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2. 1887 N172 Old Judge
King Kelly ............................................. PSA 9 - $250,000
 This
is unquestionably the finest example of an Old Judge in the hobby!
Additionally, although comparisons with other issues are difficult because
of structural differences, there has yet to be a single 19th century piece
of cardboard produced by anyone that even comes close to the quality of
this fine specimen. Arguably, this is the most exciting and wonderful
find in the storied history of baseball card collecting. Furthermore,
instead of a mere common, King Kelly was easily one of the two greatest
Hall of Famers to play more than 110 years ago. His popularity is partially
based on a rapport with players and fans that is as strong as any player
since Kelly first debuted his marvelously and incomparable ability. Kelly's
antics thrilled and entertained legions of baseball fans as his prowess
on the diamond established a high level Hall of Fame career. There will
likely never be another true Mint condition Old Judge graded
and there will never be another Mike "King" Kelly.
3. 1937 O-Pee-Chee Die-Cut
#118 Joe DiMaggio .................... SGC 9 - $150,000
 The
one and only Mint example. This spectacular single is definitively
one of Joltin' Joe's three scarcest and enormously desirable cardboard
images. Very cleverly designed, this visually stunning rendering contains
the most beautiful baseball card imagery of The Yankee Clipper, as it
depicts him in his legendary batting stance. Years later, much more common
issues like the 1940 and 1941 Play Ball cards simply copied this vivid
O-Pee-Chee original, which represented Joe's Rookie Season as a New York
Yankee. Categorically, a complete and total condition anomaly, this truly
Mint 9 SGC graded gem exhibits fresh-from-the-pack qualities that are
vastly superior to any other 1930s gum card. Aside from perfect centering
and brand-new corners, this is one of the only known copies that, aside
from being incredibly well printed, is shockingly ghost-white and untoned.
This is stark contrast to the two incredibly inferior PSA 8s, which have
a yellowish tone from their age. Easily the best condition card and among
the most valuable pieces of nostalgia depicting one of America's Greatest
Icons!
4. 1909 T206 Ty Cobb (Bat Off Shoulder) UZIT Reverse ..........
PSA 6 - $100,000
 One
of Ty Cobb’s most popular and appealing prewar issues. This particular
version was distributed with Uzit mouth piece cigarettes and to date,
is the only known graded example!
As such, it has been identified by collectors as one of the most important
20th century baseball cards. For the Cobb collector who has nearly everything,
this card is unquestionably scarcer than either the Honus Wagner or the
Ty Cobb “brand” back variety. Its significance is further enhanced by
Professional Sports Authenticator which has assigned a grade of Excellent
to Mint (PSA 6) to this specimen. Well centered with unbelievably strong
and vibrant color. An unprecedented and unique investment opportunity!
5. 1933 Goudey Sport Kings #2 Babe Ruth ................................
SGC 8.5 - $95,000
The best known example
of the 1933 Sport Kings Babe Ruth in the hobby!
With near-perfect centering, exceptional & unbelievably fresh color,
perfect edges, untoned borders, and four extremely sharp corners, this
card HAS NO EQUAL. Even PSA 9s pale in comparison and just do not have
the same visual appeal as this one of a kind GEM!
One of the all-time greatest images of the Sultan
of Swat and virtually impossible to find in top grade with this type of
centering. In fact, we would challenge ANYONE to find a an equivalent
Sport Kings Ruth! It just cannot be done!
6. 1933 Goudey Sport Kings #38 Bobby Jones .............................
SGC 9 - $75,000
An absolutely stunningly
perfect example of the Greatest and Most Valuable Golf Card in the World.
What makes this card really special is that it has 100% original razor
sharp corners and astonishing centering! One of only two examples graded
MINT! (the other being an inferior PSA 9) Bobby established a one-year,
amateur to professional success story that no other golfer could hope
to achieve. The only way that one can even begin to compare Tiger Woods
to Bobby Jones would be if Tiger had won his two NCAA Championships, the
British Open and the U.S. Open in his first try and in the
same year! If you follow golf, you will understand this
and you will also fully comprehend why Bobby Jones, despite a very short
career, can be considered the greatest golfer of all-time. Easily PRISTINE
or GEM MINT 10 by any other grading company's standards, NO ONE
could ever argue that this unbelievable gem is not the hobby's best known
copy!
