An Arizona Boy's Rare Topps Rookie Redemption Baseball Card Sells for Nearly $75,000 at Auction

An Arizona father and son duo make an incredible discovery while enjoying their hobby of card collecting that nets them almost $75,000 USD.

Mason and Bradley Deane

Channel 4 NBC Los Angeles reported an incredible story of a father and son who were enjoying their hobby of collecting baseball cards, when they made a discovery of a lifetime.

Father and Son Find a Rare Redemption Card in a Box of Topps Chrome Black

Hobby card collectors Bradley and Mason Deane like to go to DNA Cards and Collectibles regularly for fun -- there is one at 10654 N 32nd St. in Phoenix, Arizona. While on one of their regular trips, Bradley asked his son if he was feeling lucky. This is one of their common rituals while making a trip to the card store.

On this particular trip, son Mason was feeling lucky, so they decided to buy a box of Topps Chrome Black baseball cards. After opening the packs, they were lucky, indeed. 

Inside a pack, they found a rare redemption card redeemable for a signed rookie card of Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami. An image of that redemption card (can be seen below).

"You are due to receive a Autograph Superfractor Parallel of Munetaka Murakami Chicago White Sox"

Deane Family Put the Topps Redemption Card Up for Auction

After much thought and deliberation, the Deane family decided to put the rare card up for auction. Bradley wondered if he was doing the right thing.

He said, "I was sweating bullets as a father. Like, 'Is this teh right thing? Is this the right thing? Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Is it gonna work?'

They watched the auction closely, and it ended up at almost $75,000 USD. DNA Cards and Collectibles was also excited for the Deane family and their success with the auction.

Bradley Deane wants to set aside the auction winnings to go towards his son's college education.

Murakami Card Auction

Post Recap & Summary

A routine father-and-son trip to a local card shop in Arizona turned into a life-changing moment when 9-year-old Mason Deane pulled a one-of-a-kind redemption card for a signed rookie card of Chicago White Sox star Munetaka Murakami from a box of Topps Chrome Black baseball cards. The unique card—Murakami's first American MLB rookie autograph release—was later authenticated and placed up for auction.

The auction exceeded the family's expectations, with the card ultimately selling for nearly $75,000. Mason's father, Bradley Deane, admitted he was anxious throughout the auction process but was thrilled by the final result. The owner of DNA Cards and Collectibles, where the card was purchased, said it may be the biggest sale in the store's history. 

The Deane's plan to use the auction winnings for Mason's college fund.

Goldin Auctions Sold 'Cheetozard' for Nearly $88K

An auction house in New Jersey auctioned off a Flamin' Hot Cheeto that resembles the Pokémon character Charizard. The final price of the auction reached $87,840 after fees on March 2, 2025.

Cheetozard sold for $87,840

According to ABC Action News, Goldin Auctions house in New Jersey discovered and preserved a Flamin' Hot Cheeto that resembled a Charizard in a clear box along with a Pokémon card. The cheeto was dubbed the "Cheetozard," and reached a final price of $87,840 after 60 bids. 

The Cheetozard was first discovered by 1st & Goal Collectibles between 2018 and 2022, and received a lot of attention on social media starting in 2024.

The auction ended on Sunday, March 2, 2025 after the Cheetozard was seen at the 2025 February Pop Culture Elite Auction, starting at only $250. The winning bid was actually $72,000 before Goldin Auctions' fees were added, bringing the final price to $87,840.00 USD.

Sources:

"Flamin hot Cheeto that resembles Pokemon character sells for nearly $90K at auction." ABC Action News

"Someone spent $88,000 to own 'Cheetozard,' a viral Cheeto shaped like Charizard from Pokemon." Entertainment Weekly.

In a previous blog post, I shared about a Cheeto that looked like Harambe the gorilla, and it sold on eBay for $99,900.

Dallas Safari Club Holds Permit Auction to Hunt and Kill Wild Black Rhinoceros

Black Rhinoceros grazing in Kenya; image credit: Flickr CC; by siwild

Is it okay to hunt and kill a Black Rhinoceros? 

Some people feel that this is the message being sent by the Dallas Safari Club - which held an auction for permit to hunt down and kill a Black Rhinoceros down in the wild. The permit auction was on Saturday, January 11, 2014, granting the winner exlcusive permission to hunt a specific Black Rhinoceros in Namibia, Africa. The Black Rhinoceros being hunted and killed is past his prime, and threatening other wildlife in the area, according the Executive Director of the Dallas Safari Club.

Both the Humane Society and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) have publicly spoke out against the Dallas Safari Club permit auction, which is essentially endorsing the killing of an endangered animal in the wild.

Is the Dallas Safari Club Sending the Wrong Message to Conservationists?

The North American regional director of the IFAW, Jeffrey Flocken, says: "The auction is telling the world that an American is will pay anything to kill their species...that is, in fact, making a spectacle of killing an endangered species."

The Dallas Safari Club has opened the permit auction up to anyone in the world, and will grant the permit to the highest bidder. The last time this type of auction was held, the winning bid was $223,000.00 USD.

The winning bid on Jan. 11, 2014 was $350,000.00 USD.

Some Dallas Safari Club member have even received death threats in protest of the auction, which have been reported to the F.B.I. for investigation.

Does it Matter That the Black Rhinoceros is on the Endangered Species List?

The Executive Director of the Dallas Safari Club assures everyone that the money collected from the auction is being used to protect the Black Rhinoceros in the wild, despite the fact that his auction is granting a permit to kill one of an endangered species. He said the animal was "likely to be targeted anyway, because it was becoming aggressive and threatening other wildlife."

Despite his reassurance, there are many people that are outraged that the Dallas Safari Club is granting a permit to hunt and kill an animal considered to be an endangered species.

How Many Rhinoceros are Left in the Wild?

It is estimated that about 4,000 Rhinoceros live in the wild today. There are about 1,800 in Namibia, Africa today. The main reason for their dwindling numbers is loss of habitat, and the other reason is illegal poaching for their ivory tusks.

Black Rhinoceros rear; image credt: Flick CC; by siwild