Willie Mays

[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.

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by 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.

Goldin just sold a PSA 4 1952 Topps Mantle for $120,000. Two sales prior in that grade were 63k and 90k. The Mays from the same set, same grade, last sale was 7500. Before that, 10.2k and 9.1k. It doesn't look much different in gap as the grades go up, either.

Even in the signed card realm, the record high for a signed Mays ROOKIE is 31.2k. A 1952 Bowman Mantle signed just sold at SCP for 39k.

I think Willie Mays was an astounding ball player. Nothing but respect for the guy. But card wise, the prices of his cards vs. Mantle are what they are.