Robinson or Mays?
 

I am considering buying a card and would like to hear your opinions. All things being equal would you rather have a 1953 Topps Willie Mays or a 1957 Topps Brooks Robinson? I know Mays is considered to be boorish by many and is far less popular post career than Robinson. Nonetheless, I have always loved both cards. What are your thoughts?

I prefer the Mays because he was the far better player and I like the image more, but both are good picks. Not enough of either card to meet demand. I have a Brooks, still looking for a low grade Mays. Can’t really go wrong there!

53 Mays ...don’t even need to think about it.

Thanks for the feedback. I am leaning toward the Mays.

I actually think it's a tossup because both 57 Rookie Robinson's are so underappreciated relative to other HOF rookies from that era. That being said an early 50's Mays SP is always a nice card to have.

This right here.

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Beware
 

Take care. Even if you think right now that you just want the one star card, after a while, Willie will get lonely and you will start to think he needs company, and the next thing you know, other cards in the '53 set will begin to look attractive and affordable, and before you know it, you've become a completist and obsessively engaged for the next few years. That's what happened to me back in the early '80's.;)

Thanks for the warning

And, unfortunately, they will stay that way.

I've never felt the 57 Brooks is under-appreciated. Forget price guides, the Brooks is the most valuable card in the 57 set that is jam packed with HOF rookies. I had to pay double what my Mantle cost to secure one (low grade). It costs more than any card in the 1958 set, similar to the 1959 Bob Gibson Rookie unless they've shifted recently.

If you love 'em both, get both of them whenever you can!!

You don’t even have to ask...

Mark,

Willie Mays???

Mike,

I’d go with Mays. It’s a great card.

I'd personally go with the Willie Mays for several reasons.
Part of that is I do expect a bit of an uptick in value when he eventually passes.

I'm not really sure why the Brooks Robinson cards don't sell for more than they do.
I'm sure Mark or a few other hardcore Brooks collectors have a few theories. I tend to think he has been so "accessible" to the fans over the years, and signing literally everything tossed his way, that may well have something to do with it.
This is really just a wild guess though.
(though the flip side can also be argued / meaning he was always so good to the fans, his stuff is more popular than other "curmudgeons" so to speak)

Thinking about this deeper, it seems that 3rd base in general is a position where the "greats of the game" generally go a bit underappreciated.....
Boggs, Brett, Robinson, Santo, Schmidt....aren't all these guys cards a bit underappreciated? Or is it just me?
I don't track their prices that well, but I tend to think most all of them can be had at a relative bargain compared to other positions.
Part of this just might be that their rookies and cards in general are "newer" and more heavily produced, (think 70's onward) with the exception of Robinson.

:confused:

As usual I got side tracked on my way to the market. I used my Willie Mays money for this. So Im back to saving my change. I'm sure card guys won't understand but Mark and Mike certainly will.

Well Mike,

That is friekin’ awesome! Where did you find that gem? Perfect companion piece to your glove box. You can always pick up a Mays or Brooks, but that is the only display piece I have ever seen.

Congrats

Actually it is a glove box. They were triangle shaped. It is in near mint condition like my glove. I upgraded my existing box. There are three of these boxes that I know exist. A member here owned this box. I have pestered him for two years and finally wore him down. I was ready to buy a nice PSA 3 Mays and thought I would try one more time. I offered him the money I was spending on the Mays and he accepted. He has been very understanding of my desire to own this box. I am more than grateful that he decided that it belonged in my collection. I sold my original box for a good amount to an advanced Clemente collector in Chicago. That took some of the sting out of the purchase. I have to believe the only way to get a better conditioned Clemente Robinson glove box combo would be to buy a time machine.

Ooof! Well, either way, it is an incredible piece. Is the member a Clemente collector? I know what you’re saying though. I’ve needed a 1910 E93 Honus Wagner for a while to complete my set. I’ll set money aside, but before I can find one I like, I end up spending the money elsewhere. I really have no focus any more these days, but I’m really having a blast collecting. I just buy what I like, if it makes you happy, that’s all that matters.

Not a Clemente collector, he collects pre-war cards and has a most impressive collection. He obviously didnt need the money so I am terribly grateful he accepted my offer as I have very few pre-war cards and nothing to offer as rare as the box.

Boorish or not, I would disagree with the notion that Willie Mays is less popular than Brooks Robinson.

The Robinson thread is up to 1800 posts. Start a Mays thread and challenge it :)

True, but one message board thread aside - Robinson is a legendary defensive player who is a HOF'er basically only because of that. Mays was one of if not the single greatest position player of all time. No disrespect to Brooks, but he's not in Willie's league as an all-around player. In terms of card desirability for me, that would play a factor.

You start with a premise that is incorrect.

How so? He was not the hitter that Ron Santo was at 3rd base. Is he a HOF'er without 16 GG?

In the decade of the 60’s he was fifth on the list for hits. Had the most HR’s for AL 3rd baseman when he retired and known as a clutch hitter. He hit over .400 in the ‘70 WS along with his fielding. You can look up his batting average in the playoff and WS game; probably pretty good.

Belanger should be in the Hall if we’re going just by fielding.

Hey, I don’t really like Mays so I likely wouldn’t be a good judge on him.

Offensively Brooks was blown out of the water by 3rd baseman that came later like Schmidt, Brett, and Jones. I'm not saying he was a bad hitter, just saying that's not what he's known for.

You’re correct; that’s what he is known for. Schmidt is the only one in that group that was a premium third baseman; really good offensively though.

They were all premium 3rd baseman. Schmidt was the best of them, and the best of that group defensively.

Disagree; except for the Schmidt part.

It's cool if Brooks was your favorite player. Statistically, by virtue of their offense, Schmidt, Brett, and Chipper were all greater 3rd basemen than Robinson.

This whole thread unfolded before I had an opportunity to respond!!
 

So here were my thoughts in order as I read through the posts:

1) Hands down I would go for the Mays card (Brooks likely the more loved person between the 2 notwithstanding)

2) Looks like most people agree

3) HOLY CRAP! Forget about Mays or Robinson - Is that a glove box or a store marketing piece?

4) Wow! It IS a glove box!

5) I wonder if I can talk him out of his other one?

6) Crap! That all happened WAY too fast!

AWESOME pickup Mike! As mentioned - time for Mays and/or Robinson later....

Brooks Robinson OPS+ = 105, 5% better than league average bat over career. Mays is one of the greatest of all time, Brooks was an entertaining fan favorite and great glove. I'd pick Mays by a long shot as the better player and love the 53 Mays image. Don't think Brook is even remotely close to the player Mays was. Chipper, Brett, Schmidt, easily better 3B all time by any look at numbers. Love the 57 Brooks still, a good card too as the toughest card in another popular set.

The 58 Brooks though, I hated paying even $4 for that card and it's 'unique' image.