Value of Willie Mays cards - already peaked? Or more room at the top?

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by G1911

This is my favorite Willie Mays item. It has been appraised at $0.

My family loved Willie Mays; my mom's dad owned a jewelry store in the Bay Area that served many of the Giants players families and Willie gave my mother a personalized signed photo when she was a little girl, which still hangs on her living room wall 50 something years later. Willie was as cool as baseball history got in our house. When I was really little, my favorite card was the 1966 Willie Mays, because it was Willie and I liked the 66 design. I got one for like $5 off eBay in its early days, which was over a months allowance money ($1 for trash, the dishes, vacuuming and dusting each week) at the time and a big deal. And so when Halloween rolled around, I told my Dad I wanted to go as Willie Mays 1966 card. Not Willie Mays, but Willie Mays' baseball card specifically. And so my Dad, who is no artist, did the best he could and made this with two pieces of sandwich board. Simplified the back cartoon and cut off the hometown and copyright lines, but everything else is as good as we could make it. ~7 year old me got to run around with this and a sugar high. I was happy. Dad was probably happy he didn't have to do this again and could stop trying to draw. I wore it like 3 halloweens in a row without any sense of shame. I don't think anyone in town got it except the guy who ran the local comic book/card store.

Best

Dad

Ever!

[irv]

Great story, Greg!

My 52 Topps Mays. Real curious what this one would grade out as? I'm hoping a 4 but maybe I'm being too optimistic?

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by irv

Great story, Greg!

My 52 Topps Mays. Real curious what this one would grade out as? I'm hoping a 4 but maybe I'm being too optimistic?

If the back is clean, a 4 should be reasonable based on the front scan.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by irv

Great story, Greg!

My 52 Topps Mays. Real curious what this one would grade out as? I'm hoping a 4 but maybe I'm being too optimistic?

Yes, assuming no hidden flaws, this would be a lock as a 4 with both PSA and SGC. No chance at a 5. Probably gets a 4 at SGC 99 times out of 100, and a 4 at PSA 85 times out of 100, and a 3 the other 15 times.

[Snowman]

Historically speaking, the market typically doesn't move much for athletes whose deaths aren't a surprise. They really only spike when it's a tragic unexpected death, like in the case of Kobe Bryant. For Mays, the data would suggest there is likely to be a very small, short-term increase in prices, but not a big movement. People have been discussing his age and the likelihood that he won't be with us much longer for several years now. The efficient market hypothesis suggests that his death is already priced in, as it's an expected relatively near-term event.

Also, autograph prices typically see a larger increase after a player's death than regular card prices do, if that's of any help.

Let's hope this is still all several years away though. Mays is the GOAT. No question in my mind.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by irv

Great story, Greg!

My 52 Topps Mays. Real curious what this one would grade out as? I'm hoping a 4 but maybe I'm being too optimistic?

If the back is nice, my guess would be 3.5 to 4. Nice looking card.

As to the question if Mays has topped out, who knows? It's a crazy hobby and when he does pass away, there will probably be a little spike.
.

[irv]

Originally Posted by rand1com

If the back is clean, a 4 should be reasonable based on the front scan.

Originally Posted by Snowman

Yes, assuming no hidden flaws, this would be a lock as a 4 with both PSA and SGC. No chance at a 5. Probably gets a 4 at SGC 99 times out of 100, and a 4 at PSA 85 times out of 100, and a 3 the other 15 times.

Originally Posted by Leon

If the back is nice, my guess would be 3.5 to 4. Nice looking card.

As to the question if Mays has topped out, who knows? It's a crazy hobby and when he does pass away, there will probably be a little spike.
.

Thanks guys.
The back is clean, or as nice as the front too.
I did notice a small mark in the lower left outside the word **"lifetime" but I have noticed this same mark on some others as well so it is not a pen mark but rather a factory mark.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

Best

Dad

Ever!

Originally Posted by conor912

This is what it’s all about. Incredible!

Originally Posted by irv

Great story, Greg!

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

Amazing you still have it! It's beautiful and so is the story. Thanks for sharing.

Great Dad indeed!

Originally Posted by JustinD

Your dad is one hell of a good guy.

This statement below made me realize how young you are though and I now am having an existential 'old man' moment, lol

If you want to feel really old, I'm the same age as PSA.


And here's my favorite Willie, for sentimental reasons. I'd probably pick his 53 Topps for pure aesthetic value, but I'm biased to paintings. I doubt low grade 60's Mays' cards will achieve much value, but who cares.

[ullmandds]

I believe there will be a temporary bump as well as lesser known/collected issues grtting more respect Nd a prrmanent price bump…like the howard photos.

[Bpm0014]

My only post war item. Mays gamer.