The graceful stride of long ago has been replaced by the guiding hand of an aide. We all wind up in that arena someday, if we’re lucky. But when those legs were toned and those arms could turn a fastball into a missle…
It’s those memories that send collectors in search of vintage Willie Mays cards on eBay or scouring the tables at a card show for more.
In his familiar number 24, Mays amazed baseball fans with dazzling catches and tape measure home runs. A career .302 hitter, Mays hit 660 home runs and drove in more than 1900 runs during his 22 year career. He was an icon to New York Giants fans in the 1950s and San Francisco backers once the team moved west in 1958.
Mays won 12 Gold Gloves as an outfielder during his time with the Giants, tying him for the most ever with Roberto Clemente. Mays’ wizardry in the outfield, turned in a career fielding averaging of .981, to go along with 195 assists from center field.
In 1972, Mays was traded to the New York Mets, bringing his career full circle. In his last two seasons with the Mets, Mays registered as the oldest regular position player in Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, his best hitting years were behind him, although his fielding percentage was still on par with what he had produced years earlier.
His gorgeous 1951 Bowman rookie card is considered among the greatest of all post-War issues. While Mays rookie cards can be found pretty regularly, near mint and better examples aren’t as plentiful and have been rocketing upward in step with other vintage Hall of Famers. A graded NM/MT 8 that you could have bought for under $10,000 five years ago cost one recent bidder $51,875.
Mays was a constant for Topps, once the company produced his 1952 rookie card (#261). He became fast friends with Topps executive Sy Berger, who watched him perform his magic at the Polo Grounds as the bubble gum card maker was becoming a major player in the 
bubble gum card business.
He regularly appeared in Topps sets from 1952-1973, both as the primary subject, on In Action and multi-player cards and, of course, on some star-packed League Leader cards during his prime.
There are several Mays’ cards that won’t break the bank, but collectors should expect to spend a more substantial amount to obtain some of the best Mays’ cards available.
Both were sensational but Mays’ Bowman rookie card has long lagged behind that of fellow 1951 rookie Mickey Mantle. Currently, Mays rookie cards in near mint (7) grades usually sell for less than half of what Mantle’s rookie cards so. Does that mean Mays rookies are undervalued? Quite possibly. However, there are others to consider, too.
Here’s the list of the 25 hottest Willie Mays cards on eBay right now.
|
1951 Bowman Willie Mays ROOKIE RC #305 PSA 4 VGEX (PWCC-E)
29 bids - Price: $6,124.00 - Watchers: 125
Item #143745930106
|
|
|
1951 Bowman Willie Mays ROOKIE RC #305 PSA 7 NRMT
16 bids - Price: $8,600.00 - Watchers: 121
Item #353208341110
|
|
|
1952 Topps Willie Mays #261 PSA 7 NRMT
26 bids - Price: $11,000.00 - Watchers: 115
Item #143745942595
|
|
|
1951 Bowman Willie Mays ROOKIE RC #305 PSA 5 EX
25 bids - Price: $3,650.00 - Watchers: 73
Item #353208341109
|
|
|
1972 Topps Willie Mays Signed Auto Autographed Card PSA/DNA Gians HOF T47
15 bids - Price: $92.00 - Watchers: 58
Item #124348679591
|
|
|
1953 Topps Willie Mays SHORT PRINT #244 PSA 1 PR
25 bids - Price: $355.00 - Watchers: 58
Item #143745950298
|
|
|
1951 Bowman Willie Mays ROOKIE RC #305 PSA 1 PR
13 bids - Price: $1,200.00 - Watchers: 55
Item #353208341008
|
|
|
1956 Topps #130 Willie Mays Giants WHITE BACK HOF PSA 7 NM
12 bids - Price: $655.00 - Watchers: 54
Item #363114784611
|
|
|
2012 Topps Tribute Willie Mays Auto #d /74 Giants HOF Encased
15 bids - Price: $185.50 - Watchers: 50
Item #224164351915
|
|
|
1952 52 Topps Willie Mays Rookie RC - PSA 4 VG-EX - #261
14 bids - Price: $1,370.00 - Watchers: 49
Item #224167817012
|
|
|
∎ 1957 TOPPS baseball card WILLIE MAYS #10 **BREATHTAKING CARD**
21 bids - Price: $167.50 - Watchers: 35
Item #164391393107
|
|
|
Willie Mays 1960 Topps #200. Near Mint and Centered. Sharp Corners. PSA 7.
21 bids - Price: $168.50 - Watchers: 32
Item #133521444177
|
|
|
1973 Topps WILLIE MAYS #305 Mets PSA 8 (NearMint-Mint)
13 bids - Price: $127.50 - Watchers: 32
Item #313222676374
|
|
|
(3) 1956 Topps Cards Willie Mays Al Kaline Bob Feller HOF LOT
17 bids - Price: $64.00 - Watchers: 30
Item #174444682464
|
|
|
1959 Topps Willie Mays PSA 8 NM-MT #50 HOF Giants Set Break
11 bids - Price: $575.00 - Watchers: 28
Item #324302320291
|
|
|
1954 Bowman Willie Mays #89 PSA 5 EX
21 bids - Price: $219.95 - Watchers: 27
Item #353208346529
|
|
|
1955 Bowman #184 Willie Mays HOF Giants low-grade but decent eye appeal $500
3 bids - Price: $5.50 - Watchers: 26
Item #133519858187
|
|
|
1957 Topps #10 Willie Mays HOF Giants $300
13 bids - Price: $41.25 - Watchers: 25
Item #133521109564
|
|
|
1968 Topps Baseball Card HIGH #490 Super Stars Mickey Mantle Willie Mays Killer
11 bids - Price: $24.50 - Watchers: 25
Item #333696263675
|
|
|
1954 Topps Baseball Willie Mays #90! Graded! Low Ship for Multiple Items!
24 bids - Price: $480.00 - Watchers: 24
Item #254724936078
|
|
|
1961 Topps Baseball Willie Mays Psa 7 Card No. 150 San Francisco Giants MLB
20 bids - Price: $148.50 - Watchers: 23
Item #124343486504
|
|
|
1967 Topps #423 Fence Busters - Willie Mays & McCovey - Giants- HOF- PSA 8 NM-MT
7 bids - Price: $226.50 - Watchers: 23
Item #143742965872
|
|
|
WILLIE MAYS AUTOGRAPH Leaf Limited 2005 #3/25 RARE FIND!
9 bids - Price: $139.50 - Watchers: 23
Item #193672581547
|
|
|
1957 Topps Willie Mays #10 PSA 6 EXMT
13 bids - Price: $76.00 - Watchers: 22
Item #143745958321
|
|
|
1955 Willie Mays Topps Card #194 PSA 2 Good
16 bids - Price: $34.00 - Watchers: 22
Item #324305260692
|
Related Stories:
5 Cool Vintage Willie Mays Cards on a Budget
Memory Lane to Offer World’s Best Willie Mays Card Collection in Upcoming Auction
Mays Rookie Stolen from Rob Schneider’s Home
Top-rated Hank Aaron Collection Leads Off Memory Lane Auction
Minty Mickey Mantle Rookie Headlines New Mile High Auction
Rare Photo Shows 16-Year-Old Willie Mays on Chattanooga Team
High Grade Vintage Gems Up for Grabs in Memory Lane Event
Opening Day Record-Setters and Their Rookie Cards
Lifelong Mays Collector’s Amazing Journey Ends with Sale
24 Price Records Fall in Memory Lane Auction
