Best looking Willie Mays cards?

[Belfast1933]

Sorry that I didn’t think to post this yesterday on his birthday, but I would love some crowd source ideas and opinions on which cards of Willie Mays, main issues or otherwise, have the best eye appeal

I have his 54 and 56 which I love… except the fact that his close up is the same image which makes the 2 cards displayed next to each other look kind of weird.

Is it just me or are many of his regular issue Topps cards not so great looking images of him! Sometimes his facial expression looks a little stressed and there are also some without a baseball cap on.

I think I might want to replace one of my two cards with another issue that is somewhat affordable (for instance I love his 1952 Bowman but that’s gotten pretty much out of my budget for now) any suggestions on cards of Willie that you find to be especially great looking little works of art??

Thx for your input… and, happy belated Birthday Willie!

[cgjackson222]

I'm partial to his '62 Topps because I like action shots and his big grin. I like his '66 Topps too.

But obviously, it's all personal preference.

You can see all of his major issues here:

https://www.oldsportscards.com/willi...aseball-cards/

And yes, its annoying that Topps kept recycling his images.

[jsfriedm]

As you can tell from my avatar, I love the 52 Bowman, but the 55 Bowman is great too:

[Jay Wolt]

[rjackson44]

Poster

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

My favorite is still the 1954 Topps but also love the 1967 Topps pin-up since it's a larger image than his 1966 and 1969 Topps.

[rugbymarine]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

I'm partial to his '62 Topps because I like action shots and his big grin. I like his '66 Topps too.

His 62 Topps card is a thing of beauty.

[rats60]

1953 Topps, 1955 Topps, 1957 Topps and 1965 Topps are my favorites.

[JollyElm]

My choice is based almost entirely on the nostalgia of Willie coming back home to New York (making kids across the boroughs go into a frenzy trying to get his card), so for me the best will always be this one...

s-l1600-2.jpg


Of course, second place goes to him actually donning the Mets uniform...

s-l1600-3.jpg

[Peter_Spaeth]

These two, hands down.

[Casey2296]

This cards artwork is based on the fundamentals of fine art painting and in my opinion not only the finest Mays card but one of the best looking baseball cards ever produced.
_

[jsfriedm]

Agreed

[Bigdaddy]

Though already posted, I'll throw in my votes for the following:

1955 Bowman - get past the TV and that is a great image
1964 Giants - great colors and pose
1966 - my first 'big' card from the '60s, first card in the set and the first year I was alive.

JB67 - that is probably the nicest '57 Mays I've seen. Not many with registration that good and the total lack of 'noise' on the photo. Amazingly sharp for a '57.

[JollyElm]

They should've given all of his cards the 'standing in the backyard in front of the laundry near the green barn' treatment...


51Bmaysbackground1972.jpg

[Casey2296]

Very nice Jolly.

[jb67]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Though already posted, I'll throw in my votes for the following:

1955 Bowman - get past the TV and that is a great image
1964 Giants - great colors and pose
1966 - my first 'big' card from the '60s, first card in the set and the first year I was alive.

JB67 - that is probably the nicest '57 Mays I've seen. Not many with registration that good and the total lack of 'noise' on the photo. Amazingly sharp for a '57.

Thanks Bigdaddy, Registration and centered is a hard combo to find.

[Cooptown]

Im surprised that no one has mentioned the 53 Topps yet. A tiny piece of art.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Cooptown

Im surprised that no one has mentioned the 53 Topps yet. A tiny piece of art.

I've always had an issue with that card, he would never receive a ground ball to center that way, it's an awkward pose and the look on his face doesn't do justice to what an intelligent ball player he was. It's the classic oppressed negro of 1953 look. Compare that to his badass take no prisoners look on the 51 Bowman.

[jb67]

Originally Posted by Cooptown

Im surprised that no one has mentioned the 53 Topps yet. A tiny piece of art.

It took me some time to appreciate this card. His right hand always seemed way too big.

[TUM301]

Hey Jolly is it my imagination or does your card seem to use the same background (brown tarp bleachers) as the "51" Bowman Mays ?

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by jb67

It took me some time to appreciate this card. His right hand always seemed way too big.

Love many of the 53 cards (Monte Irvin is one of my faves) but the Mays just never did it for me. The artwork and/or image just doesn’t seem as advanced as some of the others in the set)

But SO many other great ideas in this thread! As the OG of this post, let me say Thanks for all of the great input (although now I am as confused as ever! Too many choices)

Jeff