Press Release
New Hamburg, ON, Canada, June 26, 2025 — A game-used, team-signed Bill Barilko hockey stick from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1950-51 Stanley Cup championship season soared to $70,800, and a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle “holy grail” baseball card finished at $59,000, in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.’s online-only Pre-1980 Sports Cards & Memorabilia auction held June 22.
All prices in this report are in Canadian dollars and include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
The Barilko hockey stick was the undisputed sleeper item of the sale, easily blasting through its $5,000 high estimate on its way to top lot honors. The Mantle card was no surprise, having come into the sale with a $40,000-$50,000 estimate, but the final selling price bested that by $9,000. In all, 235 lots came up for bid in an auction that grossed $386,951.50, a success by any measure.
“The Bill Barilko stick was an absolute thrill to bring to market and see a Canadian icon’s name live on in the sale of a historic piece of memorabilia,” said Ben Pernfuss, Consignment Director for the sale, adding, “Card results remained strong, as two 1952 Mantles highlighted an exciting offering of pre-1980 cards. Sold was a range of cards, sports memorabilia and historic objects.”
The game-used, team-signed Bill Barilko hockey stick from the Toronto Maple Leaf’s 1950-51 Stanley Cup season offered a significant piece of hockey history. The stick was made by the Love & Bennett sporting goods store, located on the same block as the Maple Leaf Garden. It was stamped with Barilko’s number 5 and signed by the members of that championship team.
To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the firm’s calendar of upcoming events, visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com.
