August brings the MLB trade deadline, the Dog Days of Summer, and NFL training camps. This month, it also brings a significant amount of auction action. After a fairly quiet July on the auction circuit, this is a welcome development.
But what exactly do the August auctions contain? Read on!
There’s a lot to like in this large auction. While it skews older, there’s a bit of everything and some really great oddball items and memorabilia.
Auction basics
Auction:Lelands 2023 Summer ClassicWebsite URL:https://auction.lelands.com/Lots/GalleryAuction Dates:End: 8/5/2023 10:00 PM ESTBid Open:OpenNumber of Lots:1,250Bidding Guide:Bidding RulesBuyer’s Premium20%
Items of Note
The featured items here are diverse, but all of them are pretty exciting. For example, there’s a PSA 7.5 Pele rookie card from 1958. There’s a PSA 6 copy of the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle that is new to the hobby. How about a ticket stub from Hank Aarons’ major league debut?
There’s a signed Joe Montana jersey, Stephen Curry shoes, plus jerseys of Ken Griffey Jr. and Johnny Mize. You’ll find a number of very cool Jackie Robinson items. There are even several items related to the infamous sale of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees by the Boston Red Sox.
There’s even a Black Printing Blanket from 1956 Topps, with two Mickey Mantle cards. You’ll find a lock of hair from the famous racehorse Secretariat. The envelope addressed to James Madison and signed by George Washington is another highlight.
There’s lots and lots more in this auction, and I highly recommend you spend some time on their website.
As the title suggests, this one isn’t about cardboard or PSA slabs. It’s all about game-used memorabilia. All sports are represented, with baseball, basketball, soccer, and football being particularly well-represented.
Auction Basics
Auction:Goldin Auctions 2023 Summer Game-Used & Memorabilia AuctionWebsite URL:Goldin AuctionsAuction Dates:Extended Bidding Starts: Sat. 8/05/23, 10:00 PMBid Open:OpenNumber of Lots:334Bidding Guide:FAQBuyer’s Premium20% (an additional 3% for credit card payments)
Items of Note
Remember the 1996 Olympic Basketball “Dream Team”? There are jerseys here from Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippin, Charles Barkley, and many more. There are Dream Team sneakers, too, like this Shaq pair, or Karl Malone pair.
There’s a ball signed by Shohei Ohtani from his first home run derby. Jerseys from Cal Ripken Jr., Barry Bonds, Pete Maravich, Stephen Curry, and many more.
The Collector Connection auction this month is heavy on the post-war era, as the name implies. It also skews somewhat to baseball, although all sports are represented. This is another large auction and well worth spending some time perusing.
Auction Basics
Auction:The Collector Connection Post War Sports XXVWebsite URL:https://thecollectorconnection.com/Lots/GalleryAuction Dates:End: 8/6/2023 10:00 PM ESTBid Open:OpenNumber of Lots:1,250Bidding Guide:Terms
Items of Note
Mickey Mantle features heavily in this one. There’s a 1952 Topps in SGC 2. A 1952 Bowman in PSA 2, a 1954 Bowman in SGC 4, a 1954 Dan-Dee Potato Chips in PSA 1, and more. There’s an autographed 1948 Leaf Joe DiMaggio in PSA 1.5/9. The 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson in PSA 1 is a vintage classic. The 1978 Eddie Murray in PSA 10 is a gem-mint example of the 45-year-old Hall of Fame rookie card.
There are minor league cards of Tony Gwynn and John Elway. There are high-grade examples of the rookie cards of Walter Payton and Joe Montana.
You’ll find complete sets of 1956 Topps, 1957 Topps, and 1965 Topps. Plus partial sets of 1952 Topps, 1954 Topps, and 1962 Topps.
There’s a 1989 Topps Basketball Wax Box sure to contain some treasures. Other basketball items include a Bill Russell PSA 1 RC, and Michael Jordan graded copies of 1985 Star and 1986 Fleer.
REA’s Summer 2023 auction features a nice mix of sports, and ranges well across eras, graded vs. raw, memorabilia, and the like.
