The Best Sports Card Auctions Of August 2024

August brings the dog days of summer when baseball playoff contenders rise above the pretenders. It also brings the heat. That’s both from the sun and heat on the auction circuit. There is a lot to like this month across a bunch of auctions throughout the month.

But what auctions are heating up in August? When do they close? And what are some lots worth checking out?

Sterling Sports Auctions #121

Sterling Sports Auctions starts us off with their auction #121, which ends on August 1^st. Cards make up the bulk of this auction, although some memorabilia and other items are also offered. Baseball makes up the lion’s share, but other sports also appear. Cards range from raw to collector-grade slabbed to high grade, in what feels like a nice mix.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

The largest portion of the Sterling auction this month features cards produced in the first few decades of the early 20^th century. That includes a 1910 E90-2 Honus Wagner American Caramel in SGC 30 and a 1909 E92 Honus Wagner in a PSA 1.5 (MK). There’s also plenty of T206, a hobby favorite. Hockey fans will enjoy the 1912 C57 Hockey Art Ross in PSA 3.

It’s not all early pre-war, though. There are some great high-end cards from the post-war era, like PSA copies of 1964 Topps classics of Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, and Roberto Clemente.  There’s a copy of the iconic 1971 Topps Thurman Munson in a BVG 8 slab.

For the modern collector, there’s a 2010 Bowman Platinum Prospects Purple Refractor Mike Trout CSG 10 and several unopened Pokemon materials.

Goldin Auctions 2024 July Elite Auction

Goldin Auctions brings us our July Elite Auction, which ends on August 3^rd. As Goldin often does, this auction has high end items that should sell for high dollars.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

There’s a lot to like in Goldin’s auction, with some impressive high-end items across the board. Willie Mays fan? Check out the 1951 Bowman rookie card in PSA 8 or the 1952 Topps, also in PSA 8. 1986-87 Fleer Basketball? There’s a BBCE-certified wax box or a complete set in BGS 9.5.

Other high-end examples include a 2009-10 Panini Playoff National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph of Stephen Curry, a 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Auto LeBron James in PSA 10, and a 2022-23 Panini Flawless Triple Logoman Giannis Antetokounmpo/LeBron James/Kevin Durant 1/1.

And if you’re a fan of high-grade vintage Hall of Fame rookie cards, the 1954 Topps Al Kaline and 1957 Topps Brooks Robinson both in PSA 9 are well worth a look. There’s also a 145-card 1952 Topps set break.

The Collector Connection Post War Sports Cards & Memorabilia XXXIII

The Collector Connection brings us its Post War Sports Cards & Memorabilia XXXIII, which ends on August 4, 2024. As the title suggests, the focus here is post-war, but the lots here take on many forms, from graded cards, complete sets, raw cards, and much more.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

There are some really impressive examples of great post-war cards in this auction. These include a 1952 Bowman Yogi Berra in PSA 8, a 1979 Topps Hockey Wayne Gretzky PSA 7, and a 2003 Upper Deck Finite Elements Dual Warm Ups Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant PSA 10, just to name a few.

1953 Topps cards include Mickey Mantle in a PSA 1.5, Willie Mays in a PSA 2, and a complete set with key graded cards. 1952 Topps is well represented, including by a Jackie Robinson in a PSA 1 slab and near complete low-number set.

The auction contains an impressive array of complete and partial sets, from the high-end vintage to the collector grade.

There are some fun oddball cards, such as a number of 1958 Hires, including a Willie Mays in SGC 7. There are publications, statuettes, and more.

Wheatland Auctions August 2024 Sports Card & Memorabilia Auction

Wheatland Auctions has their August 2024 Sports Card & Memorabilia Auction which wraps up on August 4, 2024. The auction, with close to 800 items, isn’t massive but has an impressive mix of sports, era, and lot types.

Auction Basics  

Items of Note

There’s a lot to like in this month’s Wheatland auction, from vintage classics like a 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card in SGC 5 to 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle cards in either PSA 3 or PSA 4. We can include the 1952 Bowman Mays in PSA 5 in the discussion, as well.

But there are also a lot of much more modern cards that are highly desirable and sure to end with high hammer prices. The 2023 Topps Tier 1 Mike Trout & Shohei Ohtani Dual Autograph Patch Booklet Card is a 1/1 and graded PSA 9.

Much like Mantle and Mays, those two are two of the biggest names of their era. The 2023-24 Upper Deck SP Game-Used Connor Bedard Rookie Patch Autograph is another banger. The 2023 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton F1 Autograph Red Refractor is SN #4/5. The 2022-23 Bowman University Inception Victor Wembanyama Rookie Autograph is in an SGC 9 slab.

In addition to lots and lots of great cards, there’s of course memorabilia, unopened materials, and more.

Clean Sweep Auctions All Sports Memorabilia and Autograph

Clean Sweep Auctions brings us their All Sports Memorabilia and Autograph, which ends on August 7 and 8, 2024. As the title suggests, autographs and memorabilia are the focus here. Sure, there are some cards, but the big draw here is signed items. Baseball make up the lion’s share of this auction, although all sports are represented.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

Over 850 of 1,967 lots in the auction feature autographed baseball items. These include autographed items ranging back into the 1930s, with plenty of autographed items from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The lots include many single-signed baseballs. There are publications, including World Series programs going back to 1924. There’s plenty of memorabilia, such as this Hartland Willie Mays figurine.  

