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Heritage Auctions is set to offer a treasure trove of rare and highly coveted baseball cards in their July 12-13 Summer Sports Card Catalog Auction. Among the notable items are a mint-condition 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson card, a gem-mint Michael Jordan Fleer rookie card, and a gem-mint chrome rookie card signed by a young Bryce Harper. This event also includes sealed packs, boxes, and cases brimming with potential hidden gems, making it a must-see for collectors. Additionally, signed Shohei Ohtani cards and best-of-the-best Ty Cobb tobacco cards add to the allure of this summer auction, which features a plethora of Hall of Fame treasures, including Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” jersey.

One of the standout highlights is a collection of 1959 baseball cards once stapled to containers of Canadian cookies. These cards, so rare that PSA has only 69 in its population report, include 37 cards in this event. The roster features legendary players like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Eddie Mathews, Whitey Ford, Ernie Banks, and Yogi Berra.

Though the name Dad’s Cookies might be unfamiliar to many, their significance in the history of sports memorabilia is undeniable. Joe Orlando, Heritage’s Executive Vice President in Sports, notes, “These cards excite even the most veteran collector because they’re something most hobbyists haven’t seen in years — or, more likely, ever. These Dad’s Cookies cards are why people hunt for these things — to find that lost gem, the forgotten treasure.”

The Dad’s Cookies cards were produced by Exhibits Supply Company, a Chicago-based company founded in 1907 that initially created picture postcards distributed in arcades. Over the years, Exhibits expanded to include baseball players, boxers, movie stars, and other figures. In 1959, Dad’s Cookies used these cards as promotional items, stapling them to bags and boxes of cookies. Each card bore a note from the company’s Scottish mascot, “Sandy,” urging kids to collect all 64 “autographed” pictures of “a BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL STAR.” The cards’ rarity is a result of their distribution method and the limited number of surviving examples.

This auction also features two of the most sought-after Ty Cobb T206 cards from the early 1900s. One is the El Principe de Gales Ty Cobb, graded PSA NM 7, which is exceptionally rare with only one known example bearing the El Principe de Gales advertisement on the back. The other is the American Beauty Portrait-Red Cobb, graded PSA EX-MT 6, the highest-graded example of its kind. Orlando highlights their significance: “The red portrait is so popular, but the scarcer backs are a big deal to those who take T206 collecting to the next level, especially when it’s the finest known example, as is the case with these Cobbs.”

Collectors will also find an array of sealed boxes and cases, such as the 1970 Topps Baseball Wax Box (1st & 3rd Series) with 24 unopened packs potentially containing Carl Yastrzemski, Vida Blue’s rookie card, Rod Carew, Tom Seaver, or Roberto Clemente. These items hold nostalgic value and the promise of uncovering hidden treasures. Orlando explains, “It’s time in a bottle, your childhood frozen in time. And it’s about what might be inside.”

The auction includes newer boxes and cases as well, like the 2015 Upper Deck Hockey Series 1 Hobby Unopened Case with 12 boxes and the 2020 Panini Flawless Football Factory Sealed Case with two boxes. These offer the thrill of potentially finding rare cards, such as a Connor McDavid rookie card or a gem-mint rookie patch auto. Orlando comments, “There’s a contingent of people who really enjoy opening this stuff and unlocking the mystery. It can take a serious amount of courage, but it’s part of what makes this collecting category so intriguing.”

Heritage Auctions’ Summer Sports Card Catalog Auction is poised to be an unforgettable event for sports memorabilia enthusiasts, offering a unique opportunity to acquire some of the rarest and most valuable cards in existence.