(LOT 804)
1958 Topps #52 Roberto Clemente "Yellow Team Letters" PSA 9 Mint – Highest Graded Example!
Roberto Clemente played the game as well as any outfielder who ever graced a baseball field, with this five-tool Hall of Famer residing as one of our National Pastime's most iconic all-time superstars. That said, what card could better exemplify this eloquent legend than one that stands as the "finest of its kind", which is the exact hallowed stature of this PSA 9 MINT 1958 Topps "Yellow Team Name!" Indeed, PSA has encapsulated over 900 of the highly coveted 1958 Topps #52 "Yellow Letter" Clemente's, with NONE achieving a higher assessment, and only six other copies (0.7%) residing at the ultra-rare PSA 9 grade. While Clemente was certainly a sensational all-around player who accumulated exactly 3,000 lifetime hits, similar to Lou Gehrig, Clemente's legacy is predominantly related to his sudden death when he was tragically killed after the 1972 season due to a horrific plane crash, with the heroic Clemente attempting to assist earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

His list of accomplishments is absolutely remarkable including a .317 lifetime batting average, 3,000 career hits, the 1966 regular season MVP award, four batting titles, 12 consecutive gold glove awards, and if that isn't enough, in 1971 he won the World Series MVP when he virtually single-handedly dominated the Baltimore Orioles from both the batter's box and right field. The near-impossible "9 MINT" assessment is justified by Clemente's impeccable batting image, brilliant hues, crystal clear-clarity, snow-white borders, pinpoint corners, critical "PITTSBURGH PIRATES" yellow text, and excellent centering (only slightly favoring the right edge). Of course, the key element is the "Yellow Team Name" with PSA grading approximately 3,100 "white letters" versus only 900+ "yellow letters" – a whopping disparity exceeding a "3 to 1" ratio. Regarding the player, it is not an overstatement to claim that Hall of Fame right fielder Roberto Clemente is worshiped by the Hispanic baseball community at a similar level that Jackie Robinson was to all African Americans. His unequivocal legacy cemented in stone, the immortal Clemente will forever reside as one of baseball's greatest all-time players, with this remarkable cardboard rarity synonymous to his unparalleled heroism that will surely stand the test of time!

MIN BID $5,000
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