MESQUITE, NEV..- Fresh off its move from Davenport, Washington, where the company was headquartered for over 10 years, Grant Zahajko Auctions will make a splash at its new home in Mesquite, Nevada on Wednesday, October 28th, with a Sports Cards & Memorabilia auction, packed with over 400 lots of rare and highly desirable sports collectibles. The action will be held online from the firm’s new gallery home located at 1624 Riverstone Bend, Unit 604 in Mesquite.
Certainly the most intriguing lot in the sale is an important Knute Rockne thee-page handwritten letter with diagrammed plays and the original envelope addressed in Rockne’s hand. Rockne was the legendary football player and coach at the University of Notre Dame, which he led for 13 seasons and along the way accumulated more than 100 wins and three national championships.
The letter was written in 1916 following a request for some plays from a high school coach, as documented in the consigning family’s letter of provenance. It has been in the same family for over 100 years. Rockne writes that the plays Notre Dame executes would be too complicated for high schoolers, then diagrams a few plays anyway. He signs the letter “Rock.” Included in the lot is a letter of authenticity from Beckett Authenticating Services. The estimate is $15,000-$20,000.
The rest of the auction is a sports memorabilia collector’s wonderland, filled with items that feature rare estate sports cards, to include 1933 Goudey baseball cards that were found in an estate earlier this year and only recently graded; vintage sports magazines just recently graded, some of which are the highest grade for that issue with none higher; and other great rarities.
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig will make multiple appearances throughout the sale. A Babe Ruth 1933 Goudey #149 card, graded PSA 3, has an estimate of $14,000-$18,000; a Lou Gehrig 1933 Goudey #92 card, graded PSA 2, is expected to bring $3,500-$4,500; authentic government postcards from 1935, one signed by Lou Gehrig (Auto Grade 10, estimate: $4,000-$6,000), the other signed by Babe Ruth (Auto Grade 8, estimate: $3,500-$4,500) are both authenticated and encapsulated by Beckett; and a Lou Gehrig cut signature with LOA should make $2,000-$3,000.
Noteworthy basketball cards include the following:
• A Michael Jordan 1998 Fleer Tradition #6 Electrifying card, graded PSA 8. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000
• A 1998 Skybox Premium That’s Jam 4 Shaquille O’Neal card, graded PSA 9. Estimate: $3,500-$4,500
• A Kobe Bryant 1996 Skybox E-X2000 Star Date 2000 #3 card, graded PSA 8. Estimate: $2,500-$3,000
• A Kobe Bryant 1998 Skybox Premium Soul of the Game 6 card, graded PSA 8. Estimate: $1,600-$2,000
• A 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings 4 Michael Jordan card, graded PSA 6. Estimate: $800-$1,200
Turning to the sweet science of boxing, an 8 inch by 10 inch black-and-white still photograph from Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s legendary Fight of the Century in 1971, signed by both fighters and showing Ali dodging one of Frazier’s devastating left hooks, including a full letter of authenticity from Steve Grad Authentication, is expected to change hands for $500-$800; while a 5 inch by 4 inch black and white photograph signed by Joe Louis, depicting the champ in a jacket and bow tie carrying a bag of groceries, carries an estimate of $500-$700.
Returning to baseball, a Mickey Cochrane single-signed baseball, inscribed by the Hall of Fame catcher while on a hunting trip (“Thanks for a great time, Mickey Cochrane, Tigers, 1935”), a photo of the hunters included with the lot, is estimated to reach $2,000-$3,000. Also, authentic government postcards postmarked 1935, one signed by Honus Wagner and Arky Vaughn (Auto Grade 9, estimate: $2,000-$3,000) and Ty Cobb (Auto Grade 8, estimate: $1,200-$1,600) are both authenticated and encapsulated by Beckett Authentication Services.
Rounding out this short list of auction highlights is a 1933 Goudey #223 Dizzy Dean baseball card, graded PSA Very Good (estimate: $900-$1,200); a copy of Dell Sports Magazine from 1959 with Mickey Mantle on the cover, population one with none higher, graded CGC 9.2 (estimate: $400-$600); and a 1975 George Brett O-Pee-Chee baseball card #228, graded PSA 6 (estimate: $600-$800).
The auction has a start time of 9am Pacific Time. A preview will be held live at the Mesquite gallery by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 702-552-9640; or, you can send an email to info@gzauctions.com.
Internet bidding is available on the popular platforms LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, Auctionzip.com, Connect.Invaluable.com (Grant Zahajko’s branded version of Invaluable) and bid.gzauctions.com, plus direct bidding on their redesigned website, gzauctions.com.
Grant Zahajko Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To inquire about consigning a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at 702-552-9640; or, you can send an email to
grant@gzauctions.com. To learn more about Grant Zahajko Auctions and the Sports Cards & Memorabilia auction on Wednesday, October 28th, at 9am Pacific Time, online and live at the new Mesquite, Nevada gallery, please visit gzauctions.com. Updates are posted often.
