(LOT 228)
1973 Topps #50 Roberto Clemente PSA 10 GEM MINT
SHEER PERFECTION!!! Trying to find an immaculate PSA 10 GEM MINT Roberto Clemente 1973 Topps #50 subject is like eating soup with a fork, with both tasks virtually insurmountable. Supporting that notion is PSA's illustrious Pop Chart, which lists only seven other 1973 Topps Clementes boasting the near-impossible perfect 10 assessment from a massive selection of over 7,600+ examples! While Clemente was certainly a sensational all-around player, similar to Lou Gehrig, Roberto's legacy is heightened by his sudden death, when the Steel City superstar was tragically killed after the 1972 season due to his plane crashing into the Atlantic carrying supplies to assist earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Thus, the 1973 Topps Clemente subject resides as his final baseball card issue and holds a special place in the hearts of collectors, justifying why this pinnacle specimen is highly sought after by the hobby's most esteemed PSA Registry collectors. The iconic Clemente's list of superlatives reads on and on, with the legendary right-fielder amassing 3,000 hits to the tune of a .317 lifetime batting average, winning the 1966 regular season MVP award, claiming four batting titles, and tallying an astonishing 12 consecutive Gold Glove awards.

Yet, for all of these world-class achievements, it would be the 1971 World Series that would be his ultimate shining star when he dominated the Baltimore Orioles via his incomparable hitting and fielding prowess, earning the MVP for his supernatural performance. You can almost feel the intensity of the great Clemente as he prepares to swing at what is most likely another scorched baseball, with his crystal-clear pose highlighted by an unparalleled array of strikingly rich hues. Atypical virtually perfect centering with zero tilt is one of this elite offering's major highlights, with a myriad of 1973 Topps subjects reflecting unsightly skewed images. A blazingly sharp perimeter, pinpoint corner tips, blinding white borders, and flawless surfaces complete one of the finest 1973 Topps Clemente subjects imaginable. Indeed, we have scoured this card and cannot detect any notable imperfections. Relatively fresh to the hobby, its PSA serial number indicates it was graded within the past year or two, with another PSA 10 fetching an extraordinary $105,000 in a January 2023 public auction!

MIN BID $20,000
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