7. 1948 Leaf #76 Ted Williams .......................................................
SGC 9 - $75,000
 A
Spectacular card with 50/50 centering and four perfect corners!
The Splendid Splinter was the batting champion for 1948. Of course, Teddy
Ballgame also led the league in doubles, walks, slugging and on-base percentage.
If you compare this exceptional SGC Mint 9 to the three PSA Mint 9s, unless
you are biased or blind, you will undoubtedly discover that our featured
example is clearly and definitively the best! Unless you have access to
several cases of unopened packs, and are extremely lucky, you will never
find a better condition 1948 Leaf Ted Williams!
 8.
1915 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb ........... SGC 8.5 - $50,000
One of the key cards from the popular and attractive 1915 Cracker Jack
Series! A spectacular card possessing four sharp corners, perfect picture
quality, white borders, and virtually perfect centering. A gorgeous image
of a reposed Ty Cobb contemplating his next act of entropy while standing
ready to club another record setting base hit. Arguably the finest
example of a 1915 Cobb on the planet. Truly Outstanding!
9. 1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko .........................................................
SGC 8 - $50,000
 Unbelievably
fresh with four GEM MINT corners -- taken straight from a pack!
With significantly nicer corners than the PSA Gem Mint 10, this superb
copy is so vividly colorful, reflectively glossy, and brilliantly bright
that it actually glows! In fact the borders are so magnificently white
that they practically luminesce. Although it would not have really mattered
who was selected by Mr. Berger as the #1 card in most popular baseball
card set in the land, Andy Pafko is, to the best of our knowledge, the
only player to be part of three different National League World Series
teams (1945 Cubs, 1952 Dodgers & 1957-1958 Braves). If you are absolutely
resolute in collecting a quality 1952 Topps baseball card set, you should
start it off right with what is, without much argument, the best overall
example of the first 1952 Topps card in the World!
10. 1936 World Wide Gum #96 Lou Gehrig ..................................
SGC 8 - $50,000
The highest graded example of Lou Gehrig's very
last card and certainly, one of his toughest! Until now,
the best known graded example of this elusive card was only a PSA 6 (EX-MT).
This outstanding SGC Near Mint to Mint 8 exhibits marvelous centering,
fresh white borders, vivid contrast and four sharp corners. Over the past
23 years, we have seen at least 15 different legitimate (not cut from
a sheet or trimmed) T206 Wagners. Examples of the World's most valuable
card have ranged from Poor to Excellent. During this same time period,
we have observed only a dozen or so copies of the vaunted 1936 World Wide
issue of the Iron Horse. Similarly, the average condition of this rarity
generally falls within the Poor to Excellent range. It is not unremarkable
that this featured example is not only the best, but the best by two entire
grade levels! In fact, it is one of only two NM-MT 8s (the other is Chuck
Klein) among all of the cards in the entire set! Other than this one,
there are exactly 5 different "key" cards of Lou Gehrig -- 4
Goudeys and a DeLong. Cumulatively, there are at least 7 NM-MT copies
of the other main Lou Gehrig singles (105 graded total) and still only
one NM-MT 8 World Wide. This card truly epitomizes the word "rare"!
11. 1954 Bowman #66 Ted Williams
.......................................... SGC 8.5 - $50,000
 The
highest graded 1954 Bowman Ted Williams in the Hobby! There
are literally a bevy of NM-MT (50+) singles and perhaps that creates a
very real problem for the discriminating collector who desires Mint-quality
condition! This example has the sharpest corners and best gloss you will
ever see. In addition, the color, focus, registration and white borders
are incredibly intense. In fact, if this specimen was 10% better centered
it would certainly have been graded Gem Mint. I have seen 7 examples taken
directly from unopened packs and not one of them is this nice! Of course
in 1954, the greatest hitter in baseball also paced the Major Leagues
in On Base Percentage at .516, the third highest of his career. The best
known hobby example of this extremely rare short printed card -- one of
the four most valuable Post WWII baseball cards!
