In a narrative that seems to leap straight from a tale of hidden treasures, siblings in Northeast Ohio found themselves playing Indiana Jones—minus the hat and whip—when they uncovered an unexpected fortune tucked away in their late parents’ attic. There, among the dust bunnies and long-forgotten relics, lay a seemingly ordinary cigar box that was about to rock the world of vintage baseball card collecting.
What the family stumbled upon was not just any collection; it was a veritable goldmine, filled with Babe Ruth baseball cards. When these pieces of sporting history recently went under the virtual gavel at Stark County’s Kiko Auctions, they fetched an eye-popping $120,000. Talk about hitting a home run out of an attic full of knick-knacks!
The tale, while worthy of a Hollywood script, began in earnest as the siblings sorted through their late parents’ belongings, likely bracing for memories, not monetary miracles. Yet, guided by a hunch that their inherited stash held significant value, they contacted Kiko Auctions to help determine the worth of these locked-away treasures. Once the collection was revealed, there was no doubt these cards were a jackpot.
The ripple effects of this discovery soon reached The Canton Repository, keen to unravel the details of this unlikely windfall for its readers. The auction, stretching from May 28 to June 2, wasn’t just passing interest; it was a thunderous event, showcasing 623 lots dominated by baseball cards. The real heavyweights of the sale were over 200 cards from the illustrious 1933 Goudey Big League Gum set—an absolute must-have for serious collectors.
In a stroke of genius marketing during the Great Depression, the Goudey Gum Company decided to accompany each card with a stick of gum, catapulting this specific set to stratospheric heights of popularity. Fast forward to today, and these cards remain highly coveted, holding timeless sway over the collecting community.
As bidders flocked to the online auction, the stakes soared, aligning with the rising bids. When the digital dust settled and the virtual hammer fell, winning bidders had committed a collective $120,699 — an impressive haul boosted by a 10% internet premium and 6.5% sales tax, pushing the total amount beyond the $140,000 threshold.
In a dramatic twist worthy of a sporting saga, a particularly keen bidder (perhaps recognized by their canny online username) snapped up a significant slice of this collection. The crowning jewel? A Babe Ruth card from the 1933 Goudey series accentuated by a striking red backdrop, netting a cool $8,000. In total, five cards featuring the Sultan of Swat amassed $35,250, excluding additional fees and taxes.
The condition of these cards varied, a common occurrence with treasures unearthed in hidden recesses of the home. Not a single card had been professionally graded, injecting an element of risk akin to a curveball you can’t quite predict. But therein lies the thrill — the possibility of holding, quite literally in some cases, a piece of history.
This Ohio attic adventure underscores a charming aspect of collecting: the genuine excitement of unearthing forgotten relics, especially those of America’s beloved pastime. It’s stories like these that remind us of the intoxicating blend of nostalgia and opportunity inherent in collecting. As the faint aroma of history wafted through that attic, mingling with the scent of old cigars, a poignant reminder emerged—baseball, in all its storied glory, can still evoke magic long after the final inning is played.
Tapping back to value-wise runs is not exclusive to the baseball diamond. With the right mixture of chance, history, and a touch of serendipity, even an old cigar box can weave whispers of bygone eras and fetch a fortune. These little pieces of carded paper are not just memorabilia but time capsules, safeguarding memories of legends like Babe Ruth, who continues to command center stage, swinging for the fences in the world of collectibles.