Other lots span basketball memorabilia and autographs, boxing items, football, hockey, and more.

Just a few examples of some of the amazing autographs included are single signed baseballs from Tom Brady and Mickey Mantle.

Robert Edward Auctions Summer Catalog Auction

Robert Edward Auctions (REA) brings us their Summer Catalog Auction, which ends on August 11, 2024. This month’s auction is a monster, with over 3,100 lots.

Auction basics

Items of note

In an auction this size, any highlights will just be the tip of the iceberg. This one is well worth a deeper dive. There’s a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Glove Shows PSA 5.5 that is the only graded example of the card. A nice 1914 E145 Cracker Jack of the infamous Joe Jackson sits in an SGC 2.5 slab.

There are gorgeous PSA 9 examples of iconic rookie cards of Nolan Ryan and Wayne Gretzky.  The 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson in a PSA 10 slab is an impressive example of a tough card.

Willie Mays is well-represented in this auction, with two of the featured items being 1951 Bowman Mays Rookie Cards, in PSA 8.5 and PSA 8 slabs. Babe Ruth fan? There are close to 100 Ruth items in this auction, including a 1932 R328 U.S. Caramel Babe Ruth SGC 8 that’s one of only 2 in that grade, with none higher.

There’s a near-complete T206 set, number 25 on the PSA registry. The 1956 Topps set up for auction is #20 on the registry and averages over 8 grades. It’s one of the most beautiful card sets ever produced, in his writer’s opinion.

Goldin Auctions 2024 Goldin 100 Part 2

Goldin Auctions is back with Part 2 of their 2024 Goldin 100. The auction wraps up on August 17, 2024. While the auction doesn’t have a lot of lots with just a hair over 50 total, this is undoubtedly a high-end auction.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

As mentioned above, the Goldin 100 is all about the high-end, so there are some truly epic cards, and big names reign supreme. Michael Jordan fan? Michael Jordan? Sure, there’s a 1986-87 Fleer rookie card in a PSA 10. There’s a 1997-98 SkyBox Metal Universe Championship Precious Metal Gems Michael Jordan BGS 9 and a 1996-97 Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Row 0 Michael Jordan in PSA 10 for fans of tougher high-grade Jordans. But you’ll also find game-used jersey and even a 1981 Michael Jordan Signed University of North Carolina Application Form.

LeBron James? There’s a jersey, to start. There’s also a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autograph in a BGS 9 and a 2022-23 Panini Flawless Dual Logoman #DLM-LBC LeBron James/Stephen Curry Patch Card (#1/1) as well.

There’s a 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ultimate Logos Signature #KB-L Kobe Bryant Signed Game-Used Logoman Patch Card that’s a 1/1. Clyde Drexler’s 1992 Barcelona Olympics Men’s Basketball Dream Team Gold Medal is probably truly one of a kind.

There’s a Babe Ruth game-used bat, a Barry Bonds jersey, and even a signed Madonna contract. There’s a Messi jersey, and even a rare 1979 Kenner Star Wars Rocket-Firing Boba Fett.

Heritage Auctions Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction

Heritage Auctions brings us their Heritage Auctions Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, which wraps up across August 23-25. With over 1,000 items, there’s a lot to like here. There are some very high-end items, especially on the memorabilia side, but also some great iconic cardboard.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

The high-end, high-grade examples of some of the iconic cards in the hobby in this auction is truly impressive. The 1952 Topps Mantle? It’s a PSA 8. The T206 Ty Cobb? It’s a PSA 9.  Other PSA 9’s include the 1954 Topps Hank Aaron rookie card, and the 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax RC.

The 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth and Nap Lajoie are both PSA 8’s. There’s another 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth that’s autographed. There’s a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson and a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle that bring the ink, as well.

There are some true museum pieces available in terms of memorabilia. These include some amazing jerseys, including a 1932 Babe Ruth, a 1938 Lou Gehrig, a 1951 Jackie Robinson, a 1952 and 1953 Mickey Mantle, and a 1954 Hank Aaron. Joe DiMaggio, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain, among others.

Bats? There’s a 1911 Shoeless Joe, a 1921 Babe Ruth, a 1955 Jackie Robinson, and more. There’s also plenty of unopened materials, and much, much more.

Other Auctions of Note

Sirius Sportscards has an auction ending on August 22. No info is yet available, but we’ll post an update when more details emerge.

Goldin Auctions has weekly auctions ending on August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.

Heritage Auctions has Sunday Sports Auctions ending on August 4, 11, 18 and 25.

Final thoughts on the best sports card auctions of August 2024

There’s much to like in the August Sports Card Auctions this month. The auction action promises to be as hot as the weather, with a nice mix of offerings from across the auction house world.

What auctions have you excited about this month? Are there any lots you’re chasing? Or high-end pieces you’re just in awe of? Tell us all about it at card_lines on Twitter.

Love auction action? Check out our reviews of notable auction house providers in the industry:

• Memory Lane Auctions
• REA Auctions
• Fanatics Auctions
• Goldin Auctions
• Wheatland Auctions