About SCP Auctions

SCP Auctions is one of the nation’s largest auctioneers and private sellers of important sports cards and memorabilia, and is an industry leader.

SCP Auctions has operated in the sports collectibles space for over 40 years, since founder/owner David Kohler started the company as a local card shop in Orange County back in 1979. We have represented several of the most significant sales in the hobby: from the highest-graded T206 Honus Wagner card ($2.8M in 2007; now estimated at $50M+) and Babe Ruth’s 1920 Yankees jersey ($4.4M in 2012); to Jesse Owens’ 1936 Berlin Gold Medal ($1.5M in 2013) and the 1857 “Laws of Base Ball” ($3.3M in 2016), which rewrote the history books on the true inventor of our National Pastime. We continue to set records in our seasonal premier auctions (Kobe Bryant rookie jersey sold for $2.75M in 2022; 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle CSG 8 sold for $1.25M in 2022; Wilt Chamberlain’s rookie uniform sold for $1.8M in 2023) as well as through private sales with our elite clientele.

In addition to our track record of individual sales, we have featured many famous athlete/celebrity collections such as Honus Wagner, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Red Auerbach, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Julius Erving, Oscar Robertson, Paul Hornung, Angelo Dundee, Ozzie Smith, Don Drysdale and Tony Gwynn to name a few. To this day, SCP is the only sports auction house to have ever co-branded with Sotheby’s (2001-2007) and we continue to reap the rewards of that unique partnership. Since 2014, we have been selected as the sole liquidator of three prominent museum collections including the esteemed Helms Foundation in L.A. and the Breitbard Hall of Champions in San Diego.

Through it all, the most important element of SCP’s success is our integrity, loyalty, and dedication to both buyers and sellers. Our customer service is second to none. Communication always goes both ways. We pick up the phone and email right back when our clients need something. With in-house expertise to cover virtually every era, sport and entertainment genre, our detailed lot descriptions prove we go the extra mile for our consignors. Categories such as vintage cards, rare autographs, game-worn jerseys, championship rings, original Type 1 photos, and milestone tickets remain consistent strengths. In addition to the Core Four American sports, we do exceptionally well with Olympics, soccer, boxing and other niche sports, as well as Americana and historical memorabilia. Our consignor fees are very reasonable, and we pay sellers promptly following an auction or private sale. We offer complementary evaluations and can arrange pick-up of large collections out-of-state or international. Our experienced staff has built strong relationships with key authenticators and vendors to make the process go seamlessly.

If you are interested in consigning to one of our auctions, contact Sportscards Plus. To view the Sportscards Plus Buy Now offerings, click here.

Some of SCP’s memorable auctions and private sales have included:

Cards

The Finest known T206 Honus Wagner tobacco card graded PSA NM-MT 8 – $2,800,000
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle CSG NM-MT 8 – $1,253,185
1909 E90-1 American Caramel Joe Jackson NM-MT PSA 8 (1 of 2, Highest Graded) – $667,189
1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb (Bat off Shoulder) Mint PSA 9 (1 of 3, Highest Graded) – $488,425
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente Rookie PSA GEM-MT 10 – $432,690
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner PSA VG-EX 4 – $425,500
1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner PR PSA 1 (MK) – $403,664
1997 Skybox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems #81 Kobe Bryant PSA AA, MINT 9 AUTO – $403,664
1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan Rookie Gem Mint PSA 10 (1/1) – $403,664
1954 Topps Hank Aaron Rookie PSA GEM-MT 10- $357,594
1952 Topps Baseball Card Complete Set – Graded Entirely PSA NM-MT 8 – $310,500
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle NM-MT PSA 8– $268,664.40
1968 Topps #280 Mickey Mantle PSA GEM MINT 10 – $214,579
1910 Old Mill Cigarettes Series 8 – Joe Jackson, New Orleans PSA GOOD 2 – $165,486
1952 Topps #407 Ed Mathews PSA NM-MT 8 – $161,215
1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie PSA GEM-MT 10 -$157,366
1903-4 Breisch Williams Type-1 (E107) Honus Wagner SGC 40 – $96,000
1935 National Chicle #34 Bronko Nagurski PSA NM-MT 8 – $66,354
1959 Topps #514 Bob Gibson PSA GEM-MT 10 – $53,759
1916 M101-4 Sporting News #151 Babe Ruth PSA EX-MT 6 – $54,712

