Fanatics and Sotheby’s 2nd Premium Card Auction Has Been Announced

Fanatics and Sotheby's are back for another round of some of the biggest cards in the sports card world.

February 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; NBA great Michael Jordan is honored for being selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during halftime in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Over the summer, Fanatics announced a partnership with one of the world’s most prominent art auctioneers, Sotheby’s. Their goal? To bring more awareness to the world of sports cards by curating and selling one of the most impressive collections in history.

Fanatics Collect has partnered with @sothebys to offer collectors the chance to chase grails on the greatest stage. 🤝

The recent partnership between Fanatics Collect and Sotheby’s is set to offer unparalleled benefits for sellers looking to maximize their collections. pic.twitter.com/TJjoUCi6OC

— Fanatics Collect (@FanaticsCollect) June 11, 2024

The first auction was aptly named:

“Holy Grails.”

Tonight’s the night! @Sothebys Holy Grails Auction has finally arrived! Come see for yourself at the Harlem Parish in New York! pic.twitter.com/LU531o6CT8

— Fanatics Collect (@FanaticsCollect) September 24, 2024

Over $7 million in sales were generated from 33 cards. Highlights included:

• A 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 9, which sold for $840,000.
• A LeBron James 2003 Exquisite rookie patch autograph, which sold for $432,000.
• A Shohei Ohtani card, which set a then-record of $336,000.

While Ohtani’s record has since been surpassed by a card that sold for over $500,000, this sale marked a milestone at the time.

On December 16th, Sotheby’s will once again partner with Fanatics for what they are calling the “Exquisite | Capsule Collection.”

First look @ Exquisite | Capsule Collection presented exclusively with Sotheby’s.

If ever there was a more Royal Court era of basketball collectibles: it’s definitely the early 2000s 👑

As the current NBA season is hitting its stride with big-ticket Christmas Day matchups… pic.twitter.com/v3IZLYqzT7

— Fanatics Collect (@FanaticsCollect) December 5, 2024

This auction will exclusively feature Upper Deck Exquisite cards from the past few decades.

Nowadays, high-end cards like these are staples for sports card companies. However, when the Exquisite product line first launched, it was not well received. Karvin Cheung, often credited as the creator of Exquisite, pioneered the concept of high-end Rookie Patch Autographs (RPAs) at unprecedented price points. Back then, these prices were far from the norm, though they pale in comparison to today’s market values for similar cards.

This collection includes 11 cards, ranging from individual LeBron James pieces to a Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman triple Logoman card. Many consider these cards to be art pieces due to their rarity and the historical significance of the players featured.

You can check out the full list of cards here. Make sure to mark your calendars for December 16th, when the auctions go live.