As a result, his cards will be very collectable for many years to come. However, putting them together in excellent quality will cost you some money. Willie Mays' baseball cards, while not as precious as Mickey Mantle's, are still among the most valuable in the hobby.
There have been several auctions where Mays cards have sold for large sums of money. In 2007, a box of 1956 Topps Mays cards went for $40,000 alone. Another box of identical cards sold for $60,000 that same year. In 2008, a single card from that era sold for $105,000.
Willie Mays was one of the greatest players in MLB history and is considered by many to be the best center fielder of all time. His lifetime batting average is.292, with 3,144 hits, 155 home runs, and 992 RBIs in 2064 games played. That means he was on-base almost half of the time he stepped into the batter's box!
Mays first signed with the New York Giants when he was 18 years old. He stayed with the team until 1951 when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants. After one season there, Mays decided to try out baseball in America's heartland, playing for the Chicago Cubs from 1955 to 1960. When he finished his career with the New York Mets, Mays had spent twenty-two seasons in the major leagues.
They are the final of the classic period and contain some great gaming luminaries, including several Hall of Famers. As with any antique, if you preserve it in pristine condition, its value will be steady and even increase over time. Investing in 1970s baseball cards is as risk-free as it gets. They are not likely to become worthless overnight, so don't worry about them depreciating in value.
The price of vintage cards varies depending on how much work went into them and what position they hold in collectors' minds. For example, if you have a Joe Morgan rookie card that's never been signed, it's possible it might be worth a lot more than other rookies from that era because he's considered by many to be the best second baseman of all time. If you have a card with obvious signs of wear-and-tear but still has the original packaging, you can be sure it's going for less than an identical card that's in perfect condition. There are plenty of 1970s baseball cards out there that could make good investments, so do some research and find ones that appeal to you.
Card values can fluctuate significantly across different markets. For example, if one market values cards by grade then others may value them based on condition, number issued, or even book value. However, overall, the values of vintage cards continue to rise because more people are becoming interested in old cards.
He considers this to be one of his most precious cards. The value of these cards has climbed with time, and it is now one of his most difficult to find in immaculate condition. In pristine condition, these cards sell for $350, and in gem mint 10 condition, they sell for $3,500. This is one of the most beautiful baseball cards ever made.
The All-Star Game was held at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 1996. A-Rod got the start at third base and had two hits out of the "three hole". He scored a run and drove in another. The New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves 7-4. This was before A-Rod's career was derailed by hip problems. After the game, he took part in some pregame activities including running the bases. However, he left the game after only three innings because of pain in his hip. Doctors diagnosed him with a strained hip muscle and said that he could return soon after rest and therapy. That same day, his father died at the age of 58 due to heart disease.
In 2007, an unsigned A-Rod ball cap sold at auction for $15,000. In 2008, an autographed A-Rod ball cap sold for $40,000. In 2009, an autographed A-Rod jersey sold for $100,000. In 2010, an autographed A-Rod batting helmet sold for $150,000. As of 2011, an autographed A-Rod ball cap has sold for $200,000.
If a card is extremely valuable, adding an autograph might actually reduce its worth. A near pristine condition 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card is worth $8,000 today. When the identical card is signed, it is worth much less, maybe hundreds of dollars less. The more famous or talented the player, the more likely it is that he will sign his cards and give them additional value.
An autographed baseball card has immense historical value as well as financial value. It can be used to verify the authenticity of other examples of that card series and also the signature of the player who made it worth something. An autographed baseball card can also be used to authenticate events in history related to that player's career. For example, an autographed Joe DiMaggio baseball card could be used to confirm that game #7 of 1956 World Series took place at Yankee Stadium rather than Brooklyn's Ebbets Field as claimed by both teams. Such evidence would help establish whether or not DiMaggio truly earned title of "The Great One".
There are two types of autographs: those that are written on the ball and those that are written on a sheet of paper and then taped to the ball. Written on the ball autographs are easy to fake. Someone could take your favorite player's name out of a phone book and write it on any old ball in order to make it look like they wrote it themselves.
The average selling price is $93,412. (Mint 9) Willie Mays' official rookie card is the 1951 Bowman #305. It is widely regarded as a lovely card from a lovely collection. Given his career and the fact that this was his rookie card, the 1951 Bowman #305 is one of the more costly cards in the hobby. It sold for $187,000 in 2007.
Willie Mays' other cards are less valuable. His first card was issued in 1948 by the San Francisco Giants. It is expected to sell for $10,000-$20,000.
In 1952, Mays left baseball to join the United States Army. He returned in 1955 and played another season with the New York Mets. Mays finished his career with the San Diego Padres in 1979. During his career, he compiled gold records for batting average, hits, runs batted in, stolen bases, and total bases. In 2004, Mays was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
A few years ago, an anonymous collector bought a box of old cards at a garage sale for $5. They were all Mays cards. The seller probably found them in a pile of old cards collected by his father-in-law who was a big fan of Mays. Even though they were not rare cards, they still cost about $100 to make. Thus, the box of cards was worth about $500.
Nowadays, people collect sports cards for two reasons.