Notable Sports Card Auctions In April

Mike D March 26, 2022

If April showers bring May flowers, then April sports cards auctions bring exciting new additions to your collection. Auction houses are a valuable market to consider when looking to buy or sell cards. So, what are the top Sports Card auctions in April? We have you covered.

If you missed our article on March’s auctions here on Cardlines, you can find it here. If you’re not familiar with the major auction houses, check out our reviews of Goldin, Heritage, and REA.

Today we’ll look at several auctions from the major houses that close in April.

The Collector’s Connection Sports Card Auctions In April 

The Collector’s Connection auction is heavy on baseball, vintage of all grades, and unopened material. That being said, all sports are represented.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

The Collector’s Connection auction is an interesting one because it has a lot of items that aren’t likely to sell for big dollars. Therefore, the prices make it an excellent venue for beginners to dip their toes into the world of auction houses.

While much of this auction is raw cards, some of the featured items are graded, including a 1954 Red Heart Mickey Mantle HOF PSA 3(M.K.) and a 1968 Topps Tom Seaver RC PSA 9.

Prefer unopened? Check out the 1978 Topps Football Wax Box BBCE Wrapped or the 2000 Upper Deck Football Hobby Box. Or, if a lower price point is of interest, there is an extraordinary level of junk wax through 2000 sealed, from rack packs to wax boxes to cases.

There are lots more here, as well. There are tickets, like this one, to Game 3 of the 1968 World Series. Like wrappers? Here’s 1972 and 1974 Topps in one lot, or 1977, 1978, and 1979 in another. There are hats, bats, and cleats. Furthermore, hand-collated sets, signed index cards, and bobbleheads are available.

My favorite lot is Lot #14, 1968 Topps Game Complete Set, Rare Box Set Version. These cards came in packs of 1968 Topps and were released in complete set form. These are very rare, so it’ll be interesting to see where this one ends.

Love of the Game Auctions Sports Card Auctions In April 

Like the Collector’s Connection auction, this one is also baseball heavy. However, unlike the CC auction, this is an auction with many higher-end items, including fantastic graded cards.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

There are a couple of big names among the featured lots in this auction. The first is Roberto Clemente. There’s an original artwork by renowned artist Graig Kreindler; a 1955 Topps RC Graded PSA 8. There’s also a signed 1958 Topps card of Clemente graded by PSA.

The other familiar moniker belongs to Babe Ruth. You can find PSA-graded copies of his 1933 Goudey card numbers 144, 149, and 181. In addition, there’s a 1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth -PSA EX 5(M.K.). Or how about a signed baseball with TWO Ruth signatures?

There are more amazing early 20^th century items than there is space here to mention. If you are a fan of original photos, this lot has some impressive specimens. And there are so many Hall of Fame autographs!

While there are so many exceptional items in this auction, only one makes me laugh when I read it. That’d be Lot #82, the 1900s Polo Grounds Relish Jar. Unfortunately, I don’t currently own a porcelain jar to store my relish. So this feels like as good a place to start as any.

Goldin Auctions Sports Card Auctions In April 

Goldin Auctions’ “Spring Goldin Elite” closes April 9-11th, 2022, and is currently open for bidding. With over 3,800 items, this is a big auction with something for every collection.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

This auction has representation from every sport. But interestingly enough, the sport that makes up the highest percentage of this auction is soccer, making up roughly 25% of the lots.

The 2014 Panini Prizm World Cup Gold Prizm #12 Lionel Messi (#02/10) PSA GEM MT 10 in this auction may be one of the most desirable soccer cards out there right now. If you’re into 90’s style soccer icons, check out the 1992 S.I. For Kids Series 2 #71 Mia Hamm Rookie Card – PSA GEM MT 10. If you’re more into retro, the 1958 Alifabolaget #635 Pele Rookie Card – PSA VG-EX 4 is a fantastic piece of soccer history.

Basketball is well represented in this lot, with headliners including the 2003-04 U.D. Exquisite Collection Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph (RPA) #78 LeBron James Signed Patch Rookie Card (#19/99) – BGS MINT 9/BGS 10. Michael Jordan fans? How about a signed pair of rookie season sneakers? Or a PSA 10 rookie card?

The baseball collection contains several unique graded cards, both modern and vintage, but the headline is a 1928 Ty Cobb game-used bat.

The item that most caught my eye is lot #126, 1922 W575-1 Hand Cut Babe Ruth PSA 3.5. PSA has only graded four copies of this ultra-rare card, and this one is the highest graded.

Heritage Auctions Sports Card Auctions In April 

Heritage brings us something different with its auction that ends on April 14. This auction comprises cards from one collection (The David Hall collection) and represents cards from one set (The 1909-11 T206 set). You can read more about the David Hall T206 collection on Heritage’s site.

Auction Basics

What are T206 cards?

The 1909-11 T206 set is the most collected and historically significant card set of the early 20^th century. These cards are smaller than standard modern cards at 1 7⁄16 by 2 5⁄8 inches. Released by American Tobacco Company across 16 brands of cigarettes and loose tobacco from 1909 to 1911. Of course, the set is most known for the short-printed Honus Wagner card but has a lot more than just The Flying Dutchman to offer.

The set consists of 524 cards and, in addition to Wagner, features Hall of Famers such as Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and Ty Cobb. Some players appear on multiple cards in the set in different poses. In addition, there are several variations, including other card backs that advertise the other sub-brands of American Tobacco Company.

The set remains popular with pre-war collectors, and high-grade copies are hard to find. But, of course, the prices match that level of rarity and desirability.

Items of Note

There are several PSA 8 cards in this auction, which is an excellent grade for a card set this old. However, the auction’s highlight is the 1909-11 T206 Piedmont 350 Ty Cobb (Bat Off Shoulder) PSA 8, which should sell for more than $100,000.

If, like me, you find that Cobb is amazing but a bit beyond your means, there is a wide range of grades here. Including some PSA 1’s that will likely sell for around $100. To own a 110+-year-old piece of collecting history that’s a pretty reasonable buy-in.

My personal favorite item? This Rhode Islander will go with R.I. native and baseball Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie. The 1909-11 T206 Old Mill Nap Lajoie (With Bat) PSA EX 5 is expected to sell in the $1,200 range.

The Final Word On Sports Card Auctions In April 

Whether you’re hunting 113-year-old PSA 1 T206 cards, ultra-modern PSA 10’s, sealed boxes, memorabilia,  or any number of cardboard beauties, raw or graded, there’s something for you in April’s auctions.