1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 Rookie PSA NM-MT 8....

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1951 Bowman Willie Mays #305 Rookie PSA NM-MT 8. He was rated number two on The Sporting News' list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players of the Twentieth Century," topped only by the iconic Babe Ruth. There are many who would contend that it was Mays deserved top billing--in the end, it comes down to your particular definition of "greatness." That Babe Ruth was the most noteworthy figure in twentieth century baseball is difficult to dispute. And it's true that he was the game's premier pitcher before he became the game's premier slugger. But if baseball's "five tools" is the metric--hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning, throwing and fielding--Mays' superiority is clear.

Within the 1951 Bowman issue, the Say Hey Kid likewise plays second fiddle only to a single New York Yankees legend--the great Mickey Mantle, whose rookie likewise derives from the set. In May 2017, Heritage set a new hobby record for a PSA 8 Mantle at $167,300, giving some indication of the room for growth that this Mays may have. Thick, glorious gloss amplifies the bold coloration and perfect registration of this important relic, and the common '51 Bowman faults of wax and gum stains haven't dared to cross paths with this first-ballot Hall of Famer.