12. 1965 Topps #122 Joe Namath Rookie
(Butterfly Variety) ..... PSA 9 - $50,000
While the only other Mint 9 Namath Rookie
was sold by us for $25,000, this extremely scarce "Butterfly Tattoo" variation
is at least 10 times rarer, as well as a significantly nicer Mint condition
card! Attributes include neon yellow color, four pristine
corners, phenomenal centering, bright white borders and a stunningly perfect
reverse side. Not only is this card the nicest "Butterfly" variation,
but it is the nicest Namath Rookie -- period! So far, the population of
all "Broadway Joe" Hall of Fame Rookies is 2. The other single is salted
away in a collection. This may be your only opportunity to own the second
most valuable football cards in the World!
13. 1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig ..................................................
SGC 8 - $40,000
1934 was a fantastic season for Gehrig as
he captured the Triple Crown and enjoyed one of the finest all-around
seasons in the history of the game. It is not surprising
then that Iron Lou's 1934 Goudey issue is one of the most famous baseball
cards of all time and certainly his most famous cardboard caricature!
Condition-wise, the snow-white borders, sharp corners, and absolutely
brilliant colors on this collector favorite place it in a class by itself.
Well-centered and nearly flawless! An absolutely gorgeous card in all
respects and a worthy centerpiece of even the finest collection!
14. 1953 Bowman Color #59 Mickey
Mantle ............................... SGC 9 - $32,000
A legendary baseball titan.
Appearing on only his third Bowman issue, Mantle demonstrates the form
that made him the American League's most powerful switch hitter. With
536 lifetime home runs and another 18 in the World Series (a record),
this three-time MVP (1956, 1957, 1962) remains today as one of the sport's
greatest heroes. Indescribably perfect are the best words for this spectacular
gem -- perfect centering, perfect picture quality, perfectly white borders,
perfectly sharp corners, and enough gloss to give this glorious image
of Mantle a perfectly surreal glow! A very low population scarcity. Quite
simply, the BEST of the best!
15. 1936 Word Wide Gum #51 Joe DiMaggio
.............................. SGC 6 - $30,000
The highest graded Joe DiMaggio Rookie Card in the Hobby!
When you consider that there are at least twice as many Zeenut Rookies
as the elusively impossible 1936 World Wide Rookies, it should confound
most knowledgeable purveyors of vintage sports cards that a PSA EX 5 Zeenut
can sell for more than $15,000.00. Based on that figure, this card should
be valued at a level easily approaching $60,000.00. We have personally
seen at least a dozen Zeenuts and only six of these condition and quantity
scarce 1936 Joe DiMaggio Rookies. An extremely strong example -- ask yourself
the last time you had an opportunity to buy one of these in any condition.
Even the Halper example was only Good (autographed). Not surprisingly,
the highest PSA-graded example is a 3 (VG), with a total population of
only 4 specimens submitted in almost a decade! Start with one of the toughest
Rookie Cards in the hobby or finally finish your Hall of Fame Card collection
with the toughest Joe DiMaggio of them all!
16. 1953 Bowman Color #121 Yogi
Berra ..................................... SGC 9 - $27,500
There are a precious few (actually 5) of these Mint 9s and this brilliant
gem is far superior to the four PSA 9s because it is better
centered, has whiter borders, has better color, has better focus, has
more gloss, is fresher, has a better surface, has much sharper corners
and most importantly, it is FULL-SIZED. Do not be fooled, this rare, high-numbered,
Hall of Fame single is not only one of the most important and best-looking
baseball cards around but this particular specimen is the Best in the
World!
17. 1940 Play Ball #225 "Shoeless"
Joe Jackson ........................ PSA 8 - $25,000
 An
absolutely stunning example! With possible Hall of Fame
induction in the near future, this card enjoys one of the greatest potentials
of all prewar issues. Uncommonly good centering, four sharp corners and
excellent clarity highlight what could be the best 1940 Play Ball Joe
Jackson ever! With not a single example graded higher, this near-perfect
gem is scarcer that many other notables from the same time period including
the 1941 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio and the 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams. The
player that legends were made of, Joe Jackson never hit below .300 and
was ranked by many of his contemporaries, including Babe Ruth, as the
best hitter of his era.
18. 1954 Topps #1 Ted Williams .................................................
