1. Bookstore Bonanza—$25 Million for Historic Baseball Card Purchased for 1 Cent

📰 📅 2024 Report: In a remarkable discovery in the United States, a T206 Honus Wagner baseball card—considered one of the rarest in the world—resurfaced after being purchased for one penny in a bookstore and stored in a safety deposit box for nearly 50 years. Later graded SGC 5—the highest ever for this card at the time—it was reportedly valued at $25 million. Its extraordinary scarcity and unexpected backstory cement its legendary status among collectibles.

█ Story and images: 🔗 cllct

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2. Mantle Masterpiece—$12.6 Million for Baseball Card Found in U.S. Attic

📰 📽️ 📅 2022 Report: In the USA, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card, found in an attic in the 1980s, sold for a record $12.6 million at auction. The pristine collector's item is considered one of the greatest sports card finds in history.

█ Story, images, and video: 🔗 MLB

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3. Jordan Jersey—$4.2 Million for Rookie Gem Bought for $800

📰 📽️ 📅 2025 Report: In Peoria, Illinois, USA, Michael Jordan's first Chicago Bulls jersey, worn during his 1984 preseason debut, sold for $4.2 million. Originally purchased for $800 at a Washington Bullets charity auction, it is the only photo-matched rookie-season jersey known to exist. The rare jersey resurfaced in 2009, selling again before achieving its record sum.

█ Story, images, and video: 🔗 cllct

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4. Attic All-Stars—$3 Million for Century-Old Baseball Cards Found in Ohio

📽️ 📅 2012 Report: In Defiance, Ohio, USA, a man discovered nearly 700 mint-condition baseball cards—over 100 years old—in a dust-covered box in his late aunt’s attic. The cards, featuring legends like Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner, were untouched for a century and estimated at $2–3 million (USD). Originally packed away by his grandfather, the collection was considered priceless due to its rarity and condition. Full story in a one-minute video.

█ Video: 🔗 WANE 15 News / YouTube

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5. Shirt Surprise—$3 Million for Mickey Mantle Jersey Bought for $2.50 by Teen

📰 📅 2024 Report: A Mickey Mantle jersey, originally purchased for $2.50 by a 15-year-old boy in 1955, sold for $3 million at auction. The jersey, worn during the 1952-53 World Series, was part of a donation to a children's home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before being acquired by a quick-thinking teenager in a private transaction. Its rarity and connection to Mantle's legendary performance make it priceless in sports memorabilia circles.

█ Story, images, and video: 🔗 cllct

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6. Hockey Card Jackpot—$2.5 Million for Unopened 1979 Case Found in Basement

📰 📽️ 📅 2024 Report: A family in Saskatchewan, Canada, sold a rare unopened 1979 hockey card case for $2.5 million (USD) after a prior $3.7 million sale fell through. Found in a basement, the case may contain 25-27 Wayne Gretzky rookie cards—potentially worth over $200,000 each.

█ Story, images, and video: 🔗 CBC

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7. Ferrari Treasure—$1.8 Million for 1950s Race Car Shell Discovered in Farm Storage

📰 📅 2023 Report: In the United States, a forgotten treasure—a 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider, one of only 13 ever produced—was uncovered in Florida after Hurricane Charley. Though wrecked and burned, the ultra-rare vehicle still fetched a remarkable $1.875 million (USD) at auction. Found in a barn beside a cache of classic Ferraris, its preserved race history added to its allure. Even in a non-operational state, this artifact of motorsport racing history retains significant value due to its rarity and storied past.

█ Story and images: 🔗 The Drive

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8. Chamberlain Gem—$1.7 Million for Rookie Card Found in Closet After 60 Years

📰 📅 2024 Report: In Minnesota, USA, a 1961 Wilt Chamberlain rookie card stored in a grocery store closet for 60 years sold privately for $1.7 million. Discovered by the original owner's family, it was graded an SGC 10, making it the only card of its kind. The rarity of this pristine card set a new record.

█ Story and images: 🔗 cllct

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9. Rockwell Revelation—$1.6 Million for Baseball Painting Found Above Fireplace

📰 📅 2017 Report: In Texas, USA, a family discovered a signed original Norman Rockwell painting hanging above their fireplace, initially believed to be a copy. This rare masterpiece—a study for 'Tough Call' (1948)—was auctioned in Dallas for $1.6 million, far surpassing its expected $300,000 estimate.

█ Story and images: 🔗 VOA

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10. World Series Wonder—$1.56 Million for 10-Year-Old's Historic Catch

📰 📽️ 📅 2024 Report: In Los Angeles, California, a historic World Series baseball—the first walk-off grand slam ball in series history—was retrieved from Dodger Stadium's right-field seats by a 10-year-old fan who skipped an orthodontist appointment to attend the game with his family. The ball sold at auction for $1.56 million, setting a record among prices paid for historic home run balls.

