Babe Ruth, Mickey Mouse, Superman And Even The Devil Himself Will Step Up To The Plate At Morphy’s Toys, Sports & General Collectibles Auction

Featured: 1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth baseball card, early Disney tin litho ‘Mickey the Musical Mouse’ toy, and rare, colorful 1954 Adco-Liberty Superman lithographed metal lunchbox

DENVER, Pa. – Where else but Morphy Auctions can you find a sale featuring Babe Ruth, Mickey Mouse, Superman and the devil himself? The Pennsylvania company’s November 10-12 Toys, Sports & General Collectibles Auction is loaded with rare, highly desirable antique and vintage items from a wide array of collecting categories. Many would make wonderful holiday gifts or prized additions to a collection.

A substantial number of higher-estimated lots will be sold on Day 2, November 11. The Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth, is central to an array of tantalizing memorabilia that includes:

• A 1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth baseball card, graded SGC 60 EX 5. The low-series #53 Ruth is a favorite with collectors, and this card is clean and in excellent to near-mint condition. The estimate is $30,000-$50,000.
• A 1932 U.S. Caramel Babe Ruth #32 baseball card, graded PSA VG-EX+ 4.5. One of several baseball players represented in the set, this example has a deep red background and is centered 70/30 both ways. It’s in very good to excellent condition and should also bring $30,000-$50,000.
• A 35-inch, store-model baseball bat signed by Babe Ruth in black fountain pen on a shaved area next to the burned-in signature. The signature is graded 7/10 and the lot comes with a full JSA letter of authenticity. The bat is in excellent condition. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000

A circa-1920s/1930s Disney tin litho “Mickey the Musical Mouse” toy is the only variation that includes Minnie Mouse and is one of few known examples. From an unknown German maker, this rare toy is all original and includes all three of the characters’ heads.  When the crank on the back is turned, the toy makes a “plink-plink” sound. One of the rarest and best Walt Disney toys ever made, its colors are rich and beautiful and its overall condition is very good-excellent. Truly a toy for the serious collector, it is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.

Collectors of the Man of Steel will be excited over the chance to bid on a rare 1954 Adco-Liberty Superman lithographed metal lunchbox. The crisp graphics depict our hero battling a giant robot over a Gotham City skyline. Showing only minimal wear, the lunchbox boasts bright original colors and strong gloss throughout. However, a Thermos is not included. The estimate is $8,000-$12,000.

Vintage Japanese toys are always a big hit with collectors. An original 1960s Yonezawa Astro-Scout toy in its original box with original cardboard inserts is among the highlights of this category. The number “3” is emblazoned on the character’s chest and the toy is marked “Frankonia” on the box. It appears to be unused, in near-mint condition, with very minor box-edge wear. Estimate $4,000-$8,000.

Back to baseball, where a circa-1880s “Home Run Tobacco” single-sided tin sign, graded 6.0 for condition and measuring 14 inches by 6½ inches, is expected to realize $3,000-$8,000. This is an early, extremely rare and historically important baseball-related tin tacker sign advertising the “Home Run” brand smoking and chewing tobacco produced by the S Hernsheim Bros Co of New Orleans. The potentially unique sign featuring very early baseball graphics was discovered in New Orleans more than 40 years ago. It is a fresh-to-market baseball sign that would fit nicely into any tobacciana or baseball memorabilia collection.

A set of five Lionel 408-E Loco State train cars in two-tone brown, believed to have been restored by Charles Wilson in 1963 according to accompanying paperwork, should reach $4,000-$6,000. The set consists of a No. 408E locomotive, and No. 412 California, No. 414 Illinois, No. 413 Colorado and No. 416 New York passenger cars. The largest car is 21¼ inches by 4 ¼ inches.

Speaking of transportation collectibles, a race car driver’s shaving mug featuring a unique and detailed image of a man in a racer, with the words “Froply Ford” appearing on the side of the car and the name “F R Flerhsig” in gilt lettering, carries a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-$2,000. The 3¾-inch-tall mug is stamped “J&C Bavaria” under the base and is in overall excellent condition.

Swinging back to Day 1, but keeping with a transportation theme, a circa-1890 Pratt & Letchworth Co (Buffalo, NY) horse-drawn cast-iron four-seat brake, featuring an open coach painted overall in black with yellow trim, is expected to finish at $3,000-$6,000. The four-horse team consists of two cream- and two caramel-colored horses. The carriage seats eight cast-iron figures, including a driver with a cast-in lap blanket. This is a rare collector’s item in overall stunning condition.

A 51-piece W Britains British Navy Display No. 1648 set in the box, only produced in 1940 and 1941, has an estimate of $5,000-$10,000. The set includes the Naval Landing Party with blue and white jackets, running at the trail, with officers and petty officers. Three of the sailors in white jackets are shown in a lighter paint scheme. The naval gun is working. All pieces are re-tied in the clean original box, 25½ inches by 13½ inches. This is a very desirable and hard-to-find set.

They say the devil is in the details and, as mentioned, he’s also in this auction. His satanic self comes in the form of a toothy, two-faced cast-iron devil still bank by A C Williams. In near-mint condition, the exceptionally well-detailed bank—with visible teeth, a turned-up mustache and riveting eyes—retains its rich, original red paint. The estimate is $800-$2,000. 

Morphy’s November 10-12, 2026 Toys & General Collectibles Auction will be held live at their gallery located at 2000 North Reading Road in Denver, Pa. Start time on all three days is 9am ET. Preview weekdays by appointment from 9am-4pm local time starting one week before the auction; or on auction days from 8-9am. All forms of remote bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone (please reserve line in advance), or live via the Internet through Morphy Live. For condition reports or other questions, call tollfree 877-968-8880 or email [email protected]. Online: https://www.morphyauctions.com.