The Best Sports Card Auctions Of December 2024

December means the holidays are upon us and winter is in full effect in the northern hemisphere.

While the temperatures outside continue to drop, the auction action remains red hot this month, with several auctions, both big and small, from many of the industry’s big names.

But what auctions are happening this month? When do they close? And what are some of the can’t-miss lots to help fill your heart with holiday cheer?

Sirius Sportscards Auction #379

Sirius Sportscards brings us their auction #379, which wraps up on December 5.

With fewer than 700 items, this auction isn’t huge, and while there are some nice items, these trend towards the more affordable, as opposed to the museum pieces that highlight many auctions. Baseball is king here, but all sports are represented.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

There are some interesting graded autographed rookie cards available in this auction. These include a 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie that is graded PSA 8/AUTO 9, with inscriptions. There’s a 1963 Topps Pete Rose rookie card in PSA 3/AUTO 10.

There’s a 1968 Topps Johnny Bench in PSA 6/AUTO 10. There are a variety of Ken Griffey Jr. signed RCs, including 1989 Upper Deck, 1989 Fleer, 1989 Score, and more.

There are plenty of great unsigned cards as well. There is a nice collection of graded 1958 Topps cards including a Roger Maris in PSA 7, a Frank Robinson in PSA 7, a Whitey Ford in PSA 7, a Pee Wee Reese in PSA 8, and a great looking Braves Fence Busters card featuring Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews in PSA 7.

The PSA 8 slabbed ticket stub from the game in 1974 when Hank Aaron hit his 715^th career home run to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list is another really cool item. There are plenty of other interesting memorabilia that are well worth checking out, as well.

Heritage Auctions Winter Sports Auction

Heritage Auctions brings us their Winter Sports Auction, which ends December 5-7^th. With over 3,700 auctions, this is a vast auction and high-end items rule the day. Whether you’re a hobby whale or a window shopper, this auction is worth a scroll through to see some of the impressive items offered.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

With an auction this size, any synopsis will, of course, be incomplete, as there’s a lot to like here. Just looking at a single iconic card, you get a taste of the options. If you’re in the market for a 1952 Topps Mantle, there’s a PSA 7.5, a PSA Authentic copy with a PSA 10 signature, a SGC 6.5, a PSA 5, and a SGC 5.5, just to name a few.

Other iconic cards in shockingly good condition include a 1915 Cracker Jack Shoeless Joe Jackson in SGC 9 (none higher), a 1916 M101-5 Blank Back Sporting News Babe Ruth in SGC 5, a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle in PSA 8, and a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson in PSA 9 (none higher).

Other items of note include a 1979 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Wax Box Sealed Case (16 boxes/48 packs/BBCE Authentication), 2021 Patrick Mahomes Game Worn & Signed Kansas City Chiefs Jersey, and some graded sets including 1934 World Wide Gum, 1941 Play Ball, and more.

These are just a few of the absolutely amazing cards and lots available in this auction, all well worth a look.

Goldin November Elite Sport Auction

Goldin Auctions’ November Elite Sport Auction ends on December 7. With over 1,000 items, the auction is big enough to offer a lot of variety without being overwhelming. Compared to several other auctions this month, this one offers a bit more modern and ultra-modern cards, with a better mix of sports compared to a lot of baseball-heavy auctions.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

The number of high-end, modern or ultramodern basketball is among the highlights. A few examples include the 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual NBA Logo Autographed Patches LeBron James/Julius Erving in PSA 9/DNA 9, 2003-04 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor LeBron James /50 in PSA 9, and a 1998-99 Upper Deck Ovation Game Jersey Autographs Michael Jordan /23 in PSA 10, just to name a few.

Football fans will find some big hits as well, including a Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket PSA A / Auto 10 and a 2017 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph Patrick Mahomes II in PSA 10.

Ohtani fans will find both a 2018 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs Orange #CRA-SO Shohei Ohtani /25 in BKT 9.5/10 and a 2018 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs Orange Refractor #BCRA-SO Shohei Ohtani, also in BKT 9.5/10.