█ Story, images, and video: 🔗 MLB

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11. Trunks Treasure—$1.2 Million for Ali’s ‘Thrilla in Manila’ Shorts Found in Storage Locker

📰 📅 2025 Report: Muhammad Ali’s Thrilla in Manila trunks sold for $1.2 million at auction, decades after being discovered in a storage locker. First auctioned for under $1,000 in 1988, they changed hands multiple times, with a prior sale reaching $155,350 in 2012.

█ Story and image: 🔗 cllct

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12. Debut Ticket—$468,000 for Michael Jordan's First NBA Game Ticket Found in Basement

📰 📅 2023 Report: In Connecticut, USA, a man discovered a priceless ticket to Michael Jordan’s debut NBA game from 1984—stored in a manila folder in his basement. Recognized as the only complete ticket of its kind, its rarity and pristine condition significantly elevated its value, ultimately fetching $468,000 at auction. This ticket not only captures a pivotal moment in sports history but also holds immense nostalgic value, making it a collectible of considerable historical importance. The sale, highlighted by a vibrant auction event, underscored the enduring impact of sports memorabilia.

█ Story and images: 🔗 ESPN

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13. Bat Bonanza—$436,000 for Historic Baseball Bat Discovered Behind Door

📰 📅 2015 Report: In the United States, a Lou Gehrig game-used baseball bat—unknowingly discovered behind a door where it had been kept for home protection—sold for $436,970. The rare bat from the 1930s is one of fewer than 20 known Gehrig bats and the only one photo-matched to him.

█ Story and images: 🔗 Sports Collectors Daily

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14. Golden Glove—$330,000 for Jackie Robinson Mitt in $20 Flea Market Find

📰 📽️ 📅 2023 Report: A $20 flea market find in Long Island, USA, turned out to be a rare treasure—a baseball glove worn by Jackie Robinson during the 1956 World Series. The glove, authenticated and deemed the only known game-used Robinson glove on the market at the time, sold for $330,000 at auction in 2013. 

█ Story, images, and video: 🔗 The U.S. Sun

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15. Olympic Medals Cache—$162,000 for 1904 Medals Found in Bookcase

📰 📅 2016 Report: In a remarkable discovery in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA, two 1904 Olympic medals—long thought lost—were found at the bottom of a bookcase in a farmhouse. Awarded in a historic Olympic golf competition, these medals were later reported by various media sources to have sold at auction for $162,517. Priceless due to their historical significance, they were uncovered in a former resident's home, highlighting a significant chapter in Olympic golf history. The medals have since been featured as treasured exhibits in the U.S. 

█ Story and images: 🔗 Golf Digest

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16. Golf Jacket Glory—$139,000 for $5 Thrifted Sports Coat

📰 📅 2017 Report: In Canada, a rare Masters Tournament Green Jacket from the 1950s was discovered in a Toronto thrift store—purchased for $5. Initially estimated at a modest amount, it fetched $139,349 at auction after attracting 34 bids. Believed to have been worn by a golf champion, the jacket is one of the earliest from Augusta National's tradition, which began in 1949. Despite high interest in golf memorabilia, the jacket's origin remains a mystery due to the removal of its label.

█ Story and images: 🔗 Golf Digest

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17. French Open Find—$107,482 for Djokovic’s 2016 Tossed Racket

📰 📅 2023 Report: Novak Djokovic's winning racket from the 2016 French Open, which was caught by a fan and later consigned to auction, fetched $107,482.

█ Story and images: 🔗 Sports Collectors Daily

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These inspiring discoveries reveal the untapped potential of everyday spaces as hidden treasure troves. Explore the top 40 finds below the ad ☟

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█ A-Z // Top 40 Topics - [ i ]

Stuff & Spots: 120 Legends

1. Antique
2. Art
3. Attic
4. Auction
5. Barn Find
6. Basement
7. Bizarre
8. Book & Script
9. Box & Trunk
10. Camera & Photo
11. Car & Motorcycle
12. Closet & Cabinet
13. Clothing & Fashion
14. Coin & Banknote
15. Collectible
16. Comic
17. Doll & Bear
18. Drawer & Dresser
19. Dumpster & Trash
20. Electronic & Tech
21. Estate Sale
22. Flea Market
23. Hidden in Plain Sight
24. Jewelry, Gem, Watch
25. Metal Detecting
26. Music, Vinyl, Memorabilia
27. Musical Instrument
28. Online
29. Pottery, Glass, Ceramic
30. Random
31. Shed & Garage
32. Shelf & Mantel
33. Shipwreck
34. Showbiz
35. Sports
36. Storage Locker
37. Thrifting
38. Toy
39. Video Game
40. Yard Sale