NEW YORK — Filled with some of the best cards in the hobby, Fanatics Collect and Sotheby’s debuted the “Holy Grails" auction with a red-carpet event Tuesday at Harlem Parish.
Exclusively featuring ultra high-end cards, the auction was highlighted by a number of grails, including a 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 9, a 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig SGC 9, a 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson PSA 8 and a 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Illustrator Holo Pikachu CGC 9.
The team from cllct was on the ground for the entire night, and we captured the scene and tracked every auction result.
Here's our live recap from the evening:
Lot 26: 2020 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Alex Morgan Exquisite Collection Rookie Autograph Patch /99 PSA 10
Sold: $13,200
This auction featured just two soccer cards, and they both likely underwhelmed compared to expectations. This Alex Morgan Exquisite Collection Patch Auto sold for just $13,200, well below the $30,000 to $40,000 estimate, but well above the previous sale of $8,650 for this exact copy at PWCC in 2022.
Lot 25: 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Kylian Mbappé Gold /10 BGS 8.5
Sold: $66,000
The early success of Kylian Mbappe was a major driver of the soccer market during the card boom, with many expecting him to secure incredible prices for years to come. The soccer market was growing fast and it needed a face — Mbappe was just that, but he hasn’t maintained the pricing.
Considered one of his best cards, this Prizm World Cup Gold BGS 8.5 sold for $66,000 on Tuesday night, well below the $120,000 paid for this exact copy at PWCC in 2023. Prior to that, this exact card sold for $161,130 at Goldin in 2021.
Lot 24: 2009-10 Panini Playoff National Treasures Stephen Curry Century Gold Rookie Patch Autograph /25 BGS 9/10
Sold: $192,000
One of Curry’s most important rookie cards, this RPA settled near the top of the pre-sale estimate of $200,000 with a $192,000 sale.
Two other sales of BGS 9 examples sold for just $17,912 in 2018 and $15,800 in 2016, well before the pricing run-up for the hobby.
Lot 23: 1952 Tip-Top Bread Mickey Mantle PSA 1.5
Sold: $72,000
An oddball card from Mantle’s sophomore season, the Tip-Top Bread set presented here is new to many collectors. With a population of three and just one graded higher, this PSA 1.5 example fetched $72,000, well above the $60,000 low estimate.
A PSA 1 example sold for $32,520 at Heritage earlier this year.
Lot 22: 1968 Topps Test Issue Elgin Baylor PSA 8
Sold: $42,000
With just a handful of graded examples, it was difficult to know where this Test Issue Elgin Baylor would finish. It ended at $42,000, however, above the high estimate of $40,000.
A PSA 8 (with a population of just two), the other PSA 8 copy sold for $20,419 at Lelands in 2022. The lone PSA 9 has never sold publicly.
Lot 21: 1948 Bowman George Mikan PSA 8
Didn’t meet reserve
Estimated to sell for between $125,000 and $150,000, the Mikan rookie didn’t meet the reserve and didn’t sell Tuesday.
This exact example last sold for $132,000 at Heritage in 2021, and the most paid for any PSA 8 copy was $147,484 at Memory Lane in 2022.
Lot 20: 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson PSA 8
Sold: $312,000
Among the most important cards up for auction Tuesday, the 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson PSA 8 rookie card fell in the middle of its $275,000 to $350,000 estimate.
This exact copy got a major price bump from the $38,400 it sold for at Heritage back in 2017. This sale is a major dropoff from the last PSA 8 example to sell, however, with that copy fetching $372,000 at Heritage in 2023.
Lot 19: 2022 Bowman Chrome Elly De La Cruz 1st Bowman Prospect Autograph Superfractor PSA 10/10
Sold: $360,000
Among the biggest wins for Fanatics and Sotheby’s on Tuesday was the $360,000 paid for Elly De La Cruz’s 2022 Bowman Chrome Superfractor 1/1. This card crushed the previous record for any De La Cruz card, easily topping the $116,534 paid for his 2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Superfractor 1/1 earlier this month at Goldin.
De La Cruz continues to be one of the most popular players in baseball — even if his play doesn’t quite match that narrative — and this sale likely signals continued market growth.
Lot 18: 2020 Bowman Chrome Jasson Dominguez 1st Bowman Prospect Autograph Red Refractor /5 BGS 9.5/Autograph 10
Sold: $50,400
For the second lot in a row, a hobby darling didn’t quite deliver the expected value. Despite being one of Jasson Dominguez’s best cards, this fetched just $50,400, well below the $60,000 low estimate. This exact card last sold for $61,200 in 2020, and a PSA 10 example sold for just $17,500 in 2021.
