AKRON, Ohio -- A rare piece of Cleveland Cavalier history -- a LeBron James autographed rookie card -- was put up for auction and could fetch up to $200,000.
Just eight bidders had vied for what's being billed as the world's rarest and most valuable James basketball trading card as of Friday, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. But the leading bid was expected to grow from its figure that day of $85,000 before the auction closed Saturday.
The one-of-a-kind card from Upper Deck's 2003/04 Ultimate Collection series features a picture of the Cleveland Cavalier taking a shot, along with a swath of the NBA logo from his game uniform. It was randomly placed into a pack of cards more than a decade ago.
The card is graded as a "MINT 9" but Professional Sports Authenticator group and the card "reflects an untouched, impeccable appearance."
Officials at New Jersey-based Goldin Auctions haven't disclosed the identity of the seller, but they said the card would be sold, as the minimum $50,000 bid had been met.
While sought after, James hasn't reached the collector's status of "Mr. Basketball" George Mikan. A mint condition version of Mikan's 1948 card fetched more than $400,000 last year.
