Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant Jersey Combo Autograph Card Clears $825K To Lead Heritage’s Spring Sports Card Catalog Auction to $13.8 Million

Record-breaking Bob Cousy rookie, Shohei Ohtani/Aaron Judge Gold Logoman and autographed Peyton Manning Rookie Ticket cards also among April 3-4 event highlights DOWNLOAD DIGITAL PRESS KIT DALLAS, Texas (April 6, 2026) — A rare dual-autographed Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant card drew 53 bids on its way to $869,250 to lead Heritage Auctions’ April 3-4 Spring Sports Card Catalog Auction to a total of $13,775,001. The top lot — a 2000 Upper Deck Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Jersey Combo Autograph (#’d 05/10) — features bold signatures from both Hall of Fame legends alongside game-worn jersey swatches, representing one of the earliest and most important dual-signed basketball cards ever produced. Its combination of rarity, historical importance and elite player pairing helped it achieve the highest result in the auction. “This card is one of the most important and desirable early Upper Deck trading cards as the first issue in hobby history to offer dual-swatch auto cards,” says Chris Ivy, Heritage’s Director of Sports Auctions. “Not only is it exceedingly rare, it also is the first card ever dual-signed by Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. It is only fitting that it leads the pack in this auction full of record-setting results.” Close behind was a 1957 Topps Bob Cousy Rookie No. 17 PSA Mint 9, which brought $353,800 — crushing the previous record of $63,000 to become the most valuable Cousy item ever sold. The card, one of only three graded at that level with none higher, captures the Boston Celtics legend in his MVP season and reflects the enduring demand for high-grade vintage basketball rookies. Among the most notable results in the auction was a 1955 Topps Jackie Robinson PSA Mint 9 that realized $231,800, more than doubling the previous record of $93,000. The card’s bold horizontal design and dual imagery highlight Robinson during the prime of his career, while its scarcity in high grade continues to attract serious collectors seeking historically significant pieces tied to one of baseball’s most important figures. Matching that result was a signed 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle Rookie PSA VG 3 with PSA/DNA Auto 9, a coveted early Mantle issue enhanced by a strong authenticated autograph — a category that continues to gain traction across the hobby. Modern collecting also proved exceptionally strong, led by a 2025 Topps Chrome Update Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge MLB Gold Logoman MVP Autograph Relic (#’d 1/4), which closed at $219,600. Featuring gold MLB logo patches worn by award winners and commemorating the first back-to-back MVP seasons in both leagues, the card also carries a compelling origin story as a Christmas-morning discovery, adding to its appeal among collectors seeking unique, narrative-driven pieces. Additional basketball highlights included a 1998 SkyBox Molten Metal Kobe Bryant Fusion-Titanium (#’d /40), which set a record for the card at $207,400. The visually striking insert reflects the late-1990s era of innovation in card design and captures Bryant during his rapid ascent to superstardom, further reinforcing demand for scarce parallels tied to key moments in a player’s career. Football collectors competed heavily for elite Peyton Manning rookie material, most notably a 1998 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph PSA Gem Mint 10, which realized $176,900. One of just six examples to achieve that grade, the card represents a cornerstone issue from Manning’s rookie season and remains one of the defining quarterback cards of the modern era. Vintage icons remained a driving force throughout the auction. A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA Good+ 2.5 from the collection of World Golf Hall of Famer Fred Couples brought $158,600, setting a record price for the grade and demonstrating the continued accessibility and appeal of the hobby’s most iconic post-war card across a range of grades. The legendary outfielder was featured on 88 lots that were sold in the auction. In addition to the signed 1951 Bowman and the 1952 card from Couples’ collection, other highlights included a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC VG-EX+ 4.5that brought $134,200, a 1969 Topps Mickey Mantle (Last Name In White) #500 PSA NM-MT 8 - MBA Silverthat ended at $112,850 and a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA VG 3 that achieved $109,800. Mantle — along with legends like Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson and Roger Maris — also was featured in a1961 Topps Baseball Near Master Set (591/596) that is ranked No. 9 on the PSA Set Registry that drew a winning bid of $82,350. Similarly, a 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente Rookie PSA NM-MT 8 realized $122,000, reflecting sustained demand for cornerstone rookie cards tied to Hall of Fame careers and enduring legacies. The Clemente rookie remains one of the most sought-after cards of the 1950s, celebrated for both its visual appeal and the legacy of the Pittsburgh Pirates legend. Collectors also showed strong interest in unopened material and complete sets, including a 1971 Topps Baseball wax box with 24 unopened packs that reached $122,000, highlighting the growing appeal of sealed vintage products with the potential for high-grade discoveries. The auction also featured a diverse range of material spanning multiple sports and collecting categories. A 1984 Star Co. Basketball complete set in original sealed bags brought $134,200, reflecting continued interest in early Michael Jordan-era issues and limited-distribution sets. A 1998 SkyBox Metal Universe Ken Griffey Jr. Precious Metal Gems (#’d /50) achieved $103,700, underscoring the enduring popularity of ultra-limited 1990s inserts among both vintage and modern collectors. Another record was set when a 1952 Bowman Large George Halas #48 PSA Gem Mint 10 climbed to $82,350 — the most ever paid for a n 1952 football card. The card features the founder, owner and head coach of the Chicago Bears who guided the team to the 1963 league title and is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of professional football. This card is the only example to earn a Gem Mint 10 grade. The April event also reflected the continued globalization of the sports card market, with strong interest in soccer cards featuring icons such as Lionel Messi, whose 2004 Panini Mega Cracks Rookie #71 PSA Mint 9 drew $61,488, and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose 2004 Upper Deck SP Authentic (Manchester United-Gold) #37 PSA Gem Mint 10 - #’d 39/99 scored $14,640. Complete results can be found at HA.com/50084. Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet's most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 2 million registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of 7,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit. For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter . Link to this release or view prior press releases . Hi-Res images available: Steve Lansdale, Public Relations Specialist 214-409-1699 or SteveL@HA.com