSA NM-MT 8 for $78,000, 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 PSA Gem Mint 10 for $75,000, 1957 Topps Baseball Complete Set Plus Lucky Penny Insert and Baker Error, all NM-MT or NM-MT+ for $58,800, and 1959 Topps Baseball (4th Series) Cello Box with 36 Unopened Packs for $58,800.

Heritage’s upcoming Summer Platinum Night Sports Collectibles Catalog Auction opened for bidding the same weekend and will close on August 29-30. Among the highlights is a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordon #57 SGC Pristine 10, which is the only gold label example in existence.