(LOT 124)
1961 Topps #417 Juan Marichal Rookie Card PSA 10 Gem Mint –Highest Graded Example!
One of the major highlights of the 1961 Topps set is the #417 Juan Marichal rookie card that just happens to be presented here in the pinnacle PSA 10 Gem Mint grade! The prestigious PSA 'Pop" Chart has currently encapsulated some 2,700 '61 Topps Marichal subjects with only six examples or a microscopic 0.2% managing to achieve the hallowed 'Gem Mint" assessment. Rookie card mania continues to captivate the hobby, with record prices being recorded for many of our National Pastime's greatest legends.

The "Dominican Dandy's" rookie card is certainly part of this augmented pricing surge with one of his six PSA 10 inaugural '61 Topps subjects recently fetching a staggering $75K in an October 2021 public auction. One of the greatest post-WWII pitchers, right-handed Hall of Fame twirler Juan Marichal won 243 games, completed 244 of his starts and posted a sensational 2.89 lifetime E.R.A. in 16 seasons, 14 of which were spent with the San Francisco Giants. Utilizing a tantalizing array of different arm-angles, pin-point pitches and iconic high leg kick that baffled hitters, the ten-time All-Star won 20 or more games six times in seven seasons, three of which included 25 wins or more. Marichal tossed a no-hitter in 1963, twice led the Senior Circuit in victories (1963; '68), and had it not been for Sandy Koufax, he would have easily claimed two or three Cy Young awards. One of his most celebrated games took place on July 2, 1963 at Candlestick Park when Marichal outdueled the great and aging 42-year-old Warren Spahn in a momentous 1-0 win in 16 innings.

In the bottom of the 16th, Willie Mays ended the amazing scoreless duel with a game-winning homer off of Spahn, with both these immortal hurlers incredibly going the distance. Likewise, this captivating "Gem Mint" Marichal rookie portrays awe-inspiring aesthetics, starting with the candid Marichal image as the Dominican Dandy reveals his good-natured smile. Marichal would go on to win 13 games in 1961, more than doubling his six wins he posted in a rather brief 1960 campaign. Substantiating the merited "10" grade are sparkling hues, blinding white borders, razor sharp right-angled corners, gleaming surfaces and the ultra-elusive near-perfect centering that only exhibits a trace of favoritism towards the upper edge. Pack-fresh to say the least, now is your golden opportunity to emulate Marichal himself and post a win of your own by capturing this "rare for the grade" Gem Mint rookie marvel!
MIN BID $15,000
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