PSA 10 Gretzky Rookie Card Passes $71,000

Content Originally Published by Sports Collectors Daily on Thursday April 28, 2011.

The bidding for a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card, the original UCLA Pauley Pavilion jump circle and the personal basketball memorabilia collection of Hall of Fame coach Arnold “Red” Auerbach is heating up in advance of the April 30 auction close.

The item drawing the highest bid for SCP Auctions, the PSA 10  Gretzky rookie card, is arguably the most valuable modern trading card on the planet.  The current bid stood at $71,335 and that figure is expected to rise dramatically in the auction’s final hours.  Additionally, the Pauley Pavilion jump circle is currently at $104,443 after opening at $25,000.

Bids on other prominent items in the auction include:

• Card #103 from the 1915 Crack Jack issue featuring “Shoeless” Joe Jackson – current high bid $47,084
• Ty Cobb game-used bat autographed and inscribed on Aug. 9, 1925 – current high bid $58,954
• Card #30 from the 1915 Crack Jack issue featuring Ty Cobb – current high bid $34,529
• Circa 1931 Lefty Grove Philadelphia Athletics game- worn uniform – current high bid $53,594
• Red Auerbach’s 1981 Boston Celtics NBA championship ring – current high bid $26,575
• Red Auerbach’s 1,000^th Career Win Trophy – current high bid $8,860
• Patrick Joseph "Patsy" Donovan's 1910 Boston Red Sox jersey – current high bid $17,717
• Ted Williams signed 1937 Boston Red Sox rookie player assignment contract and photograph – $10,982

"This auction offers world-class items across all of sport and truly showcases some of the most unique items ever offered,” said SCP President and CEO David Kohler.  “We are excited to see how the bidding develops.”

Collectors can bid through Saturday (April 30) by logging on to www.scpauctions.comor calling (800) 350-2273.  The initial-bidding period ends at 7 p.m. PST, with the auction ending after 15 minutes has elapsed without a bid on the entire auction.

In addition to Auerbach’s 1981 Celtics NBA championship ring, the internet auction also includes other significant Celtics championship rings, important awards, game-used items, autographed pieces, personal effects and ephemera.  The “Red” Auerbach collection will be auctioned in three successive internet auctions with part one highlighting SCP’s April sale.