Sets New Records with Kobe Bryant’s Final Game Warm-Up and 1939 Hall of Fame Baseball

SCP Auctions‘ 2024 Summer Premier was a groundbreaking event in more ways than one, featuring not only record-setting sales but also the debut of a new auction software: Bidsquare Cloud. This marked the first time SCP Auctions utilized Bidquare’s software solution, allowing them to host the auction on its own website through Bidsquare Cloud’s custom white label and inventory management system. In addition, with the co-listing on Bidsquare.com, the 2024 Summer Premier was Bidsquare’s first sports collectibles auction house listing on Bidsquare’s marketplace.

The auction, which ended on August 3, was headlined by two iconic pieces of sports memorabilia that each surpassed the $300,000 mark. Leading the sale was the warm-up jacket worn by Kobe Bryant during his final career game, famously known as the “Mamba Out” performance. This significant piece, photo matched by Sports Investors, sold for an astounding $336,000.

Another standout item was the 1939 inaugural Hall of Fame baseball, autographed by the original 11 inductees, which fetched an impressive $360,000. This historic baseball is considered one of the most important signed pieces ever to hit the market, further solidifying SCP Auctions’ reputation for offering unparalleled memorabilia.

The success of this auction was bolstered by SCP’s decision to transition to Bidsquare Cloud. SCP’s COO Mike Keyes stated that they “chose Bidsquare Cloud because it provides a streamlined process to build and conduct auctions, saving us precious time and resources to focus on sales and revenue generation instead of operational roadblocks,” The platform’s sleek, customizable front end, tailored specifically to SCP’s niche market, was a significant upgrade. Notable improvements included sales tax integration, an intuitive and reliable inventory management system, advanced tracking and reporting tools, and a robust client interface that ensured all communications were effectively delivered—all significant improvements over previous software.

The transition to Bidsquare Cloud has already paid dividends. The activity during the auction was noticeably stronger than in previous events, with clients receiving all outbid notifications and bid confirmation emails as well as SMS text notifications, resolving a major pain point with the old system. “So far, Bidsquare Cloud has met all of our expectations. The team at Bidsquare has a ‘YES’ mentality and works hard to ensure all of our customizations and other needs are met,” Mike Keys further shared.

In addition to the top-selling items, several other records were set during the auction. A PSA 7 graded 1984 Star Co. Michael Jordan card set a record for its grade, selling for $66,000. An 1896 Athens Olympics participation medal reached a new high of $19,200, setting a precedent 

Game-used memorabilia also saw strong results, including Rafael Nadal’s shirt from his 2010 U.S. Open victory, selling for $72,000—the second-highest price ever paid for a match-worn tennis shirt. Additionally, a 1991 Ken Griffey Jr. game-used bat went for $39,000, Christian Laettner’s 1992 Olympic Dream Team uniform brought $26,400, and a 1962 Pele Brazil match-worn jersey sold for $25,200.

SCP Auctions’ Summer Premier auction, powered by Bidsquare Cloud, not only delivered strong results but also set a new standard in the auction industry. The combination of record-breaking sales of key lots along with the seamless functionality of Bidsquare Cloud made this event a landmark in the world of sports collectibles.