Willie Mays, a legendary name in baseball history, recently made headlines once again as his 1951 Bowman rookie card fetched an astonishing $390,935 at the Robert Edward Auctions’ Summer Catalog Auction. This exceptional piece of sports memorabilia has left fans and collectors alike in awe, witnessing a truly remarkable moment in the world of card collecting.
The card, which is the highest-graded example to appear on the auction block in over 15 years, drew significant interest from collectors. With no PSA 10 Mays rookie cards in existence and only eight in a PSA 9 condition, it was no surprise that the bidding war for this prized possession was fierce. In the end, one lucky bidder emerged victorious, claiming this rare and valuable piece of baseball history.
To put this sale into perspective, a PSA 8 version of the same Willie Mays rookie card sold for $207,400 just last week at Goldin Auctions. Clearly, the market for Mays’ rookie cards is sizzling hot, with collectors willing to invest top dollar to own a piece of this iconic player’s legacy.
The seller of this record-breaking card has decided to use the proceeds to establish a college scholarship endowment, demonstrating that this sale is not only about setting new records but also about giving back to the community and supporting education. It’s a heartwarming twist to an already historic moment in the world of sports memorabilia.
The Summer Catalog Auction, where this remarkable sale took place, proved to be a massive success overall, accumulating over $13.3 million from a staggering 82,000 bids across nearly 3,200 lots. Thirteen items crossed the six-figure mark, highlighting the strength and diversity of the collectibles market.
Among the standout sales was a 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie PSA 4.5 card that set a new record by selling for $162,000, marking the highest price ever achieved for that grade. Additionally, an autographed 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella rookie card (PSA 3) with a PSA 9 signature grade fetched $132,000, while a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card (PSA 7 with a 7 autograph rating) brought in $120,000.
Not to be overshadowed, a 1936-1937 Dizzy Dean St. Louis Cardinals game-used road jersey commanded an impressive $114,000, setting a record for Dizzy Dean memorabilia and further emphasizing the diversity of items available at the auction.
From a 1933 Babe Ruth card to a Babe Ruth rookie postcard from 1915, the auction featured a wide array of collectibles that captivated bidders. Notable sales included a 1909-1911 T206 White Border Cy Young Glove Shows card in PSA EX+ 5.5 grade, a 1979-1980 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Wayne Gretzky rookie card in PSA MINT 9 grade, and a 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson card in SGC GOOD+ 2.5 grade, among others.
REA President Brian Dwyer expressed his gratitude to both the consignors and bidders for making the Summer Catalog Auction a resounding success. With the September Encore Auction scheduled for September 12-22, the excitement and record-breaking sales show no signs of slowing down. Be sure to mark your calendars for the next thrilling event in the world of sports memorabilia auctions!
