Richmond Auctions Debuts Sports Card Auction in November

Richmond Auctions Expands Into Sports Cards

Richmond Auctions is moving into the sports card and memorabilia category this fall with its first Premier Sports Card & TCG Auction, scheduled for November 7, 2026, at the company’s Greenville, South Carolina headquarters. The sale marks a new chapter for an auction house that has built its business around a collector-first approach and a steady flow of notable material across multiple categories.

Since its first auction in 2021, Richmond Auctions says it has surpassed $100 million in gross auction sales while developing a national presence in vintage advertising, automobilia, petroliana, historical firearms, gold and other specialty collecting areas. The company is now applying that same model to sports collectibles, with an inaugural catalog that spans more than a century of sports history.

Headlining Cards in the Inaugural Sale

Among the early highlights is one of the most recognizable cards in the hobby, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 graded SGC 4.5. The card remains one of the defining pieces of postwar baseball card collecting and gives Richmond’s first sports-focused auction an immediately familiar centerpiece.

Another key item comes from an earlier era, a 1916 M101-4 Gimbels “Shoeless” Joe Jackson #87 graded SGC 6. Together, the Mantle and Jackson cards create a strong historical range for the auction, connecting two of baseball’s most enduring names from very different periods in the game’s collecting history.

The catalog also includes a 1954 Johnston Cookies Henry “Hank” Aaron rookie card #5 graded PSA 9. The regional issue adds another Hall of Fame name to the sale and stands out as one of the stronger-condition examples in the lineup.

Modern Stars Join the Checklist

Richmond’s first sports card auction is not limited to vintage material. The catalog also features modern-era headliners, including a 2001-02 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Buybacks autograph numbered 1/10, graded BGS 9.5 with a 9 autograph. The card brings one of the most recognizable names in sports collecting into the sale and adds a premium autograph piece to the mix.

Another notable modern card is a 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Autographs Blue Wave Refractor Aaron Judge, numbered to 50 and graded BGS 9.5. The card highlights one of the game’s biggest current stars and gives the auction a strong bridge between prospecting interest and established star power.

Also featured is a 2020 Panini Contenders Championship Ticket Joe Burrow rookie autograph, numbered to 49 and graded PSA 10. Burrow’s inclusion adds a prominent football card to a catalog otherwise anchored by baseball and basketball icons.

Why Richmond Is Entering the Category Now

For founders Jordan Richmond and Mike McCandless, the move into sports cards and memorabilia follows the same principles that have guided the company in other collecting fields. Richmond says the fundamentals are consistent whether the item is a rare advertising sign, a collector automobile, a natural gold nugget or a sought-after sports card.

Rarity, condition, provenance and the story behind each piece are central to the company’s approach. That collector-focused philosophy has helped Richmond build momentum in its established categories, and the auction house is now aiming to bring that same attention to detail to sports collectibles.

What the November Auction Means for the Hobby

The Premier Sports Card & TCG Auction is intended to be more than a one-time entry into the category. Richmond is positioning the November sale as the start of a broader effort to make sports cards and memorabilia a regular part of its auction calendar.

That approach gives the hobby another venue for material that combines vintage icons, high-grade regional issues and modern autograph cards. With a catalog led by Mantle, Jackson, Aaron, Jordan, Judge and Burrow, the auction already spans multiple eras and collecting interests in a single event.

Auction Details and Preview Information

The Premier Sports Card & TCG Auction takes place Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Richmond Auctions in Greenville, South Carolina. An in-person preview is scheduled for Friday, November 6. Live and online bidding will be available.

Richmond Auctions is hosting the sale from its Greenville headquarters as it introduces sports cards and memorabilia to its broader auction lineup. The company’s expansion into the category gives collectors a new venue for both vintage and modern material, with the inaugural sale already featuring several widely recognized names and key graded examples.

All images are courtesy of Richmond Auctions.