(LOT 84)
1963 Topps #540 Roberto Clemente PSA 9 MINT - Only Two PSA Examples Graded Higher!
PACK-FRESH CLEMENTE!!! The PSA card graders have handled 3,100+ 1963 Topps #540 Clemente subjects, with a meager two examples managing to best this exalted PSA 9 MINT stunner! The Hispanic baseball community will forever worship Roberto Clemente at a similar level that African Americans idolize the immortal Jackie Robinson. In fact, both their iconic legacies extend far past their racial heritage since both players were, simply stated, two of the greatest performers Major League Baseball has ever witnessed on a playing field. The 1963 campaign would see Pittsburgh's star right fielder capture his third consecutive Gold Glove Award while batting a stellar .320. The incomparable Clemente would ultimately end his career with a sensational .317 lifetime batting average, 3,000 career hits, the 1966 regular season MVP award, four batting titles, and 12 consecutive gold glove awards.

He finally received the recognition he truly deserved in 1971, when he led the Pirates to a seven-game World Series victory over the Baltimore Orioles, winning the Series MVP by virtually single-handedly dominating Baltimore in both the batter's box and right field. Yet, as is the case with the immortal Lou Gehrig, he will always best be remembered for his tragic death when, after the 1972 season, his plane crashed carrying supplies to assist earthquake victims in Nicaragua. No wonder this legendary star's legacy extends far beyond the baseball diamond, for his unbridled courage places Roberto Clemente as the true embodiment of a national hero.

Justifying the unparalleled level to which this immortal Pirates outfielder was loved by his closest friends is when one of his soul-mate buddies and teammate, Manny Sanguillen, chose to miss Clemente's Memorial Service because he was diving in the Atlantic Ocean's frigid waters in a desperate attempt to find Clemente's body. While his body was never found, it was such a devoted and momentous act that summarized what Roberto truly meant to those who knew him well. This sensational PSA 9 card merits its mint assessment via the Clemente sparkling image, pristine colored hues, including a sensational powder blue lower border revealing no blemishes, blinding white borders, razor-sharp corner tips and flawless surfaces.

Atypical for any 1963 card is the lack of any etching/chipping on the baby blue lower text box that is the standard stigma for any 1963 Topps baseball subject and, while not perfect, the excellent centering only reveals a modest partiality towards the right edge. Breathtaking to say the least, if you are seeking the closest possible level of cardboard perfection for one of baseball's greatest all-time players, this unfathomable 1963 Topps Clemente keepsake is the one for you, serving as the perfect testament to this immortal Cooperstown hero. In closing and substantiating its illustrious stature is the fact that this SAME EXACT CARD sold for a stratospheric $56K in a January 2023 Memory Lane Auction, with its seldom-surfacing PSA 9 world-class assessment tantamount to Clemente's remarkable diamond achievements that will forever echo for eternity!

MIN BID $10,000

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