Willie Mays

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I believe we can all agree (I know, this is Net 54) that Willie Mays is the greatest living ballplayer and certainly among the top 5 of all time. I know nothing more than he is 90+ and in good health and long may he continue to be so.
I have watching the price movements of his vintage cards for about a year and it is clear to me that the gap between Mantle and Willie's cards is shrinking. For example, in the current Premier Auction, or whatever they call it, there are 2 beautiful PSA7 1951 Bowman RC's of both. At the moment, Willie's bids are around 9k ahead of the Mick. Early days, but I have never seen that scenario before. Perhaps due his longevity collectors are beginning to realize what a fabulous player he was.
I actually had the pleasure of seeing Willie play in 1954 when my Dad took me to the old Polo Grounds for a game. He electrified the field.

So I think this thread started because of a comparison of 1951 Bowman Mantle and Mays Rookies in PWCC's February Premier Auction?

The PSA 7 Mantle ended up selling for $96K and the Mays for $60K. Not sure if that constitutes a narrowing of any historical gap between the two cards, but at a more than 50% premium for the Mantle, there is obviously still quite a gap.
I believe the populations of both cards are similar. Maybe the gap will get closer some day given that most people think Mays was one of the two best players ever, and many don't have Mantle in the top 10.

[Yoda]

Charles, I was the original author of this post and I have to agree that the price level at the finishing line shows Mantle the clear winner...again. Perhaps what I was seeing was an aberration in the early auction bidding. Willie is the sprinter and Mickey is the finisher.

[MattyC]

Many guys in our 40s and 30s who never saw him play still buy Mantle. When we entered the hobby, the 52T Mantle had a mystique and status that will never change— and that card became a gateway of sorts that led many of us to look into his life and accomplishments, as well as his other cards. Then there are Yankee fan collectors who will always be interested in cards of Yankee legends. The notion that as people who saw him play die, his cards will become less desirable, it seems specious at best, especially in light of how cards of many long dead players still have expensive, desirable cards— Mathewson, Shoeless Joe, the list goes on. But ultimately, one can sit around waiting years and years for some puerile price competition between Mantle and Mays to play out, or one can collect what they want to own in the present, whichever athlete that is.

[cgjackson222]

In REA's auction last night a '51 Bowman Mays SGC 3 sold for $24,600, almost $7K higher than a '51 Bowman Mantle PSA 4.

Strong price for the Mays, which sold for higher than a'51 Bowman Mays SGC 6 in the same auction, and a relatively weak price for the Mantle. Not sure if this is just an outlier, or if Mays is actually closing the gap with Mantle, but you don't see a Mays Rookie outsell a Mantle of a higher grade often.

[h2oya311]

At first glance and without fully inspecting the card, that Mays “3” looks like an “8” and the Mantle “4” looks like, well, a “4”. So not entirely an apples-to-apples in this “case”.

[Bpm0014]

Mays game used bat I recently purchased. Adirondack. Mid to late 60’s.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

In REA's auction last night a '51 Bowman Mays SGC 3 sold for $24,600, almost $7K higher than a '51 Bowman Mantle PSA 4.

Strong price for the Mays, which sold for higher than a'51 Bowman Mays SGC 6 in the same auction, and a relatively weak price for the Mantle. Not sure if this is just an outlier, or if Mays is actually closing the gap with Mantle, but you don't see a Mays Rookie outsell a Mantle of a higher grade often.

Someone is gonna work some magic and get this into a 6 or better holder.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Someone is gonna work some magic and get this into a 6 or better holder.

Yeah would like to see the bidder IDs on that one.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Yeah would like to see the bidder IDs on that one.

Could be a third party who hires people.. who knows where it would lead. Peter is it me or does his face look out of focus??

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Could be a third party who hires people.. who knows where it would lead. Peter is it me or does his face look out of focus??

The registration is way off. Pretty much everything, including his face is out of focus.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Could be a third party who hires people.. who knows where it would lead. Peter is it me or does his face look out of focus??

Looks good to me. The 51 and 52B Mays can sometimes give that initial appearance for some reason, but if you look closely you don't see any print shift or stray color in the eyes or any other signs of a print problem. For example

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Could be a third party who hires people.. who knows where it would lead. Peter is it me or does his face look out of focus??

Below is a side-by-side of the '51 Bowman Mays SGC 3 sold last night in REA on the left, and one that is in focus on the right.

Look at the outline of the jersey and how there are double-lines. Also, his eye has extra lines.

But hey, it was dead-centered.