With Dominguez still fighting to land an everyday spot with the Yankees, his market continues to slip farther away from the stunning $474,000 his Superfractor 1/1 sold for in 2022.
Lot 17: 2016 Bowman Chrome Juan Soto 1st Bowman Prospect Autograph Gold Refractor BGS 10/10
Sold: $50,400
Though Soto has maintained extreme popularity among casual fans and collectors toward the low end of the market, some of his key cards at the high-end haven’t impressed lately.
This exact card, which finished at $50,400 Tuesday night and well below the $60,000 estimate, last sold for $180,000 at PWCC in 2022.
A BGS 9.5/10 true gem example of this card possibly signaled an upcoming slip, selling for $19,661 on eBay earlier this month.
Lot 16: 2008-09 SkyBox Metal Universe LeBron James Green Precious Metal Gems BGS 9
Sold: $26,400
Possibly a surprise to some, this LeBron James PMG fell toward the bottom of its $20,000 to $40,000 estimate, and well short of the $57,100 paid for this exact card in 2020.
Though it carries the PMG premium, it doesn’t have the same allure of previous Metal Universe releases from years prior.
Lot 15: 2005-06 Upper Deck LeBron James Exquisite Collection 1/1 Autograph Patch BGS 8.5/10
Sold: $576,000
While much of the focus from collectors is put on LeBron James’ rookies from 2003, he has top-tier cards from a number of years in the early 2000s. Among those cards is this Exquisite Collection 1/1 Patch Auto, which sold for $576,000, just below the high estimate of $600,000.
The previous high for a 2005 James card was the $336,000 paid for his Topps Finest Superfractor 1/1.
To date, the record for any James 1/1 is the $1.29 million paid for a 2004-05 Logoman 1/1 in 2021.
Lot 14: 2005-06 Upper Deck Michael Jordan and Julius Erving Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs 1/1 BGS 8.5/10
Sold: $780,000
When considering all elements from this card, it’s not surprising to see it sell for nearly $800,000. As if combining two of the greatest stars in NBA history with one of the best modern sets ever created wasn’t enough, it also includes two Logoman patches — by far the most coveted pieces of memorabilia among card collectors.
All elements included, it’s difficult to dream up a better card than this one.
Lot 13: 2009-10 Panini Playoff National Treasures Kobe Bryant Century Material Signature NBA Logoman Tag 1/1 PSA 9/10
Sold: $168,000
Few athletes are as collectible as Kobe Bryant, and this Logoman Laundry Tag 1/1 is among his finest cards. This Logoman fetched $168,000, right in the middle of the card’s estimate, but fell well short of the 2003 Ultimate Collection Logoman 1/1 that sold in August for $1.58 million.
Based on the style of Logoman tag, it’s believed this jersey could have been worn during a championship season.
Lot 12: 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Ticket Autograph BGS 9.5/10
Sold: $120,000
Despite landing near the top of the pre-sale estimate, this Brady card fell well short of previous sales for the card. The last BGS 9.5 example fetched $208,800 in 2022, and the top sale for the card at this grade is the $452,400 paid in Feb. 2022.
Regardless of price, this card ranks among the most important Brady’s in existence.
Lot 11: 2023 Panini Absolute CJ Stroud Green KABOOM! 1/1 PSA 9
Sold: $72,000
The KABOOM! insert from Panini America has become one of the most important cards of the ultra-modern era, and this copy, featuring one of the most collectible quarterbacks in the NFL, delivered with a $72,000 sale.
The final price fell short of the $80,000 low estimate, but still set the record for any Stroud card, topping the $62,064 paid for a Gold KABOOM! PSA 10 in August.
Lot 10: 2003-04 Upper Deck LeBron James Exquisite Collection RPA /99 BGS 8/10
Sold: $432,000
Considered one of LeBron James’ best cards — and one of the most important cards of the modern era — this RPA finished at $432,000, well above the estimate and the most recent sale of another BGS 9 for $292,800 in August.
When James’ career is over, this will be one of the cards that collectors would want to own.
One of the collectors after this one was Meek Mill, who was among the underbidders in the room.
Lot 9: 2004-05 Upper Deck Shaquille O'Neal/Yao Ming/Tim Duncan Exquisite Collection All NBA Access Passes Triple Logoman BGS 9 1/1
Sold: $108,000
When it comes to the best big men in NBA history, there might never be a card as good as this one. The hobby has never loved centers the way typical fans have, however, and this 1/1 Triple Logoman finished at $108,000, just above its low estimate.
