Autographed T206 Cobb with Note Sells for $27,600

Content Originally Published by Sports Collectors Daily on Monday October 18, 2010.

It’s not known for certain how many autographed T206 Ty Cobb cards reside in private collections, but it’s safe to say the number is barely into double digits.  A rare opportunity, then, presented itself recently when Imperial Sports offered one, signed in Cobb’s famous green ink.

The red backed card was consigned by the grandson of the original recipient, a North Carolina man who sent away to Nevada for the Hall of Famer’s autograph in 1957.  Cobb not only signed the card, but included a note.   The items generated 26 bids and sold for $27,600 after opening with a $5,000 minimum.

Among the other items up for bid in Imperial’s fall auction were several Hall of Famer autographed items.  A rare, single-signed Mel Ott baseball, sold for $14,950.  An official American League Babe Ruth autographed baseball, dating to the late 1920s or early 30s, went for the same amount.

A ball dating from Ruth’s barnstorming days with Lou Gehrig in 1927 and signed by both Yankee greats, drew 18 bids and a final realized price of $14,375.

Mickey Mantle’s 458th home run ball, dating from the 1965 season and accompanied by a letter from the owner, went for $10,350.