1933 Babe Ruth and 1952 Mantle cards drive $557,054 Spezowka sale

Miller & Miller Auctions sold all 154 lots from the Spezowka Collection on Sept. 27, with vintage baseball cards led by two 1933 Goudey Babe Ruths and a high-grade 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle. The online sale drew 487 registered bidders and underscored continued demand for top-condition icons from baseball’s pre-war and post-war eras.

Why it matters: - The sale shows collector demand remains strong for high-grade vintage cards tied to baseball’s biggest names. - Strong prices for Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson suggest premium examples still command deep interest. - The all-sold result reinforces the market value of carefully assembled, single-owner collections.

What happened: - Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. sold the 154-lot Pre-1980 Sports Cards – The Spezowka Collection online on Sept. 27, 2026. - The auction generated CA$557,053.75 in gross sales, including buyer’s premium. - Every lot sold. - The sale attracted 487 registered bidders and 3,897 bids through Miller & Miller Live and LiveAuctioneers. - Lots closed sequentially starting at 6:00 p.m. EDT.

The details: - Lot 71, a 1933 Goudey #149 Babe Ruth graded SGC 4.5 VG-EX+, led the auction at CA$48,400. - Lot 39, a 1952 Bowman #101 Mickey Mantle graded PSA 7 NM, followed at CA$42,350. - Lot 72, a 1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth graded PSA 4 VG-EX, sold for CA$33,880. - Lot 43, a 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle graded PSA 6 EX-MT, brought CA$22,990. - Lot 67, a 1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron rookie card graded PSA 6 EX-MT, realized CA$21,780. - Lot 73, a 1948 Leaf #3 Babe Ruth graded PSA 6 EX-MT, also sold for CA$21,780. - Lot 57, a 1964 Topps Stand-Up #45 Mickey Mantle graded PSA 8 NM-MT, brought CA$13,310. - Lot 77, a 1949 Bowman #50 Jackie Robinson graded PSA Authentic Altered, realized CA$8,470. - All 154 cards were professionally graded by PSA or SGC. - The collection was assembled over 12 years by collector Dan Spezowka. - All prices are in Canadian dollars and include a 21% buyer’s premium. - The full auction catalogue and results are available at the full auction catalogue and results.

Between the lines: - The top results came from iconic issues in strong condition, which usually matters more to collectors than raw card count. - The two 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards and the 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle carried the sale because they combine star power with early-era scarcity and established hobby demand. - The single-owner provenance added a clear collecting story, with the cards gathered one at a time across North America. - Ben Pernfuss, Miller & Miller’s Consignment Director for Sports Cards & Memorabilia, said the results show continued interest in iconic vintage cards, especially historically important issues.

What's next: - Miller & Miller Auctions has more sales scheduled for Oct. 8, Oct. 10, Oct. 18 and Oct. 25. - The company is accepting consignments of single items, estates and collections. - Collectors can reach the firm at (519) 573-3710 or info@millerandmillerauctions.com for consignments and auction information.

The bottom line: - The Spezowka Collection sale confirmed that elite vintage baseball cards still set the pace when condition, provenance and player significance line up.