Other sports also get into the fun. 2020 Topps Chrome F1 Sapphire Edition Padparadscha Refractor #6 Max Verstappen 1/1 in PSA 9, a 2023-24 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition UCC Autographs Padparadscha Refractor 1/1 in PSA/DNA 10, and 2024 Panini Select WNBA Signatures Gold Vinyl Caitlin Clark 1/1 in PSA/DNA 10  are all great examples.

Gray Flannel Auctions 2024 Holliday Auction

Gray Flannel Auctions brings us their 2024 Holliday Auction, which ends on December 8^th. Memorabilia is a big part of this auction, including many featured items. If you’re into non-cardboard items, this may be the auction for you.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

As mentioned, memorabilia is a big part of this auction. The collection of basketball jerseys is particularly impressive. A few examples include a 1970-71 Wilt Chamberlain LA Lakers NBA Playoffs Game-Used Jersey, 976-77 Julius “Dr. J” Erving Philadelphia 76ers Game-Used NBA Rookie Debut Road Jersey, and a 4/24/2022 Steph Curry Golden State Warriors NBA Playoffs Game-Used Jersey, just to name a few.

There is an impressive number of Michael Jordan items, including jerseys from the Chicago Bulls, Birmingham Barons, Chicago White Sox, and Washington Wizards. 

Baseball fans will find some exciting items like a 1971 Willie Mays SF Giants Game-Used Flannel Uniform and a 1968 Nolan Ryan NY Mets Game-Used Rookie Flannel Jersey. There are bats from Ted Williams, George Brett, and Roberto Clemente. There is also a game-used Clemente glove. There’s a signed Babe Ruth ball and a Mickey Mantle ticket stub.

Football your game? You’ll find a Joe Montana helmet, and jerseys from Brett Favre, Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady,  Troy Aikman, and more.

Robert Edward Auctions (REA) Fall 2024

Robert Edward Auctions (REA) brings us their Fall 2024 action, which wraps up on December 8. This auction is a straight up monster, with almost 3,800 lots.

Auction basics

Items of note

Some of the priciest items in the REA auction this month are some early 20^th century gems. These include a 1916 M101-4/5 Morehouse Baking Babe Ruth Rookie in PSA 3.5 that is new to the hobby. There’s a Joe Jackson from the same set in a PSA 2.5 slab, as well.

There are also 1909-11 T206 White Border cards of Ty Cobb in a PSA 2.5, Eddie Plank in an SGC 3, and Walter Johnson in a PSA 1.5.

There’s also a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth in an impressive PSA 7. A couple of post-war gems are represented in the 1951 Bowman Willie Mays in PSA 8 and a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle in PSA 5.5. There’s a 1957-58 Topps Bill Russell rookie card in PSA 8.

There’s a PSA-graded 1959 Topps complete set that is #24 in the registry. There’s also a near-complete 1911 T205 complete set and a partial 1909-11 T206 set.

There’s unopened materials from tobacco packs right up through the current day. The auction also has plenty of photographs, pop culture, non-sports, and much more.

Clean Sweep Double Play All Sports Affordable 2 Day Autographs, Card, and Memorabilia Auction

Clean Sweep Auctions has their Double Play All Sports Affordable 2-Day Autographs, Card, and Memorabilia Auction, which wraps up on December 11th and 12th. With over 2,500 lots, there’s plenty to unpack here. Autographs are a big part of the appeal in this auction, with baseball also well-represented.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

Autographed baseballs are some of the more active items in the auction. Single signed balls of particular interest include Nolan Ryan, Derek Jeter, Whitey Ford, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle.  There’s a huge lot of signed 3×5 index cards.

Beyond single-signature balls, you’ll find multi-signed balls, team signed balls, and signed bats. You’ll also find a variety of baseball publications, including not one, but two copies of the first ever Sports Illustrated magazine.

There are a number of graded singles worth a look, including a 1958 Hires Root Beer No Tab Willie Mays in SGC 3, 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky SGC 6, and a 1962 Topps Mantle PSA 5, just to name a few.