The record for any O’Neal card is the $175,200 paid for a 1997 Precious Metal Gems in May 2023.
Lot 8: (4) 2000-01 Upper Deck Kobe Bryant Ultimate Collection Ultimate Signatures
Sold: $156,000
One possible surprise from Tuesday night was the finish for a lot of four Kobe Bryant Ultimate Collection autographs, including a 1/1. Released during the first year of Ultimate Collection, which has gone on to become one of the most beloved sets by basketball collectors, this lot finished at $156,000, well below the $180,000 to $220,000 estimate.
Lot 7: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 5
Sold: $120,000
Certainly the most famous card available Tuesday night, the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 5 finished at $120,000 to just hit the low estimate for the card.
The record for this card in any grade is $174,000, with the most recent sale coming in at $138,000.
Lot 6: 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 9
Sold: $840,000
Arguably the most important card available during Tuesday’s auction, this PSA 9 example of Clemente’s rookie sold for $840,000, topping the most recent sale for a PSA 9 ($729,000) but coming up short of the record high $1.1 million sale from 2021. That $1.1 million sale is also the record for any Clemente card.
Lot 5: 1954 Topps Hank Aaron PSA 8.5
Sold: $144,000
Hank Aaron wore No. 44 for the Braves, so it’s fitting his 1954 Topps rookie finished at $144,000, well above the low estimate of $130,000.
The most recent sale for a PSA 8.5 was $121,500 in late 2023, and the record for the card at this grade is $206,400, paid in April 2021.
The record for Aaron’s rookie in any grade is the $720,000 paid for a PSA 9 in 2022.
Lot 4: 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig SGC 9
Sold: $132,000
For the second straight lot, a card has come up short of what many expected the auction to finish at. The 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig SGC 9, one of Gehrig’s best cards and part of the iconic 1933 Goudey set that featured four Babe Ruth cards, finished at $132,000.
The auction also finished short of the last SGC 9 sale of $156,000 in May 2021.
Lot 3: 1997-98 Metal Universe Tim Duncan Precious Metal Gems BGS 8
Sold: $168,000
Despite being one of the best Tim Duncan cards ever created, this Green PMG finished well below the estimate of $200,000 to $300,000, selling instead for $168,000
Another BGS 8 of this card sold for $218,400 in 2021, and this exact copy went for $51,558 at PWCC in 2019.
Lot 2: 2000 Upper Deck SP Authentic Tom Brady Rookie Autograph /1250 PSA 10
Sold: $192,000
At one point owned by Brady, this rookie auto earns a TB12 Collection designation on the PSA label. Before being signed by Brady, this exact copy sold for $96,000 at PWCC in 2021.
Another signed copy of this card, graded BGS 9/10 with an inscription, sold for $23,370 back in 2021.
Lot 1: 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire Shohei Ohtani Superfractor 1/1 BGS 9.5/10
Sold: $336,000
Shohei Ohtani has been shattering records on a daily basis over the last week — sometimes setting multiple records in the same day.
That continued at Holy Grails as Ohtani established a new record for his top public sale of any card, along with the top price paid for a modern baseball card in 2024.
Among the best cards in existence for the best player in baseball, this Shohei Ohtani Superfractor completely crushed the estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.
This exact card sold for just $4,800 in 2019 and sold again for $62,730 in 2021. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar created the 50-50 club just last week, so there might never be a better time for an ultra high-end Ohtani card to hit the market.
Standing tall (7:10 p.m. ET)
Former NBA big man Tacko Fall has arrived. At 7-foot-6, the former Celtics and Cavaliers cenrer is definitely easy to spot, even from far across the room.
GOAT sighting (7 p.m. ET)
Tom Brady is in the building as the seven-time Super Bowl champion has a card from the TB12 collection up for auction.
Brady was seen talking to Patriots owner Robert Kraft before the start of the event.
Former NFL players Channing Crowder and Ryan Clark are also on the scene, along with rapper Meek Mill.
Potent combination (6:55 p.m. ET)
The auction Tuesday night represents a new age in high-end collectibles, as the 280-year-old auction house Sotheby’s embraces modern sports cards in partnership with the industry’s most powerful force, Fanatics.
Both parties hope the wealthy clientele of Sotheby’s will cross-pollinate into this new category, while the star-power of the athletes and celebrities brought in by Fanatics adds a cool-factor to the event which few would usually associate with sports cards.