PWCC's Weekly Auction #59 brought in a slew of record sports card and TCG sales. Here's a look at some of the items that set new highs!

*Item images and descriptions courtesy of PWCC.

1965 BANCROFT TIDDLERS GIANTS OF SPORT CASSIUS CLAY MUHAMMAD ALI PSA 10 GEM MINT

A publishing company in the 1960s, Bancroft Tiddlers printed books in London, including Alice and Wonderland. They also published popular mini-booklets focused on famous athletes, battles, bridges, explorers, inventors, scientists, rare animals, and other areas of interest. Bancroft Tiddlers published two tiny booklets called Giants of Sport (labeled Giants of Sport and Giants of Sport II). The booklets featured athletes from boxing, race car driving, soccer, baseball, and other popular sports from the era. 

The Ali card, which appears in the first edition booklet, presents two stunning artist renditions of Ali on the front: a headshot of Ali with his trademark glare and another classic image of him in a boxing ring. The cards are not considered hand cut because collectors could easily tear the pages out of the small booklet as the image or “card” was the entire page.

Bancroft Tiddlers did not anticipate that collectors would remove the pages from the booklet and convert them to trading cards. This explains why the Ali bio has the number 10 on it (page 10), and the reverse side of his card has the number 12 on it (page 12). The Ali backs are often referred to as error backs, but they are not errors. None of the Ali cards contain the Ali back. Regardless, collectors hold these cards in high esteem, especially the more rare high grades like this stunning PSA 10.

1951 PARKHURST MAURICE 'ROCKET' RICHARD ROOKIE #4 SGC 7.5 NRMT+ (PWCC-E)

By 1951, Maurice Richard had established himself as arguably the game’s best player as he led his team to Stanley Cup victories in 1944 and 1946. Although the Canadiens eventually lost to Gordie Howe (his successor to the throne) and the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals, Richard had become so established that even Queen Elizabeth came to see him play at the Forum in 1951. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup semi-finals forever cemented Richard's legacy.

With the score tied in the second period, Richard dove between Boston Bruins’ players to get the puck. Playing without helmets during this era, Richard suffered a severe injury after landing on his head. Paramedics removed Richard from the ice, bleeding from his head and unconscious. After getting stitches and regaining consciousness, he returned to the game with blurred vision only five minutes later and, naturally, scored the game’s winning goal. The fans at the Forum went delirious, and the game had to be stopped for several minutes. One of the most iconic photographs in sports history shows Richard shaking a Bruins player’s hand after the game. Richard is wearing a head bandage, and blood is pouring down his face. This is how legends are born.

This stunning card represents this period in Richard’s career–the ultimate treasure for a vintage hockey investor or Richard fan. So, it should be no surprise that when examples surface, they attract as much attention as the industry's most coveted vintage rookie cards.

2014 SP AUTHENTIC MOMENTS MICHAEL JORDAN TIGER WOODS AUTO #69 PSA/DNA AUTH

“Well,” Michael Jordan said after Tiger Woods shot two-under-par in the opening round of the 1997 Masters, “I'm going to make a prediction for you: The rest of those guys better look out the rest of the way. This kid is a finisher.” Woods started the next day trailing by three strokes, but after shooting a 66, he turned that deficit into a three-shot lead—which swelled to a record 12-stroke advantage by the end of the weekend as he won his first of 15 career majors.

Many have linked Woods and Jordan for years, partly because of their connection through high-profile Nike sponsorships, partly because of how they transcended to the top of their respective sports, and partly because they both love golf—so much so that they teamed up for the 2007 Wachovia Pro-Am in Charlotte. Upper Deck captures the moment on this 2014 SP Authentic “Authentic Moments” offering.

1952 PARKHURST TIM HORTON ROOKIE #58 PSA 8 NM-MT

Before he became known for coffee and doughnuts by establishing a chain of restaurants in the middle of his hockey career, Tim Horton played superb defense in the NHL. After impressing in the AHL during the 1951-52 season, Horton earned a regular spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs the following season to jumpstart a career that lasted until his tragic death in February 1974.  A robust defenseman, Horton helped the Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cup titles during the 1960s, including a three-peat from 1962 to ‘64.

A standout until the end, broadcasters praised Horton’s skills in the 44-year-old’s final game on February 20, 1974, selecting him as one of the three stars of the night.

As a budding star, Horton earned his cardboard debut in the 1952 Parkhurst set. Only seven examples have earned a higher designation than this Pop 14 offering.

1931 W517 STRIP CARD BABE RUTH PORTRAIT #20 PSA 7 NRMT

Babe Ruth put a scare into the Yankees a week into the 1931 season. The five-time defending American League home run champion’s left leg buckled under him as he chased a fly ball during an April 22 game at Fenway Park. After four of his teammates carried him from the field, doctors examined him at Peter Bent Brigman Hospital but ruled out serious injury. Nonetheless, a potential two- to four-week absence sent fans into a tizzy, and worries exploded that the Philadelphia Athletics would gain an insurmountable lead in the standings throughout Ruth’s absence.

Ruth only missed eight games, and the Yankees trailed in the standings by a game and a half upon his return. Ruth continued his legendary stretch of home run hitting, again leading the AL by season’s end (46) for the 94-win Yankees, but even an entire roster of Babe Ruths may have had trouble matching the firepower of Philadelphia’s 107-win club.

With Ruth at the height of his popularity, he earned two cards in the 1931 W517 strip card set—one featuring a portrait image and one featuring him throwing the ball. Both cards have similar PSA population figures, but neither card surfaces often. PSA has assessed fewer than 100 examples of this card, and only six have earned a higher designation than this offering, which would likely give any collection a little more firepower.

1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING MTG ALPHA DEMONIC HORDES R K PSA 10 GEM MINT

While modern-day Magic collectors tend to focus on the artistic merit behind the likes of Christopher Rush’s Black Lotus, at release, the majority of the publicity surrounding Magic’s artwork was based solely on the game’s demonic and “Satanic” imagery. Many parents were frightened by the so-called “Satanic Panic” of the time, with the resulting backlash causing many schools to outright ban the cards entirely.

Front and center, as part of this debate, Jesper Myrfors’ Demonic Hordes depicted a never-ending hell of demons prepared to devour everything in sight. PSA has graded this single example of this card in PSA 10 out of 41, meaning that, at this point, grading any subsequent examples will likely require a deal with the devil.

1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING MTG ALPHA GAUNTLET OF MIGHT R A PSA 10 GEM MINT

While the impetus behind the Black Lotus may have been subverting the fantasy trope of equipment being vestiges of magical might, that does not mean that game creator Richard Garfield was opposed to this idea entirely. Fittingly illustrated by the same artist as the Black Lotus, Christopher Rush, Gauntlet of Might features a mesmerizing painting of a blue gauntlet that starkly contrasts its orange background.

A card that awarded an immense competitive advantage to any player running a red deck, Gauntlet of Might was considered a staple of competitive play for this format. PSA has graded only two examples of this card in PSA 10 out of 41 graded, with the featured example sporting tremendous eye appeal. 

Keep an eye on PWCC - their weekly auctions offer plenty of opportunities to add to your collection!

*Andy perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.