Auction basics
Auction:Robert Edwards Auctions REA Summer 2023Website URL:https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com/Lots/GalleryAuction Dates:Ends: 8/13/2023 9:00 PM ESTBid Open:OpenNumber of Lots:500Bidding Guide:TermsBuyer’s Premium20%
Items of note
It will be really interesting to see just how high the Extremely Rare 1909-1911 T206 White Border Joe Doyle Hands Above Head in SGC 3.5 will go.
There are a lot of other very impressive high end items. A Babe Ruth game-used bat, for example. There’s some impressive Ruth cardboard, as well. There are high-end graded examples of vintage gems of players like Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, and Lou Gehrig. The PSA 10 Steve Carlton rookie card is a particularly impressive specimen.
For something quite unique, check out the 1953 Topps Original Card Artwork Collection. There are also some very rare items from the very first World Series in 1903, including a ticket and a program.
The Clean Sweep Auction is a massive one with over two thousand, two hundred items. With such a large auction, there’s a lot to love for collectors of all stripes.
Auction Basics
Auction:Clean Sweep Auctions Auction 303Website URL:WebsiteAuction Dates:Wednesday & Thursday August 16 & 17Bid Open:OpenNumber of Lots:2,279Bidding Guide:FAQBuyer’s Premium20% (higher in some cases – see rules)
Items of Note
There’s a really cool 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers team-signed ball, which includes Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella signatures. Can’t get enough Campy? There’s a really nice Campanella signed jersey, as well. There’s also signed jerseys from Warren Spahn and Hank Aaron.
Mickey Mantle fans will appreciate the nice PSA 6 1963 Topps example, and the PSA 5 1961 Topps, to boot. There’s also a beauty of a Mantle signed ball. And just for fun, a vintage Mantle bobblehead.
The Heritage Auctions this month closes across two nights, August 19th and 20th. That should keep the fun going across two days.
Auction Basics
Auction:Heritage Auctions 2023 August 19 – 20 Summer Platinum Night Sports AuctionWebsite URL:Heritage AuctionsAuction Dates:Ends August 19 & 20Bid Open:OpenNumber of Lots:1,276Bidding Guide:Heritage Auction Bidding GuideBuyer’s Premium20% (min $29)
Items of Note
All the big names are here in the Heritage Auction. Mickey Mantle? There’s a high-grade 1952 Topps (or two). There’s an awesome jersey, and much, much more. Babe Ruth? There are several examples from the classic 1933 Goudey set, including this high-end PSA 8.5.
Michael Jordan? There are jerseys, a Gem Mint PSA 10 1986 Fleer RC, and more. Tom Brady? There’s a jersey, football, and a signed high-end rookie card.
That’s very much the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There’s a lot more to like here, and it’s well worth a look.
Of all the auctions this month, The Wheatland Auctions offering probably has the most to love for the collector of modern cards. There is a nice variety of cards on the shinier side of things, including a number of non-rookie card inserts.
Auction Basics
Auction:Wheatland Auctions August 2023 Sports Cards & Memorabilia AuctionWebsite URL:https://wheatlandauctionservices.com/catalog.aspxAuction Dates:Ends: Sunday, August 20, 2023Bid Open:OpenNumber of Lots:818Bidding Guide:TermsBuyer’s Premium18%
Items of Note
Before we get to the modern, I wanted to give some attention to a nice selection of vintage rookie cards. Check out the 1948 Leaf Stan Musial in PSA 4, or the 1967 Topps Tom Seaver RC, also in PSA 4. There is a 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan in PSA 5. 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax PSA 4. There are also rookie cards of Jerry West, Wayne Gretzky, Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Tom Brady, and more.
As far as the inserts mentioned earlier, there are 1997-98 Skybox Premium, including a Michael Jordan and other stars. There’s also Golden Touch versions, again of Jordan and other stars. There are Competitive Advantage inserts from the same set, again, with the Jordan being the headliner but other stars available.
Again, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there’s lots to like here, including lots of, well, lots, that provide significant value.
This August, the auction action is as hot as the weather. There’s a wide variety of items available, crossing eras, sport, graded vs. raw, and plenty of memorabilia.
What auction items have you excited about this month? What auctions are you watching with interest? Tell us about it at card_lines on Twitter.
Love auction actions? Check out our reviews of notable auction house providers in the industry:
