Clean Sweep Auctions, a leading auction house specializing in sports memorabilia, has kicked off the year 2024 with an expansive and highly-anticipated auction. The event features an impressive selection of pre-War baseball cards and collectibles, including some exceptionally rare items that are drawing considerable attention from collectors.
A standout in the auction is a pair of T206 cards, which are highly sought after by vintage baseball memorabilia enthusiasts. The first is a Ray Demmitt card, graded SGC 2, and the second is a Bill O’Hara card with an SGC 1.5 grade. These cards are part of the renowned “monster” set and are sure to be hotly contested items.
Another highlight is a Ty Cobb ‘bat on shoulder’ variant card, featuring a Sovereign 350 back and graded PSA 3. Additionally, there is an SGC Cy Young portrait card graded SGC 4, adding to the exceptional lineup of cards in the auction.
One particularly rare find is a set of four M110 Sporting Life Cabinet cards from 1911. This set showcases legendary baseball figures such as Honus Wagner, Frank Chance, Nap Lajoie, and Christy Mathewson. These cards are highly valuable due to their scarcity, representing a limited number of surviving examples from Sporting Life’s early foray into card production.
Several other noteworthy cards are also up for auction, including an SGC 5 graded 1887 Allen & Ginter Mike “King” Kelly card and a 1907 Dietsche Ty Cobb postcard with the name on the front variation, graded SGC 1. The auction also features a rare 1908 Rose Postcard showcasing Hall of Famer Addie Joss and a collection of 1911 Turkey Red Cabinets with cards of Walter Johnson, Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Rube Waddell, and Addie Joss.
The auction continues with a range of key lots, such as a 1921 Exhibit Babe Ruth card graded PSA 2, a 1928 Harrington’s Ice Cream Ruth card graded SGC 1.5, and a 1933 George C. Miller Dizzy Dean card graded SGC 3. There are also two 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig cards, one graded PSA 2 and the other graded SGC 3.5, along with a 1933 Goudey 149 Ruth card graded SGC 5. Notable rookie cards include a 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams graded SGC 3 and a 1948-49 Leaf Jackie Robinson RC graded Beckett 2. The auction also offers a PSA 9 graded 1950 Callahan set and rookie cards of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays from the 1951 Bowman set. Other highlights include a 1952 Berk Ross Mantle card graded PSA 3, a 1952 Bowman Mantle card with a PSA 5 grade, and a 1954 Johnson Cookies Aaron RC graded PSA 7. There is also a 1958 Hires Root Beer Willie Mays card with tab graded PSA 7. Complete sets, including the 1957 and 1967 Topps sets, are also up for grabs.
In addition to the extensive card selection, the auction features several autographed items. Highlights include an autographed 1953 Bowman Color Mickey Mantle card, a PSA 8 graded Jackie Robinson signed Hall of Fame postcard, and a 1931 Yankees team signed baseball.
Collectors of unopened material will find a 1988 Fleer basketball wax box and a 1986 Topps football rack box among the offerings.
Outside of baseball, the auction includes a variety of items of interest, such as a 1939 Joe Cronin Boston Red Sox road flannel jersey rated a 9 by MEARS. Other highlights include Chicago Cubs signed team sets dating back to the 1950s, thirteen different Derek Jeter autographed cards, and a Lou Gehrig autograph. Basketball card enthusiasts will be excited to find two Bird/Magic rookies and two Michael Jordan rookies. The football section offers vintage sets, Tom Brady rookie cards, and a ticket from the famous 1958 “greatest game” between the Colts and the Giants.
To round out the auction, there is an array of baseball memorabilia, including 19th-century Chicago Cubs home scorecards, a 1906 Red Sox scorecard, a 1920 Who’s Who with Babe Ruth on the cover, numerous World Series items, a 1912 tabletop baseball game, an original Ebbets Field telephone, tickets, pennants, and a high-grade set of Hartland statues.
Bidding for this extensive collection of baseball and sports memorabilia will continue through January 31st. Collectors and enthusiasts alike will want to seize this opportunity to acquire these rare and valuable pieces of sporting history.