Mickey Mantle, Ryne Sandberg Baseball Cards Found in Unexpected State Collection

Last Updated on August 27, 2025 by Matt Musico

Sometimes, the most incredible discoveries happen when we least expect them…and in places nobody thought to look. 

According to a recent report by MyJournalCourier’s Angela Bauer, baseball cards featuring Mickey Mantle and Ryne Sandberg have surfaced as part of Illinois’ unclaimed property collection. These treasures, along with other sports memorabilia, were scheduled to be auctioned during the Illinois State Fair on August 16.

What makes this discovery fascinating is how they ended up in state custody. They were forgotten in safety deposit boxes and abandoned for over a decade before making their way into the public spotlight. Can you imagine?!

Editor’s Note: New to MLB Daily Dingers? Then Start Here!

Sports Card Treasures That Caught Everyone’s Attention

According to Bauer, sports cards featuring Sandberg and Mantle, along with basketball stars Wilt Chamberlain and Walt Frazier, were among items being auctioned off during the Illinois State Fair. 

The crown jewel appears to be Sandberg’s rookie card, which holds special significance for Cubs fans throughout Illinois. State Treasurer Michael Frerichs acknowledged the card’s appeal, noting that “there are plenty of Cubs fans who would love to bid on Ryne Sandberg’s rookie baseball card.”

Cards of other baseball legends were also discovered in this collection. We’ll talk about those in a little bit, though.

The Mickey Mantle Discovery That Has Collectors Buzzing

The presence of a Mickey Mantle card in this collection adds another layer of excitement. Given recent auction records, any Mantle card discovery generates significant attention. A mint condition Mickey Mantle baseball card sold for a record-breaking $12.6 million in 2022.

While the specific year and condition of the Illinois State Treasury’s Mantle card haven’t been fully disclosed in recent reports, Illinois has previously auctioned vintage baseball cards through its unclaimed property program, including a 1967 Mickey Mantle Topps baseball card in past sales. Even cards from Mantle’s later career years maintain strong value, though they don’t reach the incredible prices of his cardboard from the early 1950s.

The Complete Inventory of Baseball Memorabilia

The baseball collection discovered in Illinois’ unclaimed property vault extends beyond just the headline-grabbing names. Baseball cards of Ernie Banks, Johnny Bench, and a rookie Ken Griffey Jr. were also part of the treasure trove, creating quite a representation of baseball’s greatest players across multiple generations.

Ernie Banks, known as “Mr. Cub,” brings hometown appeal to Illinois collectors, while Johnny Bench represents the Big Red Machine era of Cincinnati Reds dominance. The Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card appeals to collectors who grew up watching his sweet swing in the 1990s (like yours truly).

Items like these are surrendered to the treasurer’s office after private entities have tried and failed to find the owner, and auction items typically have not been touched by their owners for at least a decade. So, these cards have been essentially preserved in a time capsule, potentially maintaining better condition than cards that remained in active collections.

What Happened at the Auction?

While the auction took place as scheduled on August 16 at the Illinois State Fair, specific results about which items sold and for how much have not been immediately released. This isn’t unusual for these types of auctions, though, as it takes some time.

But based on previous Illinois unclaimed property auctions, these events typically generate significant interest and strong bidding. A 2019 Illinois State Fair unclaimed property auction totaled $173,684 in sales, with a gold bar being the highest-selling item at $7,500 and a signed Cubs baseball going for $700.

What started as routine unclaimed property management has evolved into a treasure hunt. Whether these cards end up in the hands of dedicated collectors or find their way back to long-lost owners, their journey from forgotten safety deposit boxes to public auction displays the lasting appeal of America’s pastime and vintage collecting in general.

Love home runs? Sign up for my Substack today and start getting interesting home run-related observations straight to your inbox!