RIPPED is Live from Cleveland
Editor’s note: Each day of the National Sports Collectors Convention, Topps RIPPED senior writer Greg Bates will highlight three things he saw while roaming the show floor at the I-X Center in Cleveland.
CLEVELAND—Like the previous two days, Saturday’s Day 4 of The National was absolutely nuts.
According to dealers, attendees were in a spending mood. That put everyone on the show floor in a good mood. Here are the top things I saw strolling around the convention center.
Robert Edward Auctions has a 1951 Bowman PSA 8.5 Willie Mays up for auction. (All photos by Greg Bates)
Best Auction House Item
A 1951 Bowman PSA 8.5 Willie Mays at Robert Edward Auctions.
With a population count of one for a PSA 8.5 and only eight examples graded higher by PSA — all 9s with no 10s existing — this is an ultra-rare card. According to REA communications director P.J. Kinsella, this is the highest-graded Mays to sell at auction in 15 years.
“One of the most iconic cards in the hobby,” Kinsella said. “There’s heightened interest in Mays since he recently passed.”
This beautiful example of Mays is estimated to fetch $500,000 in REA’s current summer auction that runs from August 11. “He’s a guy who is already one of the most collected and most sought-after individuals in the hobby,” Kinsella said. “He’s a guy who people are like, OK, if I don’t have a Mays, let me add him now.”
Mike Cancelliere from MC Sportscards shows off his 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospects Red Refractor Auto #JS Juan Soto /5. The rare card has an estimated value of $190,000.
Best Dealer Item
A 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospects Red Refractor Auto #JS Juan Soto /5 in a PSA 7 with a 10 auto.
On Saturday, MC Sportscards owner Mike Cancelliere pulled the trigger on a massive trade. With some cash included, Cancelliere traded a pair of 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards in PSA 3.5 and 4 for the Soto.
“As odd as it sounds, it was a big trade where I gave up a couple of ’52 Mantles, and I got this and a bunch of stuff,” said Cancelliere, who lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It’s kind of an odd trade giving up vintage for modern, but it made sense. Soto’s killing it this year, so I gave it a shot.”
With only five of these cards in existence, Cancelliere wanted to get his hands on one. He estimates its value at $190,000.
“It’s definitely rare. I got it from a guy with whom I do a lot of big deals, so I’m not surprised at all that he had it,” Cancelliere said. “It was not on my bingo card that I’d acquire it at the show.”
Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino was one of the star-studded athletes signing for TRISTAR at the Autograph Pavilion on Saturday.
Best Overall Scene
The Autograph Pavilion put on by TRISTAR.
On Saturday, the names were big: Dan Marino, Reggie Jackson, Sammy Sosa, Jim Thome, Mariano Rivera, and Chevy Chase.
“The best line of the day was when Reggie was leaving — and I’ve known Reggie a long time — he said, ‘Jeff, this was great.’ He said, ‘I had Dan Marino on my right and Barry Sanders on my left,’” Rosenberg said. “Even he was impressed. Like, wow, this is greatness.”
There weren’t too many slower times during the first few days in the Autograph Pavilion.
“It was busy,” Rosenberg said. I think Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were just slammed for us. It’s been great. We really appreciate all the collectors coming out and supporting The National and TRISTAR. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and they all seem big, but this one feels different.”
Before the show, Rosenberg told RIPPED that the autograph lineup was possibly the best The National has ever had. It could have been, and the crowd realized it, too.
“I’m glad my instincts were accurate, and, boy, they sure were,” Rosenberg said.
