Harris T206 set netting over $1.1 Million

Written by Laguna Niguel (SportsCardsPlus - August 11, 2000)

Legendary Harris T206 set lives up to advance billing by netting over 1.1 million dollars in SportsCards Plus auction.

With all the talk surrounding this unprecedented set some were wondering if this auction could deliver the prices everyone was expecting. It did not disappoint. Topping the 1.1 million dollar mark this collection made history by being the first set ever to be sold for over one million dollars. The auction, consisting of 520 lots was spread out over two days with the first 249 lots ending on August 9 and the final 271 lots ending on August 10.

The first day showed that this auction was going to be something special with record setting prices for Ty Cobb (Bat off Shoulder) PSA 9 ($77,055) and Walter Johnson (Portrait) PSA 9 ($38,358). These amazing cards received the strongest of bidding showing the world how phenomenal these cards truly are. The second day was equally strong highlighted by the only known Christy Mathewson (Portrait) PSA 9 which went for the highest price of any card in the auction at a record setting $84,100. Hall of Famers received high prices throughout. A few of the more notable: Ty Cobb (Portrait Green Back) PSA 8 NM-MT $40,250, Christy Mathewson (White Cap) PSA 9 Mint $29,161, Nap Lajoie (Throwing) PSA 9 Mint ($11,500), Cy Young (Cle Portrait) PSA 8 NM-MT ($13,591), Cy Young (Cle Glove Shows) PSA 8 NM-MT ($12,783), Ty Cobb (Bat on Shoulder) PSA 8 NM-MT ($25,994), Eddie Collins (Phil) PSA 9 Mint ($16,350), Rube Waddell (Throwing) PSA 9 Mint ($9,833), Cy Young (Cle Bare Hand Shows) PSA 9 ($24,273), Clark Griffith (Batting) PSA 9 ($7,491), and Walter Johnson (Hands at Chest) PSA 8 NM-MT ($12,137).

The second rarest card in the set, the Eddie Plank in a beautiful PSA 7, also received the attention it deserves and netted a final price of $82,411. Two unbelievable Gem Mint PSA 10s, including the first one ever graded went on the block the second day. The record setting prices paid showed how truly rare they are. The Bobby Byrne PSA 10 Gem Mint sold for $15,253 and the Mike Donlin (seated) PSA Gem Mint 10 went for $16,016. Another scarce variation card of Kid Elberfield (Wash Portrait) PSA 8 NM-MT received a lot of attention as well and ended at $12,551. Southern Leaguers also went wild with many cracking the $1,000 mark. Two of the more prominent bids were Ted Breitenstein (N.O.) PSA 8 NM-MT ($4,509) and Bill Cranston (Mem) PSA 8 NM-MT ($3,410). Singles also received their just do going for an average price of $708.