(LOT 346)
1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie PSA 6 EX-MT
MAYS ROOKIE!!! The 1951 Bowman Willie Mays irrefutably stands as his true rookie card, with the 1951 Bowman set including both the inaugural cards for the "Big Apple's" two iconic centerfielders, Mickey Mantle and the "Say Hey Kid". These two rookies stormed the baseball world in 1951, setting the groundwork to what would be an incredible joy ride in the New York Metropolitan area. Along with the Dodger's Duke Snider, it was unfathomable that any city could possibly reap the benefits of three immortal centerfielders during the same era. While Mantle's Goliath type power seemed to steal the show from the other two stars, Mays was unquestionably the premier five-tool player of the three, and is still considered by many as the greatest all-around player in baseball history. In fact, the renowned ESPN recently pieced together a "Top 100" Baseball All-Time list, with the incomparable Willie Mays placing second only to the iconic Babe Ruth. In prior years, one of the most under rated post WWII cards has always been the 1951 Bowman rookie card of the immortal "Say Hey Kid". However, since 2021, this concept has truly turned the corner for the 1951 Bowman Mays has finally realized the earth-shattering values it truly merits. In the Spring of 2021, a PSA 8 example achieved a record setting $338K pricing point while nice PSA 7 specimens are now surpassing the exalted six-figure mark!

Indeed, the Willie Mays rookie card has finally earned its due respect among the hobby's premier collectors and rightfully so, since there isn't a single baseball historian that omits the legendary Giants centerfielder from their top five all-time baseball player list. Mays could hit for average and power, run the bases, throw and play centerfield as well if not better than anyone who ever played the game. As a worthy testament to his unbridled immortality, offered here is a spectacular 1951 Bowman Mays rookie card residing in a PSA 6 EX-MT holder. As you can clearly see, many qualities of this legendary offering are consistent with a higher assessment, commencing with the brilliant lithographic image of Mays preparing to clout another one of his 660 round-trippers. Vivid resolution, rich hues, relatively clean surfaces eluding the typical glaring print lines that plague this issue and extremely subtle corner wear are consistent with the grade. Most significant is the outstanding centering that atypically reveals a well-positioned image between four bright white borders, with only a modest partiality towards the left edge. These world-class attributes, the recent tsunami-like pricing points for eye pleasing examples, and this grand offering's undisputed Willie Mays rookie card stature all combine to merit it the utmost attention from any sophisticated collector!

MIN BID $5,000
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