1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie SGC VG/EX 50

Sold For:

$8,303

Year:

1951

Auction:

2025 Fall

Lot #:

1126

Category:

Postwar Baseball Cards (1948-present)

Graded VG/EX 50 by SGC. Mid-grade rookie card example of legendary New York Giants Hall of Famer Willie Mays, one of the most important of all 1950s cards. In addition to being one of the two key cards of the 1951 Bowman set, Mays is part of the scarce high-number series (#253-324). This well-centered card has bold colors, a crisp image, and even corner wear. The reverse is crisp and clean, without even the slightest trace of the gum or wax staining that so frequently affects 1951 Bowmans. Surface wear and a small surface indentation next to Mays' hands contribute to the assigned grade. The 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie has always been a card-collecting icon, especially among postwar cards. This is a solid mid-grade example of the 1951 Bowman Willie Mays rookie.