Willie Mays

[Yoda]

Bob, I have to agree on all points and it just makes me sad that there is a segment of the hobby that is on sort of a death vigil for Willie. My point in making the post was that in the early going of the PWCC horserace of RC's that Mays has a 2 length lead, something I have never seen before.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Bob, I have to agree on all points and it just makes me sad that there is a segment of the hobby that is on sort of a death vigil for Willie. My point in making the post was that in the early going of the PWCC horserace of RC's that Mays has a 2 length lead, something I have never seen before.

John,

Definitely agree, but we both know how people can be when it comes to making a buck. A lot of them will do anything, including taking advantage of someone's passing and the sentiment and memories it evokes in others. It turns out to be one of our not so admirable human natures, but it is what it is.

[Smarti5051]

It could also be possible that the recent deaths of Kobe and Aaron, and the immediate skyrocketing of their rookie cards has caused Mays collectors to accelerate their rookie grail card plans for fears of being priced out completely in the event of his death. It only takes 10-30 newly motivated buyers to dramatically change the landscape for high-end vintage cards. My grail card, the Joe Jackson Cracker Jack, has gone from "I will plan to save up for a nice PSA 4 in a couple years" card to a "can I tolerate a BVG "authentic" poster cut/blank back with 15% of the right side missing" question. I imagine there are many Mays collectors that see a hole where the 51/52 issues are supposed to go that feel like their options might be slipping away if they don't act now and outbid the competition.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Smarti5051

It could also be possible that the recent deaths of Kobe and Aaron, and the immediate skyrocketing of their rookie cards has caused Mays collectors to accelerate their rookie grail card plans for fears of being priced out completely in the event of his death. It only takes 10-30 newly motivated buyers to dramatically change the landscape for high-end vintage cards. My grail card, the Joe Jackson Cracker Jack, has gone from "I will plan to save up for a nice PSA 4 in a couple years" card to a "can I tolerate a BVG "authentic" poster cut/blank back with 15% of the right side missing" question. I imagine there are many Mays collectors that see a hole where the 51/52 issues are supposed to go that feel like their options might be slipping away if they don't act now and outbid the competition.

Exactly!

[Snowman]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but there's also another factor in play which is that HBO is going to release their documentary on Willie Mays this year. A lot of people are buying up his cards while they still can. It's not always about "making a buck". His cards are going up. They've been going up for a long time now. High end vintage in general is drying up. If you want his cards, yesterday is the time to get them. Despite the outpouring of nonsense to the contrary though, don't feel bad for buying a Willie Mays card. It really doesn't make you a bad person. Honestly, it doesn't.

[jingram058]

Welcome back, Snowman!

[Johnny630]

I'm looking for a 53 and 58 Topps Willie Mays PSA 7-8 !!!

His cards IMO are highly undervalued along with Hank Aaron.

It's interesting to watch....

IMO These are the Have the Most Upside Growth with lowest Downside Potential. Plenty of other great names I left out. IMO these is the 5 best to own for the long-term.

Ruth
Cobb
Jackie
Mantle
Mays

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Smarti5051

I imagine there are many Mays collectors that see a hole where the 51/52 issues are supposed to go that feel like their options might be slipping away if they don't act now and outbid the competition.

There's a FOMO factor to a lot of superstar cards right now, especially for cards that have 'only' gone up 300% in the last two years. I'm amazed what "A" cards get now; collectors just want in on some issues.

[rugbymarine]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

There's a FOMO factor to a lot of superstar cards right now, especially for cards that have 'only' gone up 300% in the last two years. I'm amazed what "A" cards get now; collectors just want in on some issues.

I've got a bit of this FOMO going on right now:

1) I'd like to own more Mays cards than I currently own.
2) The prices of his cards will very likely increase significantly when he passes.
3) I'd rather purchase them at pre-death prices than post-death prices, in the same any collector would rather pay 2018 prices for the items they pursue, than 2022 prices.

What I'm feeling has a lot to do with an expected price increase upon his passing, but it has nothing to do with me wanting to profit from that event. i hope that makes sense.

And a card..

[MattyC]

There was a thread like this about a Mays and Mantle card on the PSA threads a little ways back— it was about how in a Memory Lane auction, a PSA 9 of the 1961 Mays was blowing away the price of the PSA 9 Mantle after a few days of bidding.

When it was all said and done, the Mantle sold for double the Mays. Who knows what happens in this new instance based on these two cards in question, their relative eye appeal, who is bidding, etc., but I think judging any auction by early bidding is always tough to do.

That said, anecdotally I have seen guys looking to grab Mays cards now due to his eventual passing; some fearing a price spike and others just blood merchants looking to flip at that time— the latter is a bit dark yet it is just part of the card world I guess.

[JohnnyKilroy]

I’ve been a Mays collector for awhile, you can definitely see the uptick in prices. But I don’t see a huge jump when he passes. I feel like this is already starting to get baked in. I think people have been trying to “get in” before his passing for awhile now, Mays stuff shot up after Aaron passed. I don’t expect a huge jump when it happens, but as someone eluded to earlier… human nature will prevail. My bet is that bump will be short lived and prices will settle quickly. What you’re seeing, IMO, is more what the original poster was eluding too.. a gap closing between Mantle / Mays.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Could someone claiming a narrowing gap post evidence please? Subjectively I am not seeing it and I am not counting aspirational BINs. My post on 65T (admittedly one card one grade only) doesn't seem to support it.