T206 Wagner, 1952 Mantle Set Records in $62.9M Heritage Sale

Heritage Sets Sports Auction Record at $62.9 Million

Heritage Auctions delivered a landmark result during its Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, generating a record $62.9 million in sales and establishing the largest sports auction ever held. The total surpassed the previous record of $61.6 million set by Heritage in 2024, when its Summer Auction was led by Babe Ruth’s 1932 “Called Shot” home run jersey at $24 million.

Heritage said the auction featured more than 200 individual records, reflecting both the depth of the material and the demand for top-tier sports collectibles across multiple eras and categories. The sale included some of the most recognizable cards and memorabilia in the hobby, from vintage baseball icons to modern basketball and soccer highlights.

“This was a landmark event for the entire sports-collecting hobby, bringing together extraordinary material from across generations and virtually every major collecting category,” said Chris Ivy, Heritage’s director of sports auctions. “The record-setting auction total and more than 200 individual auction records reflect both the exceptional quality of the offerings and the remarkable passion and confidence of collectors around the world who see Heritage as their priority destination for top sports collectibles.”

T206 Honus Wagner Card Reaches $5.8 Million

One of the most closely watched lots in the auction was a 1909-11 T206 Piedmont Honus Wagner card graded SGC Authentic, which sold for $5.8 million. Heritage described the card as one of just three known Wagner cards with the prized Piedmont advertising back, making it one of the rarest examples of the most famous card in the hobby.

The sale set a record for the highest price ever paid for any Honus Wagner card graded Authentic. Heritage noted that most T206 Wagner cards carry a Sweet Caporal advertising back, which makes the Piedmont version even more elusive.

Ivy said the card’s rarity and provenance made it stand apart even among Wagner cards. The final result of $5.856 million underscored how highly collectors value original examples tied to the earliest days of the baseball-card market.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 Sets PSA 8 Record

The auction also produced a record result for the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311. Graded PSA NM-MT 8-MBA Silver, the card sold for $3.7 million, setting a new record for a PSA 8 example and topping the previous mark by more than $1.2 million.

The card is among the most sought-after postwar baseball cards in the hobby, and its PSA 8 grade places it among the finest surviving examples. Heritage said only 14 examples have received a higher PSA grade. A PSA 7 example also sold in the same auction for $716,750 after 53 bids.

Maradona Soccer Ball and Card Bring Major Results

Heritage’s top non-baseball result came from one of the most famous items in soccer history. A photo-matched 1986 Diego Maradona “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” game-used soccer ball sold for $3.3 million, setting a record for any non-jersey soccer item.

Maradona also appeared in the card market. A 1979 Panini Calciatori Maradona #312 graded PSA Gem Mint 10-MBA Silver sold for $225,700, setting a record for any Maradona card.

Ruth, Jordan, and Other Headline Card Sales

Babe Ruth added another major result to the auction when a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #181 graded PSA 9 sold for $1.5 million, a record for the grade. Heritage said only six PSA 9 examples are known, with just one graded higher.

Michael Jordan also reached seven figures with a 2006 Fleer Michael Jordan 1986 Rookie Buyback Autograph #57 graded BGS NM-MT+ 8.5 with a BAS Auto 10, numbered 11/23, which sold for $1.2 million. Fleer originally issued Jordan’s iconic rookie card unsigned before selecting 23 examples for a 2006 autograph promotion, creating one of the most desirable signed versions of the card.

Another Jordan card, the 2004 SP Game-Used Authentic Fabrics Dual Michael Jordan/Isiah Thomas Dual-Logos 1/1, sold for $869,250. The one-of-one card pairs game-used NBA logo patches from both Hall of Famers.

Memorabilia Highlights Include Koufax, Ali, Kobe, and More

The top game-worn memorabilia sale of the auction was a 1963 Sandy Koufax game-worn Los Angeles Dodgers jersey graded MEARS A8.5 and photo-matched to multiple moments from one of the greatest pitching seasons in baseball history. The jersey sold for $1.3 million.

Heritage said the Koufax jersey was matched to his 20th victory of the 1963 season and Game 4 of the World Series, when he defeated the Yankees to complete the Dodgers’ sweep. It was also matched to imagery from the filming of the classic Mr. Ed TV episode “Leo Durocher Meets Mister Ed.”

Other notable memorabilia sales included a photo-matched and signed 2006-07 Kobe Bryant game-worn Los Angeles Lakers jersey from his first season wearing No. 24, which sold for $747,250, and Muhammad Ali’s photo-matched robe from the 1975 “Thrilla in Manila” against Joe Frazier, signed twice by Ali, which brought $549,000.

Modern Baseball, Basketball, and Football Records

The auction also produced major results for modern baseball and basketball cards and jerseys. A 2024 Topps Now Shohei Ohtani Inscribed Autograph Gold #722B graded PSA Gem Mint 10 and numbered 1/1 sold for $686,250. The card commemorates Ohtani’s Sept. 19, 2024 performance in Miami, when he became the first player in MLB history to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season. Ohtani inscribed the card “50/50 Club 9/19/24.”

A 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs SuperFractor Yoshinobu Yamamoto “Glove Down” #CRAYY graded BGS Mint 9 sold for $500,200, setting a record for any Yamamoto item.

On the basketball side, a photo-matched 2018-19 Luka Dončić game-worn Dallas Mavericks rookie jersey sold for $414,800, a record for any Dončić memorabilia item. A 2025 Cooper Flagg game-worn Dallas Mavericks rookie jersey, photo-matched to multiple games including a 35-point performance against the Los Angeles Clippers, sold for $329,400, setting a record for any Flagg item.

Football also delivered record-setting results. A one-of-one 1998 Metal Universe Barry Sanders Gem Master #20 graded PSA NM 7-MBA Gold sold for $512,400, a record for any item associated with the Detroit Lions legend. A one-of-one 1998 SkyBox Metal Universe Peyton Manning Gem Master Rookie #189 graded PSA NM-MT+ 8.5-MBA Silver sold for $414,800, a record for any Manning collectible. A 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski #34 graded PSA NM 7 brought $402,600, more than doubling the previous record for any other card from the set.

Heritage’s auction also included a 1981 game-worn and signed Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken Jr. rookie jersey photo-matched to his 1982 Topps Traded rookie card, which sold for $280,600, a record for any Ripken item.

Additional High-Profile Sales From the Auction

• A 1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson #103 graded PSA NM-MT 8 sold for $747,250.
• A 2024 Topps Now Shohei Ohtani Inscribed Autograph Gold #722B graded PSA Gem Mint 10, numbered 1/1, sold for $686,250.
• A 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs SuperFractor Yoshinobu Yamamoto “Glove Down” #CRAYY graded BGS Mint 9 sold for $500,200.
• A 1998 Metal Universe Barry Sanders Gem Master #20 graded PSA NM 7-MBA Gold sold for $512,400.
• A 1998 SkyBox Metal Universe Peyton Manning Gem Master Rookie #189 graded PSA NM-MT+ 8.5-MBA Silver sold for $414,800.
• A 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski #34 graded PSA NM 7 sold for $402,600.
• A 2025 Cooper Flagg game-worn Dallas Mavericks rookie jersey sold for $329,400.

The breadth of the results helped push Heritage past its previous benchmark and reinforced the auction house’s position at the center of the high-end sports collectibles market. With vintage cards, modern autographs, game-used memorabilia, and one-of-one rarities all drawing major bids, the Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction delivered record prices across nearly every corner of the hobby.