(LOT 816)
1952 Topps #407 Eddie Mathews "True" Rookie Card PSA 7 NM
When the Topps Bubble Gum Company released their landmark 1952 set, save the iconic #311 Mickey Mantle card, they just might have saved "the best for last" by choosing the great HOF 3rd-sacker Eddie Mathews as their #407 subject. The final player of the legendary 1952 Topps gathering, the #407 Eddie Mathews example is his true "ROOKIE CARD", residing as one of the most significant post-WWII cards in the hobby. Seldom surfacing in high-grade, presented here is an outstanding '52 Topps Mathews in a PSA 7 Near-Mint holder, with only 2% of the approximate 850 PSA encapsulated examples posting an assessment of "7" or higher! Mathews elite Hall of Fame status as well as his highly coveted 1952 Topps "high number" rookie card have elevated his hobby stature to a world-class plateau. A prestigious member of the "500-homer" club, Mathews was the undisputed finest 3rd baseman of his generation.

The nine-time all-star belted 512 lifetime dingers, and until the great Mike Schmidt came along, Mathews was generally considered the greatest 3rd baseman of all-time. The Mathews image is absolutely brilliant, eluding any major blemishes while emanating near-perfect clarity and splendid array of vibrant blue tints. The right-angled corners are consistent with the assessment, the bright white borders have defied 69 years of potential wear, and the verso is super clean. We can only conclude the skewed image that favors the upper left edges (a typical stigma plaguing a majority of 1952 Topps Eddie Mathews subjects) as well as some slight wear to the upper left corner prevented this card from achieving a higher assessment. Yet, the dynamic duo of a brilliant portrait image and the "right to own" any PSA 7 example of Eddie Mathews undisputed rookie card far exceeds the aforementioned centering issue, with this most significant cardboard memento one of the most notable "Post-WWII" issues extant!

MIN BID $5,000
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