PSA authenticated or graded 10 of most-expensive items sold in 2017

Just 10 of the most-notable items in the sports world that were sold in 2017 totaled more than $6.7 million in sales, ranging from the $1.68 million Norman Rockwell piece you see here to high-grade copies of Mickey Mantle‘s iconic 1952 Topps card.

And they all had one thing in common — PSA or PSA/DNA authentication.

“We certified a myriad of incredible items last year, and the list is full of sports history from top to bottom,” said Professional Sports Authenticator VP Steve Sloan. “We’ll continue pushing ourselves toward another great year in 2018, and look forward to what’s in store.”

The Newport Beach, Calif.-based company recently took the time to examine the markets last year and touted its Top 10 for 2017. Keep reading to see everything on the list.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Sept. 22)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Vintage hauls and plenty on 2016 Topps Heritage High Number.

Four cards top $100,000 mark in Memory Lane Inc. auction

Memory Lane Inc.’s Spring Classics Rarities Auction ended with more than $2.9 million in sales during the weekend and four cards were of note helping the company reach that mark.

Three of them topped $100,000, while a fourth key card from the past topped $90,000 before a 20 percent premium was added.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 8)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Showing off your Top 10 cards, 1990s NBA box breaks, Bartolo Colon‘s historic homer, 2015 Topps Diamond & Tim Duncan‘s cardboard.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (April 24)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Museum Collection, big NFL pulls, Bill Gates’ money, Mickey Mantle’s RC & more.

Baseball world loses legendary voice Joe Garagiola

For nine years, Joe Garagiola was a big-league catcher, but for decades after that he was a voice of baseball and a personality on network television.

He worked NBC‘s Game of the Week and World Series coverage and was a host of Today and a fill-in host on The Tonight Show, too. He died on Wednesday at age 90.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this amazing man who was not just beloved by those of us in his family, but to generations of baseball fans who he impacted during his eight decades in the game,” said a statement from his family. “Joe loved the game and passed that love onto family, his friends, his teammates, his listeners and everyone he came across as a player and broadcaster. His impact on the game, both on and off the field, will forever be felt.”

Mickey Mantle cards sell for more than $750,000 via Memory Lane Inc.

Demand for The Mick continues to be an all-time high.

A run of high-grade Mickey Mantle Topps and Bowman baseball cards from 1951 to 1969 sold for more than $750,000 this weekend in a Memory Lane Inc. auction.

“The Empire State Collection” consisted of 21 PSA-graded cards and, according to the company, 14 of them set new record-highs for their condition.

Baseball loses Hall of Famer Monte Irvin at age 96

Before he made his big-league debut in 1949, Monte Irvin had been a star in the Negro Leagues who was among the most-respected in the game — a player who had all-around skills and quite a strong career before making the leap to MLB and ultimate enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

“Monte was the choice of all Negro National and American League club owners to serve as the No. 1 player to join a white major-league team,” Newark Eagles owner and Hall of Famer Effa Manley once said. “We all agreed, in meeting, he was the best qualified by temperament, character ability, sense of loyalty, morals, age, experiences and physique to represent us as the first black player to enter the white majors since the Walker brothers back in the 1880s. Of course, Branch Rickey lifted Jackie Robinson out of Negro ball and made him the first, and it turned out just fine.”

Irvin, who went on to eight seasons in the big leagues, hitting .293 with 99 homers and 443 RBI beginning as a 30-year-old “rookie,” died on Tuesday. He was 96.

First Buzz: 2015 Historic Autographs Casey’s Juggernaut Originals

What: 2015 Historic Autographs Casey’s Juggernaut Originals
Arrives: Dec. 9
Box basics: One PSA-encapsulated vintage baseball card and cut autograph combo display per box.

What’s buzz-worthy: The New York Yankees dominated MLB from 1948 to 1955 with five consecutive World Series victories within that seven-year span for manager Casey Stengel — this product focuses on player and cards from that era. Oh, and there are five 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle Rookie Cards inside this product, which is comprised of only PSA-authenticated autographs and cards inside a Historic Autographs display.

See a gallery and more … below.