Byron “Whizzer” White’s cardboard options aren’t all that supreme

If you happened to turn on a cable news network Tuesday afternoon and see the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, you may have seen a weird discussion with Texas Senator Ted Cruz that had nothing to do with politics.

It had plenty to do with basketball — and the skills of a former associate justice of the Supreme Court, Byron White, who was appointed to the court in 1962 and was there until 1993.

Apparently he was known for his elbows and odd free-throws — and what was mentioned in passing as part of this off-topic discussion? The NFL.

Father’s Day is perfect day to learn more about Ernie Johnson

You probably know him as the host of Inside the NBA, the postgame show for NBA on TNT broadcasts, but there’s a lot you may not know about Ernie Johnson that are perfect for this Father’s Day.

Those around the Atlanta area may know that he’s the son of a former Milwaukee Braves pitcher and long-time Atlanta Braves announcer, Ernie Johnson Sr., who, after a nine-year MLB career, covered the team for more than 30 years. He’s one of 29 members of the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame after he was inducted in 2001.

The father appears on nearly 30 baseball cards with his Rookie Card coming in the 1954 Bowman set and his final regular-issue card in the 1960 Topps set. The son appears on just two cards — one in the 1990-91 Hoops Announcers set, which is a rare card for its era, and the 2014-15 Panini Threads Voices of the Game autograph above.

But all of this isn’t why Father’s Day is the perfect time to learn more about a broadcaster and three-time Emmy Award winner we’ve heard plenty from since 1989.

High-grade Hank Aaron 1954 Topps Rookie powers big Mile High sale

A near-perfect PSA 9 Hank Aaron 1954 Topps Rookie Card led the way in the Mile High Card Company auction that ended during the weekend — and it was just one of 10 lots that topped the $20,000 mark.

All were graded vintage cards in high grades or key specimens slabbed by PSA or SGC — meanwhile 13 other auctions topped the $10,000 plateau in the sale.

Click the first image below to enter our gallery and get a closer look at the top 10 lots as well their final sale prices. We added an extra one so you can see a surprising sale price on the only PSA 10 Joe Torre 1962 Topps Rookie Card in existence.

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1954 Topps #128 Henry Aaron PSA 9 MINT # Bids: 25 Min Bid: $25,000 Final Price: $192,527

1933 Goudey #92 Lou Gehrig SGC 96 MINT 9 # Bids: 27 Min Bid: $12,000 Final Price: $57,183

1970 Topps #140 Reggie Jackson PSA 10 GEM MINT- (Only PSA 10) # Bids: 32 Min Bid: $3,500 Final Price: $43,101

1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson PSA 10 GEM MINT # Bids: 12 Min Bid: $5,000 Final Price: $29,872

1954 Topps #128 Henry Aaron PSA 8 NM/MT # Bids: 18 Min Bid: $5,000 Final Price: $28,449

1954 Bowman Football Set (#3 On PSA registry, 9.59 rating) # Bids: 12 Min Bid: $7,500 Final Price: $27,751

1952 Bowman #101 Mickey Mantle SGC 96 MINT 9 # Bids: 16 Min Bid: $5,000 Final Price: $27,095

1915 Cracker Jack #57 Walter Johnson SGC 96 MINT 9 # Bids: 21 Min Bid: $6,000 Final Price: $26,867

1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle PSA 2.5 GOOD+ # Bids: 18 Min Bid: $3,000 Final Price: $21,549

1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle SGC 96 MINT 9 # Bids: 14 Min Bid: $6,000 Final Price: $21,049

1962 Topps #218 Joe Torre PSA 10 GEM MINT (Only PSA 10) # Bids: 17 Min Bid: $1,800 Final Price: $15,536

 

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.

eBay Buzz: Big bucks aren’t just tossed around for Bowman Supers

With Bowman Draft officially arriving tomorrow, eBay will undoubtedly be buzzing with the newest can’t-miss future stars’ first MLB cards.

But Bowman’s not just a big deal for high-grade Chromes and Superfractors. Vintage Bowman in top grade — like this 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle — can generate some looks, too.

This card, in its grade, is a 1/1 specimen. It’s a card that can give any Superfractor a run for its graded money without any of those golden swirls or a dollop of autograph ink.