Former Major League Baseball star Dmitri Young is auctioning his complete collection of Baseball Hall of Fame rookie cards in an important sale which began on April 30.
 1948 Bowman Stan Musial graded Gem Mint 10 |
Since his retirement in 2010, Young has turned his attention back to his childhood love of baseball cards. The two-time All-Star has been compiling the collection for the past 13 years, and it now stands as one of the finest known.
Young has around 500 rookie cards which have been graded Gem Mint 10 by the independent grading company Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA), including four cards which are the only existing examples in such condition.
The Stan Musial card stands as the oldest in Young's collection. Produced in 1948, the Bowman card is the only extant example to have been graded PSA 10.
A 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente card is perhaps the most valuable in Young's prestigious collection at $250,000+, and also the only known PSA 10 of the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder who died tragically in a plane crash.
Other uniquely-graded cards in the collection include a 1963 Pete Rose Topps rookie, valued at $75,000+ and a 1969 Reggie Jackson Topps estimated at $30,000+.
The title of top lot in the collection's sale will also be contested by a 1954 Hank Aaron Rookie card, graded PSA 10 Gem Mint. The card, which is one of only two known examples, can expect to see bids in the region of $250,000.
The impressive collection is being sold to raise funds for The Dmitri D. Young Foundation, which aims to aid young aspiring baseball players in California.
The auction, which will run from April 30 to May 18, will see an extraordinary array of important baseball memorabilia on sale. The sale will be highlighted by a 1920 Babe Ruth baseball jersey, the oldest extant example from the legend known to exist, which will go to auction with an estimate of $250,000.
Paul Fraser Collectibles will bring you all the results from this sale later in the month. In the meantime, you can see our interview with the auction house's David Kohler on some of the more memorable items he's sold over the years.
