Willie Mays

[JollyElm]

Unfortunately, this is how I see it...

422. Mourning Track Power
Buying up cards of a very old former player, for the sole purpose of selling them at exorbitant prices on the gigantic bubble that will surely come after he passes away.

[Tyruscobb]

The price disparity between Mantle, Mays, and Aaron cards is crazy. One Mantle card typically costs more than the combined Mays and Aaron cards in the same year and grade. Most have Mays and Aaron ranked higher on all-time great lists, yet it’s almost a two-to-one price ratio with the lesser player having the most value. Obviously, there are several factors that contribute to this, and I understand them, but it’s still astonishing. I’ll personally take two cards and the better players over Mantle.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by jollyelm

unfortunately, this is how i see it...

422. mourning track power
buying up cards of a very old former player, for the sole purpose of selling them at exorbitant prices on the gigantic bubble that will surely come after he passes away.

^^this^^

[jingram058]

This

[FrankWakefield]

Somewhere, on Net54, I posted something about Mays being the best ballplayer I ever saw play in person. I had not recognized that until I perused Bill James's Historical Baseball Abstract (I still think its best form is the original edition, hardbound). At that point, I reluctantly let go of the idea that it was Stan Musial (seen in one game in 1963 and thereby becoming a lifelong Cardinals fan), and that instead Willie Mays was better. I saw Mays play in the old Sportsman's Park, then the cookie cutter Busch Stadium, and also in Candlestick once. Willie was entertaining along with his greatness. He'd break late and slow on a ball close to him, he seemed to always catch the ball while moving. He could hit, hustle, run bases, drive in runs, he was a force out there. I have a handful of his cards from his playing days. None are mint nor near mint, they're maybe VG-EX... A couple I collected as a kid, I think the rest were gathered after he was voted into the Hall.

George Davis is a subject in the T206's. In the late 1980's I was looking through the T206 lists, and I realized Davis wasn't in the Hall. But to me it seemed like he should be, and that maybe one day he would be. I think I bought 2 of his cards, and then waited. And he got elected!!! I sold one maybe 2 or 3 years later. And then I sold the other a few years later when I sold almost all of my white border cards.

Point is, I've bought cards anticipating someone getting elected into the Hall. But I've not bought any cards anticipating someone would die. I'd not thought about that before, and I'm sure people will buy cards anticipating that, but I don't think I will be doing that.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Where's the evidence of this narrowing Mantle Mays gap? Seems in line to me with what it has been for a long time

1965 PSA 8 Mantle last 5

/23/2022 $3,995.00 8 175118348292 eBay mjschillaci Auction 49865113
1/11/2022 $4,516.00 8 363674561810 eBay probstein123 Auction 55018495
9/28/2021 $3,859.20 8 543 Lelands Late Summer Classic 2021 Auction 20094480
8/12/2021 $4,212.75 8 366 Mile High Card Company July/August 2021 Auction Auction 12581809
7/31/2021 $4,301.00 8 144119876379 eBay pwcc_auctions Auction 09074020

1965 PSA 8 Mays last 4
12/12/2021 $1,499.00 8 234332009171 eBay pb19991 Auction 23502925
11/29/2021 $1,246.79 8 265410046760 eBay 4_sharp_corners Auction 06025614
11/25/2021 $1,567.00 8 373794998777 eBay probstein123 Auction 11205557
11/9/2021 $1,619.00 8 384478175189 eBay probstein123 Auction 41747188

[Yoda]

More the gap I was thinking of were cards between !951-3 in exmt and above. The example I used in the current PWCC auction, fresh as it is, was something I had never seen before, 2 RC's, same PSA grade, the same auction. I am sure Mick's card will top Willie's by auction end but an interesting moment, nonetheless

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Yoda

More the gap I was thinking of were cards between !951-3 in exmt and above. The example I used in the current PWCC auction, fresh as it is, was something I had never seen before, 2 RC's, same PSA grade, the same auction. I am sure Mick's card will top Willie's by auction end but an interesting moment, nonetheless

The fact that you're picking their rookie and earliest year cards, and in a very high condition, is exactly the kind of cards the flippers and investors normally go for. And because of that, and I hate to say it, but Jollyelm may be right on the money and there is possibly a deathwatch on Willie Mays, with people just waiting to take advantage of his passing so they can dump his cards at a big profit. Or it could be people anticipating the rise in the value of his cards when he passes, so they're possibly looking to buy them now before prices go up even more.

Either case, it may have a lot to do with his age and remaining life expectancy.

[lowpopper]

True, it feels like the gap is closing but the data does seem to show mantle and mays are acquiring value proportionately