(LOT 135)
1953 Topps #244 Willie Mays PSA 8.5 NM-MT+
53 MAYS!!! "The All Star Game was invented for Willie Mays"!... Ted Williams. No truer words were ever spoken regarding the immortal Hall of fame centerfielder Willie Mays and presented here is a card that is as miraculous as the "Say Hey Kid's" incomparable baseball skill sets. This near-impossible PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 1953 Topps Willie Mays masterpiece stands as one of only two examples at this hallowed plateau with 3 graded higher. Indeed, synonymous with Willie's unfathomable career comes along this second-year tops card that stands as one of the finest preserved subjects on the planet! Even though Willie Mays played in only 34 games in 1952 on account of his military service, Topps still decided to reward his faithful following by issuing a 1953 Mays subject portraying one of the most popular Mays baseball card as he is revealing his iconic "basket catch" fielding pose.

Ironically, Willie Mays would not play a single game in the 1953 season, missing the entire campaign due to his devout armed services duty in lieu of the Korean War. Fortunately for the seemingly countless number of his captivated young fans, his 1953 Topps #244 subject would give them hope for the upcoming 1954 season that would mark his glorified return and a New York Giants world championship. The card itself portrays a magnificent Mays lithographic image, reflecting outstanding crystal-clear clarity and contrast between super clean white borders. Atypical for this issue, the classic pose is extremely well centered with only a modest hint of favoritism towards the lower edge.

Pinpoint corners, razor sharp edging, a gleaming obverse side surface and a super clean verso all combine to support the world-class technical assessment that places the card at a pinnacle-like level. Breathtaking to say the least, its overall aesthetics are as amazing as when Mays raced to the deepest confines of the Polo grounds to snare Vic Wertz's mammoth blast in "over the shoulder" fashion in the 1954 Fall Classic. Sophisticated enthusiasts are well aware of the ultra-condition sensitivity of the 1953 Topps issue with Mint 9 or better cards few and far between. Extremely "rare for the grade", it certainly appears as if it has just been pulled from a 1953 Topps wax pack, and it is surely destined to find its way into one of the most advanced Willie Mays or 1953 Topps PSA Registered compilations extant!

MIN BID $7,500

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MLI is offering The "Mays Fan Club Collection" - #1 on the PSA Set Registry in an alternative selling format. All Lots numbered from 132-158 will be sold individually to the highest bidder, unless Lot # 131's hammer price exceeds the hammer price of Lots 132-158 combined cumulative total. In which case, the cards would be sold as a set. Once bidding starts, the green check mark below simply designates which format has the current high bid. In case of a tie - the set wins.

Lot 131 (Set Total):  $230,000
Lot 132-158 (Individual Card Total):  $406,299