The onset of 2024 has been marked by an extraordinary event hosted by Clean Sweep Auctions, where enthusiasts and collectors of baseball memorabilia are presented with an unparalleled collection of pre-War baseball cards, headlined by two of the scarcest T206 cards known to the collecting world. This extensive auction, a key event in the world of sports collectibles, has garnered significant attention for its diverse and rare offerings.
Central to this collection are the highly sought-after T206 cards, including a Ray Demmitt and a Bill O’Hara, graded SGC 2 and SGC 1.5 respectively. These rarities are accompanied by a series of Hall of Fame cards from the acclaimed "monster" set, forming a significant part of the auction's online catalog.
The auction also features other treasures like a Ty Cobb 'bat on shoulder' card, boasting a Sovereign 350 back and a PSA 3 grade, and a Cy Young portrait card graded SGC 4. A set of four M110 Sporting Life Cabinet cards from 1911, with baseball legends Honus Wagner, Frank Chance, Nap Lajoie, and Christy Mathewson, highlights the rarity and historical significance of the collection.
Additional standout items include a Mike “King” Kelly card from 1887 Allen & Ginter, graded SGC 5, a 1907 Dietsche Ty Cobb postcard (name on front variation) rated SGC 1, and a 1908 Rose Postcard of Addie Joss. The auction also boasts a selection of 1911 Turkey Red Cabinets featuring Walter Johnson, Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Rube Waddell, and Addie Joss.
The diverse range of collectibles continues with vintage gems such as a 1921 Exhibit Babe Ruth (PSA 2), a 1928 Harrington’s Ice Cream Ruth (SGC 1.5), 1933 cards of George C. Miller Dizzy Dean (SGC 3) and Lou Gehrig (PSA 2 and SGC 3.5), a 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams rookie (SGC 3), a 1948-49 Leaf Jackie Robinson RC (Beckett 2), and high-grade sets and rookie cards of icons like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.
The auction is not just limited to cards; it also features complete sets from 1957 and 1967 Topps, autographed items including a 1953 Bowman Color Mickey Mantle and a Jackie Robinson signed postcard, and a treasure trove of unopened materials like a 1988 Fleer basketball wax box and a 1986 Topps football rack box.
Kicking off the event is a rare 1939 Joe Cronin Boston Red Sox road flannel jersey, rated a 9 by MEARS. The auction also includes Chicago Cubs signed team sets from the 1950s, Derek Jeter autographed cards, a Lou Gehrig autograph, Bird/Magic and Michael Jordan rookie cards, and football memorabilia including Tom Brady rookie cards and a ticket from the 1958 NFL championship game.
The auction concludes with a range of baseball memorabilia, such as 19th-century Cubs scorecards, a 1906 Red Sox scorecard, a 1920 Who’s Who with Babe Ruth, and a collection of World Series items, alongside historical pieces like a 1912 tabletop baseball game and an original telephone from Ebbett’s Field.
This event, running through January 31st, is a celebration of baseball's rich history and offers a rare opportunity for collectors and fans to own a piece of that legacy.