SGC 8.5 - $25,000
With only 2 examples of this card graded higher than an "8"
by either PSA or SGC, this remains one of the scarcest high-grade 1950s
baseball cards and toughest postwar issues. Visually, a
MINT condition card! Remarkably, this stunning specimen has brilliant
color, none of the typical printing imperfections, and a PERFECTLY mint
reverse side! Absolutely fantastic! Easily worthy of either a PSA 9 or
SGC 9 holder with its exceptional quality and visual appeal! The best
of the best!
19. 1963 Topps #537 Pete Rose Rookie
(Vending) ...................... SGC 9 - $25,000
Probably the most undervalued and greatest potential of any Hall of Fame
Rookie Card in all of collecting. This is,
without question, the finest Charlie Hustle Rookie Card known! Perfect
centering (even the back is well-centered), four razor sharp corners,
brilliantly white borders, flawless printing, bright color, exact registration,
astounding focus and multiple layers of gloss are only some of the incredible
qualities that this superb card exudes. Do not wait until Rose enters
Cooperstown, make the shrewd investment now!
20. 1887 N172 Old Judge C. Alcott
(Taken from Old Judge Pack) .... SGC 98 - $20,000
Among all of the grading companies, there are literally only
a handful of N172 Old Judge singles graded Mint. However,
there is ONLY ONE GEM MINT 10. Furthermore, this Gem
Mint 10 is the only known example that was found in a completely intact
and unopened Old Judge Cigarette package. In fact, it is unlikely that
another such find has occurred in the last 100 years. As such, it is,
and always will be the only Pedigreed Gem Mint 10 example. In fact,
SGC, which is the strictest grader of 19th Century baseball cards, has
never even graded a Mint 9! While no card is completely flawless, this
card is significantly nicer than any other known N172. First, This
is the only Old Judge with four original, razor sharp, Gem Mint, and Perfect
corners! The imagery is unquestionably superb. The contrast, focus
and registration are absolutely incredible. Furthermore, the edges are
fresh and clean and the reverse is literally fresh-from-the-pack! The
clarity of the depicted Charles Alcott, third baseman for Mansfield (the
only Mansfield player in the set!), is absolutely stunning. Remember,
while the only auctioned PSA Mint 9 Old Judge climbed to more than $30,000.00
on eBay, this vastly superior example embodies GEM MINT 10 PERFECTION!
21. 1914 Crack Jack #103 "Shoeless"
Joe Jackson ................. SGC 60 - $20,000
Taking all cards in to consideration, including the T206 Wagner
and 1933 Lajoie, the 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson remains as one of the
scarcest baseball cards today in top grade! This fine copy possesses many
attributes of a Near Mint card including four square corners, white borders,
superb color and image quality, and an appearance unmarred by an candy
staining. Remarkably, the reverse side is as outstanding as the front!
Only a tiny defect near the top of the card prevents it from grading much
higher. With the highest previous grades consisting of only two SGC 40s,
this is the Highest Graded Copy! Don't
wait until "Shoeless" Joe makes the Hall of Fame to buy his
scarcest card!
22. 1911 C55 #38 Georges Vezina
................................................ SGC 8 - $20,000
Easily the most valuable hockey card in the World! The
first and greatest goalie depicted on his Hall of Fame Rookie Card in
the very first cataloged hockey card set. Despite extremely fragile card
stock, this unbelievable card is almost Mint. Brilliant white borders,
very sharp corners, fresh-from-the-pack appearance, superb focus, fantastic
registration and great centering make this unique specimen one of a kind
and the hobby's most historically important ice hockey card!
23. 1924 Willard's Chocolates
#39 Ty Cobb .............................. SGC 8.5 - $20,000
 Ty
Cobb's last full season as player and manager for the Detroit Tigers!
Produced by the Willard Candy company in Toronto, the three baseball players
in this 56-card set received only sporadic distribution in the United
States. That factor, combined with the extremely fragile nature of the
card stock, makes this one of Cobb's toughest cards in top grade. With
four Mint corners, a clean white reverse side, perfect image quality,
superb contrast, and outstanding centering, this condition scarcity is
the only one of its kind in the world! For the Cobb collector who thought
he had everything!
