The Willie Mays price boom

[jchcollins]

Willie is 91 years old, and is more or less considered the greatest position player of all time. Morbid or not, there is speculation on his cards right now in what is assumed to be a run-up to his death. When Hank Aaron passed last year, I know there were at least subtle whispers of Willie being the only player of that caliber left. That's not exactly wrong.

Some cards, like the '52 Topps Mays - were almost criminally undervalued for years in comparison to even garden variety Mantle cards. That at least is no longer the case. It's also nice however to see even midgrade 60's Willie cards getting their due in the value department.

Frank Robinson - eeeh, yeah. But that guy has been undervalued for the entire history of the retail hobby for more than 40 years now. He could eventually get his due much the way Jackie and Satchel cards eventually exploded - but honestly it would be surprising. There are others like that - where besides a rookie card, things are widely affordable. Stan Musial, Willie McCovey, Bob Gibson, Mike Schmidt, Tom Seaver - take your pick. Many other A, A- and B list HOF'ers still have a lot of room for growth in their card prices in my opinion.

[Exhibitman]

The 'problem' with Frank Robinson is that he has to compete with Mays, Aaron and Musial int he same league at the same time. He was really great (#17 WAR) but all three of them were even greater. Being in the top 5 on leader cards isn't really the same as being the big headshot guy. Plop him into the AL for the first several years of his career and he might be regarded more highly.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

The 'problem' with Frank Robinson is that he has to compete with Mays, Aaron and Musial int he same league at the same time. He was really great (#17 WAR) but all three of them were even greater. Being in the top 5 on leader cards isn't really the same as being the big headshot guy. Plop him into the AL for the first several years of his career and he might be regarded more highly.

I could see people recognizing him more eventually though. First black manager, still the only man to win the MVP in both leagues. I would agree he's not better than Mays, Aaron, or Musial - but at the same time he's definitely not given his due.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

I could see people recognizing him more eventually though. First black manager, still the only man to win the MVP in both leagues. I would agree he's not better than Mays, Aaron, or Musial - but at the same time he's definitely not given his due.

Frank Robinson is definitely undervalued.

Certainly being 5th fiddle behind Mays, Mantle, Aaron, Musial has something to do with it. And despite being a better right fielder statistically than Clemente (overall, but definitely not fielding), he also doesn't hold a candle to him either, from a popularity/value standpoint.

But for me, the reason I don't collect his cards is because he just doesn't have the nicest looking cards. I had one of his rookies graded, it came back a 6.5, but it did nothing for me and I sold it.

I own his '62 Topps, and there are a couple others I like, but I think his joining the League after what some to believe is the Goldin Age of baseball cards (early to mid-50s) has a little something to do with it.

Its crazy to think that a guy who won the Triple Crown and was the only player to win MVP in both leagues wasn't flashy enough, but that may be the case.

Maybe one day that will change, but I am not holding my breath.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

And despite being a better right fielder statistically than Clemente (overall, but definitely not fielding), he also doesn't hold a candle to him either, from a popularity/value standpoint.

Wasn't always that way. When I was a kid in the late 80's - yeah, Clemente was popular and recognized as a HOF'er, but I don't think anyone thought he was better than say a Musial, and certainly from a popularity standpoint, he was behind Mantle, Mays, and Aaron. Again depending on perspective I could be wrong but I don't recall 80's Clemente having the popularity twist from also being Latino, and a humanitarian - that he seems to have now in the 21st century. I've just always thought he was a badass.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Wasn't always that way. When I was a kid in the late 80's - yeah, Clemente was popular and recognized as a HOF'er, but I don't think anyone thought he was better than say a Musial, and certainly from a popularity standpoint, he was behind Mantle, Mays, and Aaron. Again depending on perspective I could be wrong but I don't recall 80's Clemente having the popularity twist from also being Latino, and a humanitarian - that he seems to have now in the 21st century. I've just always thought he was a badass.

I don't know if people recognize Clemente as better than Musial. And I still think he may be less popular than Mantle, Mays and Aaron. But I think he is right behind them in popularity (maybe tied or ahead of Aaron?).

I believe the humanitarian award named for him was created shortly after his passing. I was born in 1980, and Clemente's always been my favorite player, and a lot of that has to do with his humanitarianism.

But I see your point that he has had a surge in popularity related to the growing Latino population in this country and the continued popularity of baseball in Latin America.

I also think that during Clemente's career, he had limited recognition until he won the MPV in '66 more than a decade into his career, and then it took off with the World Series MPV in 1971, late in his career. He started off pretty quietly statistically, and didn't make an All Star team until his 6th year.
http://www.espn.com/sportscentury/fe.../00014137.html

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

I don't know if people recognize Clemente as better than Musial. And I still think he may be less popular than Mantle, Mays and Aaron. But I think he is right behind them in popularity (maybe tied or head of Aaron?).

I believe the humanitarian award named for him was created shortly after his passing. I was born in 1980, and Clemente's always been my favorite player, and a lot of that had to do with his humanitarianism.

But I see your point that he has had a surge in popularity related to the growing Latino population in this country and the continued popularity of baseball in Latin America.

I also think that during Clemente's career, he had limited recognition until he won the MPV in '66 more than a decade into his career, and then it took off with the World Series MPV in 1971, late in his career. He started off pretty quietly statistically, and didn't make an All Star team until his 6th year. http://www.espn.com/sportscentury/fe.../00014137.html

Yeah, not saying he was better than Musial - just saying that on-field greatness and how that translates to a hobby and popularity can sometimes be odd. True that he wasn't recognized nearly as he should have been during his career. There were also the 4 batting titles which seems to me were treated somewhat quietly. I was born in '77, but it wasn't until the last 15 years that I really began to think of Clemente differently in terms of his humanitarian efforts.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

I don't know if people recognize Clemente as better than Musial. And I still think he may be less popular than Mantle, Mays and Aaron. But I think he is right behind them in popularity (maybe tied or ahead of Aaron?).

I believe the humanitarian award named for him was created shortly after his passing. I was born in 1980, and Clemente's always been my favorite player, and a lot of that has to do with his humanitarianism.

But I see your point that he has had a surge in popularity related to the growing Latino population in this country and the continued popularity of baseball in Latin America.

I also think that during Clemente's career, he had limited recognition until he won the MPV in '66 more than a decade into his career, and then it took off with the World Series MPV in 1971, late in his career. He started off pretty quietly statistically, and didn't make an All Star team until his 6th year.
http://www.espn.com/sportscentury/fe.../00014137.html

No not even close. Clemente's 63T PSA 8 is at $1000. Mays is $1900, Aaron is $2000.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[hockeyhockey]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Willie is 91 years old, and is more or less considered the greatest position player of all time. Morbid or not, there is speculation on his cards right now in what is assumed to be a run-up to his death. When Hank Aaron passed last year, I know there were at least subtle whispers of Willie being the only player of that caliber left. That's not exactly wrong.

i have the same thoughts as you on this.

FWIW, my favorite willie card is the 54 bowman. willie may. and it's just a cool looking card. i have a low grade one, fits into my budget nicely.

[Jewish-collector]

Nicolo - You did well getting your Mays for such an inexpensive price beer chug.gif

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

Nicolo - You did well getting your Mays for such an inexpensive price Attachment 533378

More luck than anything. Plus a whole lot of convincing my wife that spending so much on one piece was a good idea!