This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/11/2016
Can you imagine the dead-eyed look some Topps executive might have gotten if he was foolish enough to utter the question, "Willie Mays just went into the Army, should we replace him with another player in the set?" The answer, of course, is "How about no?" Willie Mays was so popular among American kids, having just captured NL Rookie of the Year honors, that Topps wasn't about to pass on including a pasteboard of him in the inaugural issue. Without any other significant superstars in the set's third series (with all due respect to Bob Lemon and Early Wynn), Willie Mays became the chase card of the series, keeping patrons interested until Mantle, Robinson, Mathews and Campanella could come in and close out the set. Presented in an excellent candidate for any NM level collection, typically favoring the upper left edge with high-end NM corners and a reverse that displays sharp red and black ink set against the slate gray stock with no apparent blemishes.