24. 1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle
........................................ SGC 8.5 - $18,000
One of the greatest New York Yankees pictured during
his MVP, Triple-Crown season of 1956. This 14-time American
League All-Star enjoyed one of baseball's finest seasons while scoring
132 runs, driving in 130, batting .353, and hitting 52 round-trippers.
Not surprisingly, the condition of this fabulous nostalgic rendering of
Mickey Mantle is every bit as prodigious as the season it embodies --
four sharp corners, fantastically precise centering, glowingly vivid color,
and perfect registration. Even the reverse side is free from all defects.
As good or better than many 1956 Mantles graded "Mint", this
example is the highest graded by SGC thus far!
25. 1951-52 Parkhurst #66 Gordie
Howe Rookie ...................... SGC 8.5 - $15,000
Pronouncing this as the best graded Gordie Howe rookie card in the land
is no exaggeration! Mint corners and some of the deepest,
most abundant color we have ever seen make this an absolutely unbelievably
high-end Hall of Fame Rookie Card of one of the greatest players in hockey
folklore! The most valuable and best condition postwar hockey card
in the world!
26. 1955 Topps #194 Willie Mays
.............................................. SGC 8.5 - $13,500
 With
considerable support as the best ever to play the game, Willie Mays is
pictured here during one of his first great seasons as he led the league
in home runs (51) while scoring 123 times and driving in another 127.
The best 1955 Topps Mays in the hobby? All characteristics lend strong
support: four Mint corners, bright vivid color, brilliantly white borders,
superlative print quality, fantastic centering, and an uncommonly fresh
reverse side. Settle for nothing less than this -- the highest graded
SGC example!
27. 1938 Goudey Heads-Up #250
Joe DiMaggio ...................... SGC 7.5 - $12,500
With Strong Near Mint to Mint corners and 60/40 centering, this
card is every bit as nice as a PSA 8,
perhaps even better! A unique card design employing the art style popular
during the 1930s art-deco/popart era. Why spend SMR ($16,250) or auction
prices ($20,000+) for this card in a PSA "8" holder when a superior
condition and more strictly graded SGC card is available for thousands
less! Compare the quality and you'll understand why we can make the guarantee
that this card is every bit as good as a PSA 8 or your money back! SGC
cards are hot -- find out why! Very reasonably priced for one of the
most famous of all Goudey Rookie Cards!
28. 1961 Topps #2 Roger Maris
.................................................... PSA 9 - $12,500
 A
marvelous presentation set example showcasing the baseball icon and the
season that captured the country's imagination. Roger Maris,
enjoying his second consecutive MVP season, teamed with Mickey Mantle
to set a new long-ball standard in his enigmatic quest for Yankee immortality.
A gorgeous card with alluring appeal -- exceptional print quality, four
Mint corners, and a clean fresh appearance. With only 5 Mint 9s, this
in unquestionably one of the top 3 scarcest Mint condition cards of the
1960s.
29. 1887 N172 Old Judge Comiskey
(St. Louis Champions) ....... SGC 7 - $10,000
Appropriately nicknamed "The Old Roman", Charles Comiskey enjoyed
a spectacular season in 1887 in which he hit .335, stole an amazing 117
bases, scored 139 runs, and drove in 103 for the St. Louis Brown Stockings
of the American Association. Also, a manager for the team, Comiskey led
St. Louis to a first place finish. Then, in 1900, he founded the Chicago
White Stockings by bringing a St. Paul minor league team (which he owned)
to the American League. Without reservation, one of the scarcest of all
19th century Hall of Fame cards -- only two examples have been graded
by SGC (the other, a Vg-Ex 4). Superb contrast, untoned borders, spectacular
centering, sharp corners, and an uncommonly even cut make this the
best N172 Comiskey in the hobby!
30. 1952 Bowman #218 Willie
Mays .......................................... SGC 8.5 - $10,000
Willie Mays earned eleven Gold Gloves, set records for career putouts
and total chances, and was the first player to hit 300 home runs and steal
300 bases. The "Say Hey Kid" is pictured here in only his second
major league season. Dangerously sharp corners, untoned borders, and good
color make this condition scarcity one of May's toughest high-grade cards.
This is the highest graded example by SGC and the equal of any of the
three PSA 9s!
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