Best looking Willie Mays cards?

[Belfast1933]

Sorry that I didn’t think to post this yesterday on his birthday, but I would love some crowd source ideas and opinions on which cards of Willie Mays, main issues or otherwise, have the best eye appeal

I have his 54 and 56 which I love… except the fact that his close up is the same image which makes the 2 cards displayed next to each other look kind of weird.

Is it just me or are many of his regular issue Topps cards not so great looking images of him! Sometimes his facial expression looks a little stressed and there are also some without a baseball cap on.

I think I might want to replace one of my two cards with another issue that is somewhat affordable (for instance I love his 1952 Bowman but that’s gotten pretty much out of my budget for now) any suggestions on cards of Willie that you find to be especially great looking little works of art??

Thx for your input… and, happy belated Birthday Willie!

[cgjackson222]

I'm partial to his '62 Topps because I like action shots and his big grin. I like his '66 Topps too.

But obviously, it's all personal preference.

You can see all of his major issues here:

https://www.oldsportscards.com/willi...aseball-cards/

And yes, its annoying that Topps kept recycling his images.

[jsfriedm]

As you can tell from my avatar, I love the 52 Bowman, but the 55 Bowman is great too:

[Jay Wolt]

[rjackson44]

Poster

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

My favorite is still the 1954 Topps but also love the 1967 Topps pin-up since it's a larger image than his 1966 and 1969 Topps.

[rugbymarine]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

I'm partial to his '62 Topps because I like action shots and his big grin. I like his '66 Topps too.

His 62 Topps card is a thing of beauty.

[rats60]

1953 Topps, 1955 Topps, 1957 Topps and 1965 Topps are my favorites.

[JollyElm]

My choice is based almost entirely on the nostalgia of Willie coming back home to New York (making kids across the boroughs go into a frenzy trying to get his card), so for me the best will always be this one...

s-l1600-2.jpg


Of course, second place goes to him actually donning the Mets uniform...

s-l1600-3.jpg

[Peter_Spaeth]

These two, hands down.

[nwobhm]

….hard to beat this one.

[Exhibitman]

Starts and ends with 1954 Topps IMO.

[55koufax]

I have two that stand apart for me:

1. 1966 Topps (great ear to ear grin - and image reminds me of a "basket" catch)

2. 1971 Topps Super (sporting that tremendous pigeon-toed gait strolling in from CF)


Worst Mays? '61 Topps

[egri]

I'm partial to his 1957 Topps, though if cost isn't an issue, 1951 Bowman.

[Exhibitman]

Another one I really like the look of:

[IgnatiusJReilly]

I think the 1952 Bowman is my favorite Mays card. I like his determined look and the clouds behind him. Such a classic. Here's mine:

1952_Bowman_Mays2_1 by 1956 Topps Guy, on Flickr

[Tyruscobb]

I agree. The 1960’s Mays cards are not very aesthetically pleasing. I’ll take a nicely centered 1958 card with a rich blue background.

[cgjackson222]

Heritage Auctions has a neat lot of Mays Cards up for auction now with some issues I hadn't seen before.

I kind of like the 1968 Topps Action as Stickers Mays based on the '66 Topps image.

[irv]

The best looking Mays cards are the ones we own.

[MikeGarcia]

.. " Hires Root Beer "

..

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

+1 for the 1952 Bowman. I LOVE this card (here's mine). I also really like the 1956 Topps (although I don't own one...yet). I think 1956 Topps has some of the best images for a LOT of players....the large profile pic with full action background is great (the Jackie Robinson, Clemente, and Mantle all have great looking cards in that set).

No one has mentioned 1951 Bowman in this thread yet. Personally, I think Mays looks too "angry" in that one. Maybe others do too, which is why it doesn't make the list?

Mays.JPG

[Big Red Machine]

I've always liked the 1966 Topps Mays.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Another one I really like the look of:

+1. That's always been my favorite Topps Willie. Just a classic looking vintage card. And a high number to boot.

[jsfriedm]

Interesting that no one is bringing up the 1952 and 1953 Topps. For all the money that those cards command, you'd think they'd have some more support. I see plenty of people saying the 52T Mays should one day approach the 52T Mantle, but the eye appeal just isn't there, in my opinion. The 52T Mantle is an iconic image. In his 52T, Mays just looks annoyed.

