(LOT 516)
1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays PSA 8 NM-MT
'52 TOPPS SAY HEY KID!!! The Say Hey Kid will forever reside as one of our National Pastime's finest all-time players. His batting, power, fielding, throwing and baserunning exploits set the benchmark for the five-tool player concept. His two most prestigious cards are unquestionably his 1951 Bowman Rookie and 1952 inaugural Topps subject. Advanced collectors assembling high-grade 1952 Topps sets as well as the most cardboard keepsakes seek a high-grade 1952 Topps Mays, and this sensational PSA 8 NM-MT seldom surfaces for the taking.

Consider that PSA has encapsulated more than 3,000 examples with only 2% achieving this grade, and only 11 specimens have graded higher! The flashes of brilliance Mays in his 1951 rookie campaign excited the Big Apple fan base. Swatting 20 round-trippers, effortlessly stealing bases and catching virtually everything hit his way, Mays would easily win the NL Rookie of the Year award. After playing in only 34 games, Mays spent the better part of 1952 and the entire 1953 campaign serving in the US Army during the Korean War. Topps celebrated his superb inaugural campaign with this Mays #261 subject, and the Say Hey Kid never looked better than in this classic half-body portrait pose of the Giants center fielder. Upon his return, Mays then led the Giants to a World Series title and earned the NL MVP in 1954 for his individual efforts and significance to his team.

The youthful Mays couldn't have imagined the career upon which he was about to embark when he posed for this photo that is highlighted by brilliant hues and crystal-clear clarity. The image reveals near-perfect centering and is absent of any glaring image tilt that so often plagues the '52 Topps Mays. A bold violet background, square corners exhibiting slight wear consistent with the grade, impeccable print clarity and pack-fresh surfaces provide the final exclamation points for this museum-worthy masterpiece that is rarely offered, showcasing the illustrious PSA 8 assessment. High-grade 1950s stars are currently realizing record-setting prices for Cooperstown legends such as Mantle, Clemente Aaron, Koufax and Mays, including PSA 8 NM-MT Mays issues from 1952 realizing $253K in 2022 and a record $258K in 2021. Due to the extremely rare occurrence of one of the few existing 9 MINT examples appearing at auction, we expect a spirited battle for this world-class offering that proudly stands alongside the Mantle, Robinson and Mathews subjects as one of the four most sought-after 1952 Topps heirlooms.

MIN BID $25,000
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