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Sports fans and card collectors, get ready: Miller & Miller Auctions is serving up a vintage buffet on June 22nd, featuring some of the biggest names in baseball and hockey. This online-only sale — no in-person fanfare, just a good old-fashioned internet bidding war — includes 235 lots of pre-1980 sports cards and memorabilia.

Headlining the show is none other than Mickey Mantle himself. The 1952 Topps #311 Mantle rookie — the holy grail of baseball cards — is up for grabs. Even in well-loved condition, this card is expected to draw big bucks, with an estimate between $40,000 and $50,000 CAD. It’s graded PSA 2 Good, meaning the corners have seen better days, but the surface and edges are still solid. For serious collectors, that’s more than enough to spark a bidding frenzy.

And Mantle isn’t the only baseball legend in the spotlight. A group of 40 cards from Topps’ 1952 Sixth Series (the elusive “High Numbers”) will also be available. These cards range from #311 Mantle to #407 and are considered the cream of the crop for that set, despite some showing their age with damage and heavy wear. Estimated to bring in $3,000 to $5,000 CAD, they’re a chance for collectors to snag a piece of hobby history.

Not to be outdone, the hockey side of things looks just as enticing. The 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie card is expected to fetch $8,000 to $10,000 CAD. Graded PSA 3 Very Good, it might not be museum-quality, but it still holds strong eye appeal and is the crown jewel of the 1951-52 Parkhurst set.

Speaking of legends, Bobby Orr’s 1966 Topps #35 rookie card is making an appearance too. Graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint, it’s expected to attract a lot of interest from hockey fans and serious investors alike, with estimates between $8,000 and $9,000 CAD.

One of the more unique pieces in this auction is a game-used, team-signed Bill Barilko hockey stick from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1951 Stanley Cup-winning season. Sporting Barilko’s number 5 and signatures from his teammates, this stick is a one-of-a-kind relic of hockey history. Estimate: $3,000 to $5,000 CAD.

For collectors who love a good display, there’s a shadow box featuring Parkhurst rookie cards for Maurice and Henri Richard, graded KSA 4 and 3 respectively. The 24-inch by 72-inch box also includes a Louisville Pro Flex stick signed by both brothers, a Canadiens puck, and a bronze plaque. This piece of Montreal Canadiens lore is estimated at $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.

Another highlight is a complete set of 110 1964-65 Topps “Tall Boys” hockey cards — named for their extra-long size — featuring legends like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Tim Horton. The set is graded overall in good to very good condition, with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000 CAD.

Last but not least is a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee uncut sheet of 226 hockey cards that includes a pristine #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card. This sheet, despite some minor edge wear, is a rare survivor and is expected to bring $3,500 to $4,500 CAD.

According to Ben Pernfuss, Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, this auction is a who’s who of sports history. “Collectors will find key cards from the groundbreaking 1951 Parkhurst hockey and 1952 Topps baseball sets featuring some of the most iconic names in sports,” he said.

Interested bidders can check out the auction catalog at Miller & Miller’s website, or join the action via LiveAuctioneers. Miller & Miller Auctions is Canada’s trusted seller of high-value collections, always ready to handle sports cards, watches, jewelry, and other collectibles with the same care a rookie treats his first glove.

Auction link: Miller & Miller Pre-1980 Sports Cards & Memorabilia