Willie Mays – a.k.a. the "Say Hey Kid" – played most of his professional baseball career with the New York/San Francisco Giants. Born in Westfield, Alabama, on May 6, 1931, Mays was one of the premier sluggers of the 1950s and '60s, closing out his magnificent career with a .302 lifetime batting average, 3,283 hits, 1,903 runs batted in and 660 home runs. A two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1954, 1965) and a 24-time All Star, Willie Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Here are ten valuable Willie Mays baseball memorabilia items that are sure to attract interest in
the sports collectibles business. Now taking centerfield once more for the Giants #24 the great Willie Mays...Willie Mays 1952 Topps Rookie Baseball Card
Card #261 in the legendary 1952 Topps debut baseball series features Willie Mays of the New York Giants. One example in graded/certified SGC 80 excellent/near mint 6 condition sold at auction for $776.75.
Willie Mays 1952 Berk Ross Baseball Card
A 1952 Hit Parade of Champions baseball card issued by Berk Ross in graded/certified SGC 88 near mint/mint 8 condition soared at auction, bringing a top bid of $836.50.
Willie Mays 1966 Autographed Boys' Life Magazine
Willie Mays, billed as "Baseball's Greatest Outfielder," graced the March 1966 issue of Boys' Life. The Say Hey Kid later signed the cover in blue sharpie, with this edition fetching $101.58 at auction.
Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle Wiffle Ball
Two of the premier sluggers of the era, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, endorsed a wiffle ball in the early 1960s for Transogram. One example still housed in its original illustrated display package sold at auction for $143.40.
Willie Mays 1951 Bowman Rookie Baseball Card
Card #305 in the popular 1951 Bowman Gum baseball series also qualifies as Willie Mays' rookie card. One outstanding example in graded/certified PSA near mint-mint 8 condition brought a top
bid of $10,157.50.Willie Mays 1961 Nu-Card Scoops Baseball Card
In Game One of the 1954 World Series Willie Mays executed a magnificent, over-the-shoulder catch of a monster line drive hit by the Cleveland Indians' Vic Wertz at New York's the Polo Grounds. That play was immortalized in Nu-Card's Baseball Scoops card #427 issued in 1961. One example in graded/certified SGC 96 mint 9 condition sold at auction for $47.
Willie Mays Signed Baseball
Collectors never tire of Willie Mays autographs. An Official Major League Bud Selig baseball signed by Willie on the sweet spot and affixed with a PSA/DNA authentication hologram brought $155.35 at auction.
The Amazing Willie Mays 1954 Comic Book
Famous Funnies published The Amazing Willie Mays comic book dated September 1954 with a cover price of ten cents. One surviving example in graded/certified CGC very fine+ 8.5 condition sold at auction for $523.41.
Willie Mays and Willie McCovey Autographed Photo
Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Willie McCovey packed a deadly one-two slugging punch for the San Francisco Giants. A color 8x10 photo signed by both men in blue sharpie brought $107.55 at auction.
Willie Mays 1958 Game-Worn San Francisco Giants Baseball Jersey
Willie Mays wore #24 for the New York/San Francisco Giants. A 1958 road jersey made by MacGregor came up for auction, going home with some lucky collector who paid $18,522.50 for the privilege.
Credits
- All auction results courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas