For aficionados of sports history and collectors with a penchant for the past, the upcoming Miller & Miller Auctions promises a feast for the senses. Set your calendars for June 22nd, when the digital arena opens for a thrilling showdown of bids. This isn’t just a sale; it’s an opportunity to own a piece of the legends. Taking center stage in this pre-1980s memorabilia auction are iconic sporting heroes who defined eras in baseball and hockey, and have since transcended into the echelons of timeless icons.
Leading the charge is a piece of baseball lore that even those with only a passing interest in the sport would recognize—Mickey Mantle’s 1952 Topps #311 rookie card. Known within the card-collecting community as the Mona Lisa of baseball cards, this piece of cardboard inspires as much awe as it does covetous glances. While this particular specimen has been well-loved, graded a PSA 2 Good, requiring potential buyers to overlook its worn corners, its storied existence is expected to fetch a hefty price. Set to be auctioned with an estimate between $40,000 and $50,000 CAD, serious collectors are already priming themselves for a frenzied battle of wills and wallets.
But the reverence doesn’t stop with Mantle. Joining the act are 40 rare Topps cards from the vaunted 1952 Sixth Series, or the “High Numbers.” Ranging from #311 to #407, these cards are often considered the crown jewels of the set. Despite the evidence of years gone by, with some cards showing pinches of damage and a life of handling, they hold an estimated value of $3,000 to $5,000 CAD. Grabbing these is akin to acquiring a slice of baseball heaven.
Hockey collectors won’t be left in the stands, with Gordie Howe’s legendary presence gracing the lineup. The 1951 Parkhurst #66 Howe rookie card sidles up to the auction block, exuding timeless charm and a PSA 3 Very Good rating. While not the textbook definition of mint, it commands one’s gaze as the crown jewel of its series, with an anticipated price of $8,000 to $10,000 CAD.
Similarly, hockey devotees with an appreciation for Bobby Orr have the 1966 Topps #35 rookie card to consider. Rated KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, it’s an opportunity not just to own a card, but to hold a fragment of ice hockey brilliance. This, too, anticipates fetching between $8,000 and $9,000 CAD in bids, as it becomes an emblem of ardor for Orr enthusiasts and savvy investors alike.
Uniqueness finds its place with a one-of-a-kind relic: a game-used, team-signed hockey stick from Bill Barilko. As part of the 1951 Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup-winning ensemble, this stick is adorned with Barilko’s number 5 and his teammates’ signatures. It’s an invitation to relive a momentous season frozen in time, with an estimated bid range of $3,000 to $5,000 CAD.
In what promises to be a show-stopping collector’s piece, a shadow box that combines Parkhurst rookie cards of Maurice and Henri Richard serves as another auction highlight. Coupled with a Louisville Pro Flex stick bearing both brothers’ signatures, a Canadiens puck, and a bronze plaque, this display case is both a tribute and a shrine to Montreal’s hockey greatness, with expectations set between $4,000 and $6,000 CAD.
Hockey card purists might find their holy grail in the full set of 110 1964-65 Topps “Tall Boys.” They earned their nickname due to their stature, but they’re revered for their infamous roll call of hockey titans such as Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Tim Horton. Even in good to very good condition, they warrant a projected $4,000 to $6,000 CAD under the hammer.
For those who dream of acquiring the extraordinary, the uncut sheet of 226 hockey cards from the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee set could be the zenith of a collector’s journey. With none other than a pristine Wayne Gretzky rookie card nestled within, despite minor wear along its edges, this sheet stands as a rare survivor awaiting an eager suitor, expected to attract bids between $3,500 and $4,500 CAD.
Ben Pernfuss, Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, enthuses about the significance of this sale. “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,” he beams. With bidding unfolding exclusively online—via platforms such as LiveAuctioneers—it’s a new world order for a hobby steeped in nostalgia.
For fans, historians, and investors alike, this auction is not just about acquiring collectibles, but preserving and connecting with the revered narratives of sports history. Miller & Miller invites enthusiasts to make a piece of this story their own, offering once-in-a-lifetime trophies for those ready to step up to the plate or skate to the goal.