Memorabilia

c. 1920 Babe Ruth Game Worn Road Jersey – $4,415,000
The 1857 ‘Laws of Base Ball’ Three Document Set – $3,263,246
Kobe Bryant’s 1996-97 Game Worn Rookie Home Jersey – $2,735,546
Wilt Chamberlain’s 1959-60 Philadelphia Warriors Rookie Game Worn Home Uniform – $1,792,289
Jesse Owens’ 1936 Berlin Olympics Gold Medal – $1,470,000
Babe Ruth’s signed bat used to slam the first home run in Yankee Stadium – $1,265,000
Babe Ruth’s 500th Home Run Bat – $1,000,800
The contract selling Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees – $996,000
Ball hit by Barry Bonds for career home run #756 breaking Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record – $752,467
Lou Gehrig’s 1938 Game Used H&B Louisville Slugger Bat – $715,120
Babe Ruth’s gold pocket watch presented to him by the New York Yankees during his last visit to Yankee Stadium – $650,108
Kirk Gibson’s bat used to hit historic, game winning home run in Game 1 of 1988 World Series – $575,912
1930’s Babe Ruth’s New York Yankees Game Worn Cap – $537,278
Ozzie Smith’s 13 Gold Gloves – $519,203
Luz Long’s 1936 Berlin Olympics Silver Medal – $488,435
Julius “Dr. J” Erving’s 1974 New York Nets ABA World Championship Ring – $460,741
The Bob Cousy collection of basketball memorabilia – $455,000
1927 New York Yankees Autographed Team Photo From the Estate of Don Miller PSA/DNA Type 1 – $444,031
1956 Sandy Koufax signed Brooklyn Dodgers Game Worn Home Jersey – $414,280
1968 Mickey Mantle signed N. Y. Yankees Game Worn Road Jersey attributed to his 535TH career home run – $366,967
Lou Gehrig’s 1928 New York Yankees World Champions wristwatch – $340,000
Kirk Gibson’s 1988 World Series L.A. Dodgers Jersey Worn to Hit Historic, Game Winning Home Run in Game 1 – $303,277
1965 Sandy Koufax signed L.A. Dodgers (world championship & Cy Young season) Game Worn Home Jersey – $268,664
Babe Ruth’s c.1922 New York Yankees Team Sweater – $250,642
Original plaster cast of the Heisman trophy sculpture from 1935 – $228,000
Babe Ruth’s 1938 New York World’s Fair Worn Uniform (One-of-a-Kind) – $227,854
Wilt Chamberlain 1962 Signed 100-Point Game Home Official Scorer’s Sheet by Philadelphia Warriors Statistician Toby DeLuca – $214,579
Jackie Robinson 1949 H&B Game Used bat from his historic N.L. MVP Season – $201,851
The John Moores Trophy (1938) Amateur Baseball Championship – $195,072
Mickey Mantle’s First Major League Home Run Ball – $189,750
Casey Stengel’s 1951 World Series Championship Ring – $180,000
Arthur Ashe’s pair of Haggar solid gold presentation trophy tennis balls – $144,000
The first baseball pitched at the 1912 Grand Opening of Fenway Park – $132,000
Sandy Koufax’s 1963 No-Hitter Game Worn Spalding Frank Bolling Model 42-212 Glove – $126,500
Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig dual signed photo from 1939 Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day – $120,000
Don Drysdale’s 1963 L.A. Dodgers World Champions 14K Gold Ring – $110,111
Don Drysdale’s 1962 MLB Cy Young Award – $100,100
Honus Wagner’s 1907 Tiffany Sterling Silver “Loving Cup” presented to him by the National League – $93,240
Casey Stengel’s 1957 AL Champions Cuff Links – $72,000