Willie-Mays
Say Hey Kid cards still selling strong on Willie Mays Day
Sunday, Feb. 4 was Willie Mays Day with MLB and the San Francisco Giants honoring the 92-year-old baseball legend and Hall of Famer.
Fittingly, Mays trading cards and memorabilia are still selling well. Look at our February Top 10 chart and you’ll find two Mays pieces. One is a card that’s been sizzling: his 1951 Bowman rookie. A PSA 7 specimen of that classic brought $55,003 in January. The other is a PSA 5 1952 Topps Mays that sold for $22,480.
Also See: Top 40 eBay card sales of 2023
TOP 10 CHART
1. $145,655 on 100 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (PSA 10)
2. $55,003 on 63 bids: 1951 Bowman Willie Mays (PSA 7)
3. $51,100 on 76 bids: 2018 Panini Prizm Lamar Jackson Black Finite, #1/1, auto (PSA 10)
4. $26,100 on 52 bids: 2020 Panini National Treasures Tyrese Haliburton, #5/8, auto patch (PSA 10)
5. $25,000 on 1 bid: 1965 Topps Joe Namath (ungraded)
6. $24,999 on 38 bids: 2023 Topps Chrome Layers MLS Lionel Messi, #1/1 (ungraded)
7. $24,889 on 1 bid: 2004-05 Upper Deck SP Signature Quadruple Authentic Signatures: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, #11/15, autos (BGS 8.5)
8. $24,600 on 36 bids: 1997-98 Skybox Premium Michael Jordan Thunder and Lightning (PSA 10)
9. $22,601 on 142 bids: 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax (PSA 8)
10. $22,480 on 60 bids: 1952 Topps Willie Mays (PSA 5)
Another Mays item shows up in our “On the Outside Looking In” chart (below): an autographed ticket stub that fetched $20,100. The stub happens to come from Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, when Mays made one of the greatest catches in baseball history.
That game was played at the old horseshoe-shaped Polo Grounds, with its cavernous center field. (The posted distance from home plate to dead center was 483 feet; some historians insist it was closer to 505 feet.) In the 8th inning, Mays and his New York Giants were knotted in a 2-2 tie with the Indians. Cleveland’s Vic Wertz, with two runners on base, stepped to the plate and clubbed a monstrous shot over Mays’ head. Willie turned and sprinted toward the center field fence, caught the ball over his shoulder, and somehow pivoted around to fire a long throw back to the infield. It prevented a run from scoring, and the Giants went on to win the game and the series.
Besides the three treasures noted above, another Mays item just missed charting. A collector paid $18,300 on 50 bids for a 1951 Bowman graded PSA 5. Plus, remember that our No. 1 online auction item for 2023 was a PSA 8 specimen of Mays’ 1952 Topps card. It sold for $175,100 on 145 bids. Say hey!
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN (Next 10)
• $22,391 on 33 bids: 1997-98 Fleer Metal Universe Dennis Rodman Precious Metal Gems Red, #34/100 (BGS 9)
• $22,211 on 46 bids: 1996-97 Fleer Ultra Michael Jordan Platinum Medallion (PSA 10)
• $21,400 on 54 bids: 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan #101 (BGS 8)
• $21,100 on 32 bids: 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan #101 (PSA 7)
• $20,100 on 45 bids: Willie Mays signed 1954 World Series Game 1 ticket stub
• $19,302 on 45 bids: 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan #101 (PSA 7)
• $19,300 on 62 bids: 2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes II Black, #3/5, auto (PSA 10)
• $19,100 on 38 bids: 2018-19 Panini Kaboom! Giannis Antetokounmpo Gold, #1/10 (BGS 9.5)
• $18,989 on 73 bids: 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Ticket, auto (BGS 8.5, auto 10)
• $18,500 on 57 bids: 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan #101 (BGS 8)
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