(LOT 100)
1958 Topps#47 Roger Maris Rookie Card (PSA Mint 9) – NONE Graded Higher!
When the legendary Roger Maris broke into the Major Leagues in 1957 with the Cleveland Indians, little did the baseball world realize, that in four years, he would eclipse one of the most heralded single season records. In 1961 the power hitting right fielder would remarkably clout 61 home runs to break Babe Ruth's seemingly insurmountable 60 mark, turning the baseball world upside down via his heart-stopping chase for the "Sultan of Swat's" historic record. While Maris could hit with power, was a superb defensive outfielder with a cannon-like throwing arm, and claim two consecutive A.L. MVP awards in 1960'61, it was his 61 round trippers in 1961 that secured his eternal niche in our National Pastime's glorious history.

Additionally, his excruciating pursuit of Babe's mark portrayed his amazing courage, as he painstakingly withstood the barrage of criticism by a myriad of outraged fans who did not want to see Maris surpass Ruth's single season 60 home run record; preferably rooting for his iconic Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle to shatter the record. Yet, in the end it was Maris who claimed 61 dingers, and from a collecting perspective, that monumental figure will forever place his 1958 Topps rookie card as his most coveted cardboard heirloom.

Presented here just happens to be one of the finest Roger Maris rookie cards extant, an astonishing PSA Mint 9 example that has not been bested by a single example. Imagine, over 3,700 1958 Topps Maris cards have currently been encapsulated by the illustrious PSA grading company, with only 0.8% achieving the hallowed "Mint 9" assessment. Indeed, along with a mere thirty other specimens, this remarkable offering irrefutably shares the spotlight as the finest of its kind, and one look at its immaculate-like aesthetics prompts even the most sophisticated hobbyist to ponder the question "what does it take to achieve a Gem Mint 10 grade"? A breathtaking Maris half-body pose graces the obverse side as the slugging outfielder dons his Cleveland Indians rookie style uniform; gazing into an unknown future that would eventually see the left-handed slugger belt an unfathomable 61 home runs.

The classic image is set against a brilliant mustard yellow background, portraying near-perfect centering with only a slight hint of favoritism towards the left edge between four blinding white borders. Flawless-like surfaces end at razor sharp corner tips that could draw blood, and the super clean verso is the final exclamation point to this museum worthy masterpiece. If you are building a world-class rookie card collection or assembling one of the finest 1958 Topps PSA Registered sets, we highly advise the most meticulous enthusiast to capture this virtually pristine Roger Maris cardboard marvel!

MIN BID $3,500

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