Lot # 11: Stunning 1980 Charlotte O's Police Orange Border Cal Ripken Jr. Minor League Rookie SGC 70 EX+ 5.5 - Finest Offered Since Our Record!

The King of Modern Minor League Cards! Graded 70 EX+ 5.5 by SGC. A blockbluster 1980 Charlotte O’s Police Orange Border Cal Ripken Jr. minor league rookie that is undoubtedly the ultimate of all "Iron Man" collectibles! This "first owner" grail was obtained by our consignor as a boy in "The Queen City" and has been in his possession since. The Orange Border set was purportedly issued for the Charlotte Police force and then distributed randomly, one at a time to youngsters while on patrol or at other community functions. A truly spectacular rendition that exhibits well-formed corners and entirely clean borders. Despite factory errant top-to-bottom centering, this mesmerizing portrait of the Baltimore Orioles legend-in-the-making is perfectly contrasted with striking visual accents. The reverse which provides both baseball and crime prevention hints/tips from the Charlotte P.D. is problem-free. Not accounting for potential crossovers, to date, only 9 specimens have been judged by SGC with another 36 by PSA. Compare that with the legions of die-hard Ripken collectors throughout the hobby and the overall value and immense upside potential of this treasure becomes quite apparent! Note: This lot marks the first offering of a 1980 Charlotte O's Police Orange Border Cal Ripken Jr. since a PSA EX-MT+ 6.5 example shattered the record books in Summer 2024 with a $69,000 price realized.