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Image Source: Robert Edward Auctions via cllct.
At a recent auction held by WorthPoint Industry Partner Robert Edward Auctions, a 1951 Willie Mays rookie card was sold for more than $390,000, making it the third-most expensive Mays card and the most expensive example of the Bowman rookie card. Additionally, according to REA, the PSA 8.5 card is the only Mays card that has been sold at that grading.
The key considerations when looking at sports cards are condition and authenticity. The better the condition, the more the card will appreciate in value, especially if it’s protected.
Comparatively, Goldin, another WorthPoint Industry Partner, sold a PSA 8 of the Willie Mays rookie card the previous week for $207,400. Goldin previously established the record for the most expensive Mays rookie card in March 2021 for $338,400. That card was graded 8 by PSA, and experts say there are only eight cards worldwide that are graded at 9. No Gem Mint 10 cards for Mays exist. For buyers, knowing the condition and provenance of a card is a must to prevent fraud.
In 1951, Bowman issued rookie cards in bubble gum packages. Topps purchased the brand in 1956, so Bowman cards are rare and usually fetch higher prices at auction.
Mays was an American hero both on and off the field, which is why the memorabilia of his baseball career is so popular. It evokes a time when a game could impact societal change from within their ranks.
Related: Graded baseball cards have become financial assets, with many collectors viewing them as a stable and appreciating investment.
Brenda Kelley Kim lives in the Boston area. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep End of Everywhere and writes a weekly syndicated column for The Marblehead Weekly News/Essex Media Group. When not writing or walking her snorty pug, Penny, she enjoys yard sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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