A seven-figure Brady rookie, a seven-figure Mantle and multiple record results reinforced the strength of elite sports-card consignments.
By Intelligent Collector Staff | July 13, 2026
Heritage Auctions’ July 10-11 Summer Sports Card Catalog Auction reached $18,335,172, led by two seven-figure results and several new benchmarks across football, baseball and basketball cards.
The top baseball result came from 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM-MT 8, which realized $1,555,500 after 37 bids. The card remains one of the defining postwar issues in the hobby, and this example ranked among the finest available to collectors.
Football collectors pushed the 2000 Playoff Contender Championship Ticket Autograph Tom Brady Rookie #144 PSA NM-MT 8, PSA/DNA Auto 10 to $1,113,250. Numbered 83/100, the card marks the beginning of Brady’s career before seven Super Bowl championships turned him into one of the most important athletes in modern sports collecting.
The auction also set a new benchmark for Jim Thorpe material when 1933 Sport Kings Jim Thorpe #6 PSA Mint 9 realized $777,750. The result nearly reached the Brady and Mantle tier while underscoring demand for athletes whose importance crosses multiple sports and generations.
Another major 1952 Topps result came from 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson #312 PSA NM-MT+ 8.5, which climbed to $622,200 and set an auction record for the grade. Basketball’s modern standard-bearer also performed strongly, as 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie #57 PSA Gem Mint 10 brought $347,700.
For consignors, the auction showed why Heritage can be the best place to sell sports cards when the material has condition rarity, cultural weight and a collector base that knows how to price true trophy examples. The results were not limited to one player or one sport; they reflected deep demand across the top end of the card market.
Source: Heritage Auctions press release (July 13, 2026).