[jb67]

The 57 is an all-around great looking card. A lot of great cards to choose from.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

The 52T Mantle is an iconic image. In his 52T, Mays just looks annoyed.

Yes, but why is the '52 Topps Mantle an iconic image? I'm guessing it wasn't always. The photo is from a weird angle, and the Mick has kind of a scowl on his face. It's iconic because that card has been "The Card" for almost 50 years now. There is no reason the '52 Topps Mays couldn't do the same, although one would think it would have already were it going to happen.

[jsfriedm]

The image of the 52T Mantle seems intended to make him look heroic. It's as if Leni Riefenstahl had designed a baseball card.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

The image of the 52T Mantle seems intended to make him look heroic. It's as if Leni Riefenstahl had designed a baseball card.

Will admit I had to look that one up.

I think it's that way because we long ago equated it to heroic in our minds. Don't disagree with you on the end result.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

These two, hands down.

Wrong, Peter!

There is no better looking Mays card than this one. The orange background makes the image of Mays really pop!

[bobsbbcards]

[Casey2296]

This cards artwork is based on the fundamentals of fine art painting and in my opinion not only the finest Mays card but one of the best looking baseball cards ever produced.
_

[jsfriedm]

Agreed

[Bigdaddy]

Though already posted, I'll throw in my votes for the following:

1955 Bowman - get past the TV and that is a great image
1964 Giants - great colors and pose
1966 - my first 'big' card from the '60s, first card in the set and the first year I was alive.

JB67 - that is probably the nicest '57 Mays I've seen. Not many with registration that good and the total lack of 'noise' on the photo. Amazingly sharp for a '57.

[JollyElm]

They should've given all of his cards the 'standing in the backyard in front of the laundry near the green barn' treatment...


51Bmaysbackground1972.jpg

[Casey2296]

Very nice Jolly.

[Gorditadogg]

Nice edit work on the 72T Darren!

Here is Mays 1970 Kellogg's #12.

[4reals]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

Nice edit work on the 72T Darren!

Here is Mays 1970 Kellogg's #12.

LOL, he looks scared in this one. Like Newcombe or Drysdale is coming with some high and tight heat!

[esehombre]

There are no wrong answer and probably the best was already given (whichever ones i own lol)

This one is my favorite

[maj78]

Originally Posted by jb67

The 57 is an all-around great looking card. A lot of great cards to choose from.

Wow, that centering!

[jb67]

Originally Posted by maj78

Wow, that centering!

Thanks. Not every day you find one centered nicely.

[jb67]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Though already posted, I'll throw in my votes for the following:

1955 Bowman - get past the TV and that is a great image
1964 Giants - great colors and pose
1966 - my first 'big' card from the '60s, first card in the set and the first year I was alive.

JB67 - that is probably the nicest '57 Mays I've seen. Not many with registration that good and the total lack of 'noise' on the photo. Amazingly sharp for a '57.

Thanks Bigdaddy, Registration and centered is a hard combo to find.

[maj78]

Originally Posted by jb67

Thanks. Not every day you find one centered nicely.

Very true - been looking for a PSA 7 or better that’s well centered for over a year with no luck. Congrats on a beauty!

[Cooptown]

Im surprised that no one has mentioned the 53 Topps yet. A tiny piece of art.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Cooptown

Im surprised that no one has mentioned the 53 Topps yet. A tiny piece of art.

I've always had an issue with that card, he would never receive a ground ball to center that way, it's an awkward pose and the look on his face doesn't do justice to what an intelligent ball player he was. It's the classic oppressed negro of 1953 look. Compare that to his badass take no prisoners look on the 51 Bowman.

[jb67]

Originally Posted by Cooptown

Im surprised that no one has mentioned the 53 Topps yet. A tiny piece of art.

It took me some time to appreciate this card. His right hand always seemed way too big.

[TUM301]

Hey Jolly is it my imagination or does your card seem to use the same background (brown tarp bleachers) as the "51" Bowman Mays ?

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by jb67

It took me some time to appreciate this card. His right hand always seemed way too big.

Love many of the 53 cards (Monte Irvin is one of my faves) but the Mays just never did it for me. The artwork and/or image just doesn’t seem as advanced as some of the others in the set)

But SO many other great ideas in this thread! As the OG of this post, let me say Thanks for all of the great input (although now I am as confused as ever! Too many choices)

Jeff