Mickey Mantle and Michael Jordan once again proved how powerful true hobby icons can be at auction, leading a strong September event at REA with multiple record-setting sales and several major vintage results across baseball, basketball, and hockey.
The headline lots featured a pair of Mantle cards and a scarce Jordan issue, with each helping define a sale that also included six-figure-level momentum for premium complete sets and a long list of record prices by grade.
Mantle and Jordan headline the biggest prices
The most notable Mantle result came from a 1956 Topps #135 Gray Back graded PSA NM-MT+ 8.5, which sold for $76,875. That figure established a new record for the grade and cleared the previous benchmark by more than $20,000, making it one of the most significant individual card results in the event.
Another Mantle classic matched that price, as a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle graded PSA FAIR 1.5 also reached $76,875. While the grade sits on the lower end of the scale, the 1952 Topps Mantle remains one of the most recognized cards in the hobby, and the result reinforced just how broad buyer demand remains for cornerstone postwar cards.
For more collector background, read Weekly Sports Card Sales: Lionel Messi 1/1, Michael Jordan Star Rookie, Mickey Mantle and More Lead the Market.
Jordan joined Mantle at the top of the auction through a much tougher and less conventional issue. A 1985 Star Company Basketball “Gatorade Slam Dunk” #7 Michael Jordan graded PSA 8 realized $70,725, setting an all-time high for the card. The result added another data point to the continued strength of early Star Jordan releases, which have attracted increasing attention from collectors looking beyond the standard rookie card conversation.
Why the top sales stand out
Each of the three marquee results represents a different type of collector demand.
The 1956 Topps Mantle Gray Back combines visual appeal, a Hall of Fame subject, and a condition-sensitive issue that becomes increasingly difficult to locate in upper grades. Record-setting movement at the PSA 8.5 level suggests buyers are still willing to stretch for elite examples of established blue-chip vintage cards.
For another perspective on this story, read Mickey Mantle and Michael Jordan Cards Set Grade-Specific Records at September Auction.
The 1952 Topps Mantle tells a different story. Even in PSA 1.5 condition, the card commands premium money because of its place in hobby history. For many collectors, ownership of any authentic, graded 1952 Topps Mantle sits near the top of a long-term want list, and that kind of cultural importance continues to drive prices.
Jordan’s 1985 Star “Gatorade Slam Dunk” card reflects demand for scarcer pre-Fleer and early-era Jordan material. While the 1986-87 Fleer rookie remains the hobby’s most famous Jordan card, advanced collectors have increasingly targeted regional, promotional, and Star-era issues that offer a different level of rarity.
Other record-setting vintage card sales
The auction did not rely on only a few headliners. Several additional lots posted record prices, showing that bidding remained active across multiple eras and player categories.
1962 Topps #300 Willie Mays, PSA 8.5: $64,575
E92 Croft’s Candy Ty Cobb, PSA VG 3: $56,580
1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie, SGC VG 3: $34,440
1920-21 W514 #15 Joe Jackson, PSA GOOD 2: $23,370, a record for the grade
1921 E121 American Caramel Series of 80 “Babe” Ruth, SGC Authentic: $22,755, a record for the grade
1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle Gray Back, PSA 7 with MBA Silver Diamond: $21,525, a record for the grade
1914 E145 Cracker Jack #7 Eddie Collins, PSA 4: $20,910, a record for the grade
1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron Rookie, PSA 6: $20,295, a record for the grade
1909-1911 T206 White Border Ed Reulbach No Glove Showing, PSA 5, Broad Leaf 460 Back, 1/1: $18,450, a record for the card
That spread is notable. The sale featured stars from the prewar candy and tobacco eras, iconic postwar rookies, and condition-driven Hall of Fame singles. It is a reminder that collector demand remains wide, not narrowly concentrated in only modern or ultra-high-grade material.
Michael Jordan demand extends beyond one card
Jordan’s presence in the sale went beyond the record-setting “Gatorade Slam Dunk” card. A 1986-87 Fleer Basketball #57 Michael Jordan rookie graded PSA 8 sold for $20,910, while a 1985-1986 Star Company Basketball “Last 11 R.O.Y.” #1 Michael Jordan in PSA NM-MT 8 brought $18,450.
Those numbers matter because they show strength at multiple price tiers. The Fleer rookie remains a hobby staple with broad recognition, while the Star issues continue to attract a more specialized audience. When both categories perform well in the same auction, it suggests confidence in the Jordan market is still being supported by both mainstream and advanced collectors.
Complete sets also posted strong results
Beyond singles, complete sets were among the auction’s standout performers. High-grade basketball and hockey sets drew serious bids, and the top set result came from a landmark basketball release.
A 1971-72 Topps Basketball complete set featuring PSA 9 and NM-MT 8 grades sold for $61,500. The issue carries long-standing importance because of its condition sensitivity and star power, making high-grade full-set opportunities especially appealing to set builders and registry-minded buyers.
Two Fleer Basketball complete sets also delivered major prices:
1988-89 Fleer Basketball PSA high-grade complete set: $49,200
1987-88 Fleer Basketball PSA high-grade complete set: $35,670
The 1987-88 set included the complete 11-card sticker set and 65 PSA 10s, while the 1988-89 set featured 122 PSA 10s. Those details help explain the strong prices, as modern and late-1980s basketball set collectors have shown continued interest in top-end graded compositions with substantial gem-mint representation.
A 1959-60 Topps Hockey PSA-graded complete set added another strong number at $33,210, reinforcing that premium set collecting remains active well outside baseball and basketball.
What the results say about the current card market
One of the most interesting takeaways from the sale is how many different segments showed strength at once. Mantle and Jordan delivered the marquee headlines, but the bidding activity was not limited to celebrity names alone.
Vintage baseball remained strong through cards of Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Eddie Collins, Joe Jackson, and Ed Reulbach. Basketball produced healthy action through both complete sets and individual Jordan cards. Hockey also contributed a meaningful set result. Even a modern one-of-one redemption card found a strong buyer, showing that interest extends across eras when the item is perceived as distinctive enough.
That balance matters in reading the market. Strong prices for true trophy cards are expected, but depth is often the better sign of hobby confidence. When buyers are willing to compete on prewar rarities, postwar icons, Jordan cards outside the standard rookie lane, and graded complete sets, the market appears healthier than a sale driven by only one or two blockbuster pieces.
Notable modern and crossover sale
One of the more unusual prices in the auction came from a modern redemption card: a 2026 Topps Tribute #CTSDA-OD Calling the Shot Shohei Ohtani and Joe Davis Autograph Black #1/1 unused Redemption card, which sold for $22,755.
The lot stood apart from the vintage-heavy headlines but fit the broader pattern of scarcity-driven demand. One-of-one modern cards and premium redemption formats can still command major attention when tied to one of the hobby’s biggest active stars, and Ohtani’s market continues to show that ability.
REA points to broad collector appetite
REA President Brian Dwyer said the company was pleased by the strength of the results and highlighted the continued demand across many collecting categories. That comment lines up with the auction’s final board, which showed strong prices for marquee singles, complete sets, lower-population vintage cards, and condition-sensitive classics.
For collectors tracking market signals, the September event offered a useful snapshot. High-grade blue-chip Mantle cards are still capable of setting meaningful records. The 1952 Topps Mantle continues to draw major money regardless of entry-level condition. Jordan’s scarcer mid-1980s material remains a serious force. And complete sets, particularly in strong graded form, continue to attract committed buyers willing to pay for quality and completeness.
With results ranging from prewar rarities to modern one-of-ones, the auction showed that the strongest cards and sets still generate competition when rarity, player demand, and eye appeal line up.
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