Turns out, not everything that’s old and dusty is destined for the trash heap—sometimes, it’s a goldmine in disguise. Just ask the sibling duo from Ohio who recently hit the jackpot, all thanks to a serendipitous treasure hunt through their late parents’ attic. Nestled within an unassuming old cigar box, they discovered not just memories, but a trove of pristine baseball history in the form of vintage baseball cards that would eventually sell for an astonishing $120,000.
The saga began as these siblings, who prefer to remain anonymous, embarked on the bittersweet task of sifting through their family’s relics. Among the heirlooms and family photographs lay a forgotten stash complete with the baseball card Holy Grail: a collection of cards featuring none other than the iconic Sultan of Swat himself, Babe Ruth. Knowing they had struck proverbial gold, they wisely decided to cash in through the expertise of Stark County’s Kiko Auctions.
Auctioneer Jack Kiko recalls the enchantment of the find. The siblings had a hunch these cards were valuable—the kind of hunch given by the telltale glint in a collector’s eyes. As it turns out, their instincts were sharp, immediately lucrative, and deeply rooted in nostalgia, as card-collecting enthusiasts worldwide prepared to battle it out in the virtual auction arena.
From May 28 to June 2, the cyber-event unfolded like a popfly into the digital age. The auction featured a bountiful 623 lots, primarily composed of baseball cards. The crown jewel—the 1933 Goudey Big League Gum collection—stood out like a Hall of Famer in Rookie League. This set wasn’t just another pack of cards on a dusty shelf at a gum store; it was legendary for pioneering the art of including a stick of gum in each pack. This marketing masterstroke elevated the Goudey set to elite status among collectors, akin to a rookie season that ends with Rookie of the Year honors.
It was a home run of historical sales figures once the virtual dust settled and gavels clacked. The winning bids amounted to $120,699, but with added costs—including a 10% internet premium and 6.5% sales tax—those numbers rounded up to a sum soaring over $140,000.
The illustrious Ruth cards were the stars of the show. The one that took top billing, a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card with a classic red backdrop, caught $8,000 on its own. All five Ruth cards together commanded $35,250 in bids, exclusive of any subsequent fees or taxes. Not too shabby for an attic’s forgotten keepsake.
Interestingly, despite their mammoth monetary implications, none of these cards had undergone professional grading. To the savvy collector, this is as much mystery as it is magnetism. It’s a bit of a gamble but adds a thrilling, somewhat nostalgic rush reminiscent of ripping open a pack of cards and crossing fingers for the hero’s face within.
This unexpected windfall wasn’t just about cold hard cash, but a triumph over time and circumstance. Once mere attic junk, these cardboard treasures now enjoy renewed life and appreciation, akin to finding a rare vintage car purring back to life in an old barn. It kindles a romantic notion of bridging past to present—a metaphorical ninth-inning home run for sentimentalists and investors alike.
Ultimately, the Ohio attic’s find reminds us that treasure comes in many forms—sometimes wrapped up slightly battered, yet invaluable, trapped in the collective whisper of a forgotten past. They are pieces of history resurrected from beneath cobwebs to headline a digital auction and prove once more that America’s pastime is not just found on the field but alive in the hearts of its fans, past and present.
Evidently, there’s still magic to be discovered in former collectors’ treasures lingering unseen in homes across the nation. As the lucky Ohio siblings have shown, exploring those dusty corners and old boxes—or perhaps just indulging your childhood hobby once more—could result in more than just a trip down memory lane. Who knows? Perhaps the next big baseball auction headline is waiting to be uncovered in your very own attic.