The Collector Connection Post War Sports Cards & Memorabilia XXXVI

The Collector Connection Post War brings us their Sports Cards & Memorabilia XXXVI auction, which wraps up on December 15^th. Baseball is king here, although other sports do make an appearance.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

The Collector Connection auction is always good for collector-grade items. That doesn’t mean there aren’t valuable cards, as plenty exist. It’s just that many of the items here are on the more affordable side, making them more accessible to more collectors.

There are some great post-war cards, including great-looking examples from one of my all-time favorite sets, 1956 Topps. You’ll find 1956 Topps examples like the Ted Williams PSA 6, Jackie Robinson PSA 2, and Willie Mays PSA 4, among many others.

A handful of the cool 1957 Topps cards include the Sandy Koufax RC in a PSA 6, Willie Mays in a PSA 4, and Ted Williams also in a PSA 4.

There are several complete sets to chase, including 1962 Topps, 1970 Topps, 1974 Topps, 1958 Topps Football, and  1971 O-Pee-Chee Hockey.

Goldin Auctions 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Signed Card Auction

Goldin brings us more auction action, and the title says it all. The auction wraps up on December 17th.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

This auction has but a single item, but it’s a big one! The classic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, #311, signed in blue ballpoint pen. The card is graded a PSA 3, but the signature is rated a PSA/DNA 10. The importance of the 1952 Mantle in the hobby is well-documented.

Mantle passed back in 1995, before the certified autograph craze, making his signature comparably scarce. It will be interesting to see where this one ends when the hammer drops.

Heritage Auctions Sports Showcase Auction

Heritage Auctions is back with its Sports Showcase Auction, which opens on December 6 and runs through December 28. The auction offers 735 items, making it smaller than the earlier Heritage Auction, but there’s still plenty to like here.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

Although a much smaller auction than the Heritage offering from earlier this month, there’s still a lot to like here. For example, the signature on the Signed 1951 Bowman Willie Mays PSA 1/Auto 10 is a great example of a Mays auto. There’s a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle in PSA 2.5 and a 1953 Topps in a PSA 5 slab.

Kobe Bryant fans will find a 2016 Kobe Bryant Signed Final Game Full Ticket in PSA/DNA 10, and both a Circa 2001 Kobe Bryant Signed Los Angeles Lakers Road purple Lakers jersey and a Home Gold Lakers jersey. There’s also a 2021 Giannis Antetokounmpo Game Worn Milwaukee Bucks Jersey.

You’ll also find a 2015 Upper Deck “The Cup” Hockey Hobby 6-Box Factory Sealed Case, a complete 1953 Topps Baseball set, and a complete 1965 Topps Football set.

Here at Cardlines, we love vintage league leader cards, and the 1963 Topps NL Home Run Leaders is one of the best out there, with five Hall of Famers pictured. This auction has a PSA 4/Auto 9 copy signed by all five Hall of Famers.

Feel like you spend enough on cards to buy a car? The 2012 GMC Yukon XL Owned And Driven By Scottie Scheffler From the Korn Ferry Tour to the 2022 Masters Championship is on auction to benefit the Triumph Over Kid Cancer Charity.

Goldin Auctions December Elite Sports Auction

Goldin Auctions is back again to wrap up the month, with the December Elite Sports Auction opening on December 11 and running through the 28th. No details on the lots have yet been posted. Please check back for more info.

Auction Basics

Items of Note

Please check for more information once auction details are available.

Other auctions of note

Heritage Auctions has weekly auctions ending on December 1, December 8, December 15, and December 22. Heritage Auctions also has its Non-Sports Trading Cards Showcase Auction closing on December 19.

Goldin Auctions has weekly auctions ending on December 5, December 12, December 19, and December 26^th.

Final thoughts on the best sports card auctions of December 2024

The weather continues to cool, but the auction action stays hot for December 2024. What are the auctions you’re most looking forward to? Lots that you’d love to see under the tree? Let us know what’s on your mind at CardLines 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