1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Rookie PSA 9 Sells for a Record $604,736

A 1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax rookie card graded PSA 9 sold for $604,736 at Memory Lane's Summer Rarities auction, which closed September 26, 2026, beating the previous public record of $396,000 set in 2022, according to Sports Collectors Digest. That is about 53% above the old mark. The Koufax led an auction that grossed more than $7.5 million.

The Sandy Koufax Rookie Card That Set the Record

Card

• 1955 Topps #123 Sandy Koufax, Brooklyn Dodgers
• His rookie card, and the key Koufax card for vintage collectors

Slab

• PSA 9 MINT, cert 30203388 on the label
• MBA (Mike Baker Authenticated) Gold Diamond sticker on the holder

Sale

• Venue: Memory Lane Summer Rarities, which ran September 10 to 26, 2026
• Opening bid: $50,000, per Auction Report
• Final price: $604,736

What Set This Copy Apart

PSA 9 is already a top grade for a 71-year-old card. Memory Lane says only three copies have received a higher PSA grade, BroBible reported. This one adds a second stamp of approval: Auction Report wrote on September 27, 2026 that it was "the only PSA 9 Koufax rookie carrying an MBA Gold Diamond designation."

MBA's sticker sits on top of the PSA grade. According to MBA's certification page, a Gold Diamond goes only to cards it judges worthy of a technical grade at least half a point higher than the slab, and BroBible reported that MBA gave this copy a 9.5. In other words, MBA judged it a 9 that grades like a 9.5.

The player helps too. Koufax went 4-3 with a 0.95 ERA across eight postseason appearances, all in the World Series, SCD noted. In the same September 27 piece, Auction Report called his 1955 Topps rookie "one of the cornerstone cards of postwar baseball collecting."

The Rest of the Memory Lane Top Lots

The Koufax was well clear of the field. The next best results, per SCD and Auction Report:

• 1971 Topps #630 Roberto Clemente, PSA 9: $170,579
• 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie, signed, PSA 5 with a 7 autograph: $146,579
• 1923 W515-1 Babe Ruth, hand-cut, PSA 10: $137,582
• 1916 M101-4 Joe Jackson, blank back, PSA 7: $134,579
• 1984 Star Chicago Bulls team bag, sealed, DGA 7.5: $134,579
• 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle, PSA 7: $125,794

Auction Report counted 11 lots at six figures, with 1,278 of 1,284 lots sold.

What It Means for Collectors

Memory Lane's sale set several records for high-grade vintage, including the Clemente PSA 9, per SCD. The Koufax adds a second lesson: a credible sticker saying a card beats its grade can add real money on top of the slab.

If you are shopping for vintage, three things matter here:

• Grade first, then eye appeal. Our take: once the grade is fixed, centering, color and print quality drive the premium.
• Check the cert. Any PSA number can be looked up, and our guide on how to verify a graded card shows how.
• Use the right comps. A sticker copy is not a fair comp for a plain PSA 9 and vice versa.

For the wider vintage picture, see our list of the most expensive baseball cards.

Where to Go From Here

Records like this live at the top of the hobby, but you don't need $600,000 to start. On the Polkastarter marketplace, you get a free mystery pack at signup, and every Lootbox lists its contents, values, and chances before you open.

Details checked October 2, 2026. Prices are reported results. Nothing here is financial advice. Polkastarter is not affiliated with Memory Lane, PSA, MBA, Topps or the other companies named.

Sources

• Sports Collectors Digest: Sandy Koufax rookie card shatters record in Memory Lane auction, published September 28, 2026, accessed October 2, 2026
• Auction Report: Sandy Koufax rookie soars to $604,736 to lead Memory Lane Summer Rarities auction, published September 27, 2026, accessed October 2, 2026
• BroBible: Sandy Koufax rookie card price record, published September 30, 2026, accessed October 2, 2026
• Auction Report: Memory Lane September 26 summer auction preview, accessed October 2, 2026
• MBA: Diamond Certification, accessed October 2, 2026