Baseball card sale hits a grand slam

Part of an octogenarian’s collection of rare baseball cards fetched $1.6 million in an auction, officials said.

Lionel Carter, 89, of Evanston started his collection as a 15-year-old when he eschewed a nickel candy bar for a pack of 1932 Delong cards. His stash ballooned to 50,000 cards and became one of the nation’s most renowned collections.

Carter’s mint-condition Mickey Mantle rookie card sold for $165,000. A set of 1938 Goudy Gum cards sold for $280,000.

At least 5,500 cards were sold. The rest will be sold at other auctions this year, officials said.

Carter decided to sell his collection because he was concerned about his safety. Thieves broke into his house in October and stole cards, most of which were recovered by police.