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Heritage Auctions' Spring Sports Catalog sale was a monumental event, drawing significant attention and yielding high sales with historic jerseys and bats from baseball legends dominating the proceedings.

The highlight of the auction was a 1920 Walter Johnson Washington Senators jersey, which fetched just over $2 million. The jersey, flannel in material, was verified through photo matching to have been worn by Johnson during a historic game—Babe Ruth’s first as a member of the New York Yankees. Originating from Johnson's teammate, Eric “Swat” Erickson, the jersey had been preserved by Erickson's family in Jamestown, New York, before entering the collecting hobby in the early 2000s. The last transaction for this jersey before this auction was in June 2006, where it sold for $352,000.

Not far behind in the auction's top sales was a 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers jersey worn by Sandy Koufax during his rookie season, which went for $1.8 million. This jersey stands out as one of the most iconic pieces of baseball memorabilia sold in recent years.

Other notable sales included:

• Carl Hubbell’s New York Giants jersey from his MVP seasons of 1936-1939, which sold for $87,000.
• A St. Louis Cardinals jersey worn by Stan Musial during his 1943 MVP season fetched $180,147.
• Warren Spahn’s Milwaukee Braves jersey from the 1954 season was sold for $102,000.
• A Reggie Jackson Oakland A’s uniform from his record 57-home run season in 1969 realized $99,000.

The auction also highlighted other memorabilia such as a Ty Cobb Louisville Slugger bat from the early 1920s, which commanded $630,000. This bat, weighing 40.7 ounces and measuring 34 1/2 inches, is believed to have been used by Cobb during the last season he hit over .400.

Further, a Mickey Mantle bat from 1953 presented to a fan in Oklahoma before the 1954 season garnered $324,000. A Hank Aaron glove, photomatched to 1973 and previously owned by a Milwaukee Brewers executive, sold for $210,000, reflecting the increasing market interest in game-used fielder's gloves.

Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage, noted the auction's success, highlighting the robust performance of game-worn items, particularly fielder's gloves, which are becoming increasingly popular among collectors.

The three-day event attracted 3,650 bidders worldwide, achieving more than $21 million in sales with nearly every lot sold. Additionally, several cards broke records during the auction:

• A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card graded SGC 7.5 set a new record for its grade at $564,000.
• A complete 1952 Topps master set, including a PSA 6 Mantle, fetched $264,000.
• A 1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb card sold for a record $63,000.
• A George Brett rookie card, one of only 11 Gem Mint 10s registered by PSA, realized $150,000.

Moreover, the auction featured high-value unopened material, such as a 1961-62 Fleer Basketball box that ended at $372,000 and a PSA 9 graded Wilt Chamberlain rookie card from the same set, which brought in $198,000. Additionally, a 1948 Bowman Baseball unopened wax pack graded PSA 7 sold for $138,000, and a 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card graded PSA 8 fetched $186,000.

This auction not only underscored the deep passion and investment in sports memorabilia but also highlighted the historical significance and financial value of these rare collectibles.