Willie Mays fans and sports memorabilia enthusiasts, buckle up for the incredible news that’s about to hit you out of left field. The renowned 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie card, the highest-graded specimen seen in over a decade, has just rocked the auction world with a mind-blowing sale price of $390,935 at the illustrious Robert Edward Auctions’ Summer Catalog Auction. This sale marks a monumental moment in the realm of sports collectibles, showcasing the enduring allure of baseball legends like Willie Mays.
Eager bidders eagerly stepped up to the plate to vie for this prized possession, resulting in an intense battle for this scarcely found gem. With a dearth of PSA 10 Mays rookie cards in existence and only a handful of PSA 9s, it’s no surprise that the competition was fierce and the bids soared to stratospheric heights.
To put the sheer magnitude of this sale into perspective, a PSA 8 version of the same Willie Mays card was recently sold for a whopping $207,400 at Goldin, further solidifying the immense popularity and value of Mays’ rookie cards in today’s market. Clearly, the fever for vintage sports memorabilia, especially pieces tied to iconic players like Mays, shows no signs of cooling off any time soon.
Beyond the remarkable financial milestone achieved by this historic sale, the proceeds generated from the auction of the Willie Mays rookie card will be directed towards funding a college scholarship endowment. This philanthropic gesture adds an extra layer of significance to the sale, making it a win-win situation for both the seller and the beneficiaries of the scholarship fund.
The Summer Catalog Auction hosted by Robert Edward Auctions proved to be a smashing success, amassing a staggering total of over $13.3 million from a staggering number of more than 82,000 bids across nearly 3,200 lots. Thirteen items exceeded the six-figure mark, including a 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie PSA 4.5 card clinching a record-breaking sale price of $162,000—the highest ever recorded for that specific grade.
Among the notable highlights of the auction were the $132,000 sale of an autographed 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella rookie (PSA 3) boasting a PSA 9 signature grade and the $120,000 acquisition of a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card (PSA 7 with a 7 autograph rating).
Additionally, the auction saw a 1936-1937 Dizzy Dean St. Louis Cardinals game-used road jersey fetching an impressive $114,000, setting a new benchmark for memorabilia tied to the legendary Dizzy Dean.
Several other items managed to hit it out of the park in terms of sales, with notable mentions including the $120,000 transaction of the 1933 R338 Sport Kings #2 Babe Ruth PSA NM-MT 8 card, the $114,000 sale of the 1915 Boston Red Sox Real-Photo Team Postcard featuring a Babe Ruth rookie, and the $111,000 purchase of the 1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson Rookie PSA GEM MINT 10 card.
The auction also witnessed spirited bidding wars for items such as the 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Glove Shows PSA EX+ 5.5 card, the 1979-1980 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #18 Wayne Gretzky Rookie PSA MINT 9 card, and the 1914 E145 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson SGC GOOD+ 2.5 card.
Brian Dwyer, the President of REA, expressed his excitement at the overwhelming success of the auction, stating that it was a thrilling experience witnessing new record prices being established throughout the event. The outpouring of support from both consignors and bidders undoubtedly contributed to making this auction another historic milestone for Robert Edward Auctions.
For those who may have missed the chance to participate in this remarkable event, fret not! The excitement continues with REA’s upcoming September Encore Auction, scheduled to take place from September 12-22. Get ready to mark your calendars and gear up for another round of thrilling bids and extraordinary finds in the world of sports memorabilia.